Which gears are better?

[Kevin Sickle]

I have an 01' auto. 3.8 with 3.08 gears I believe. I want to switch my gears to 3.42s or 3.73s...I can't decide. Would 3.73s kill my gas mileage or just affect it a little bit? And do you think it would make a noticeable difference with either one?

[99v6cam]

just a little and you would definatly notice a difference in acceleration

[Red]

i am looking at getting the 3.73's myself. Someone said each jump feels like 15 hp increase i believe (3.42's feel like +15, 3.73's feel like +30) above 3.08 gears. I believe thats what what said, but search under 3.73's to be sure.

I think the 3.73's also drop your max speed down to 90-sumthin mph unless you have it tuned. Not that you asked, but just to let you know.

As far as the mpg, i have been pondering gears for about 3 months and i have searched alot. There are tons of threads dealing with mpg and 3.73 vs 3.42 in an automatic. Some say huge loss of mpg, others say not much loss at all (hwy driving in od i believe). A select few even have 4.10's.

My personal opinion is that it shouldn't change to much. Y87 packages have 3.42's and i dont think they have any worse mileage than our stock 3.08. So why not jump up to the next up?

Also i think there were issues with people thinking that the rpm's would be very high, but were found not to go that much higher than a numerically lower gear.

To me blasting past people on the line is worth an extra 20 bucks a month anytime [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

So yes, either will give you great results compared to stock, but you will feel it more with 3.73's. And, from all i have read on here, no you will not get too much worse mileage. If i am wrong with anything, someone please correct me.

Also, spend an extra 100-150 bucks for a limited slip. Most prefer zexel.

[BAD BIRD]

i have 3.73 done in my bird and the gas mileage got better from 275 gal to almost 350 gal is pretty sweet also got the high octane program from hpp

[Need4Camaro]

If you're doing a gear swap, go big or go home. 3.73's because there's already Y87's with 3.42's. 3.73's shouldn't kill your gas milage too bad. I'm getting 400 to a tank with 3.42's so you should be pretty well off on 3.73's unless you do alot of city driving. Then you might get a bit lower. 4.10's is when I would really start worrying about milage.

Originally posted by Red:
i am looking at getting the 3.73's myself. Someone said each jump feels like 15 hp increase i believe (3.42's feel like +15, 3.73's feel like +30) above 3.08 gears. I believe thats what what said, but search under 3.73's to be sure.

Although the accelleration difference is definately noticable... I seriously doubt it will feel like a 15 HP increase... maybe 5 at the most but 15 is way over rating it.

Originally posted by Red:
I think the 3.73's also drop your max speed down to 90-sumthin mph unless you have it tuned. Not that you asked, but just to let you know.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that too... with 3.42's I'm able to go way over 100... 90 is like half gas for me... 3.73's can't be that much different...

Originally posted by Red:
Also, spend an extra 100-150 bucks for a limited slip. Most prefer zexel.

Agreed...

[lookout4theyeti]

Originally posted by Need4Camaro:
If you're doing a gear swap, go big or go home. 3.73's because there's already Y87's with 3.42's. 3.73's shouldn't kill your gas milage too bad. I'm getting 400 to a tank with 3.42's so you should be pretty well off on 3.73's unless you do alot of city driving. Then you might get a bit lower. 4.10's is when I would really start worrying about milage.

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Red:
i am looking at getting the 3.73's myself. Someone said each jump feels like 15 hp increase i believe (3.42's feel like +15, 3.73's feel like +30) above 3.08 gears. I believe thats what what said, but search under 3.73's to be sure.

Although the accelleration difference is definately noticable... I seriously doubt it will feel like a 15 HP increase... maybe 5 at the most but 15 is way over rating it.

Originally posted by Red:
I think the 3.73's also drop your max speed down to 90-sumthin mph unless you have it tuned. Not that you asked, but just to let you know.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that too... with 3.42's I'm able to go way over 100... 90 is like half gas for me... 3.73's can't be that much different...

Originally posted by Red:
Also, spend an extra 100-150 bucks for a limited slip. Most prefer zexel.

Agreed... </font>[/QUOTE]can i just ask how your getting 400 miles per tank??? there must be somethign wrong with my car, cause i only get 250ish...

[Little G]

4.10s are your friend.

[black96V6]

Originally posted by Red:
i am looking at getting the 3.73's myself. Someone said each jump feels like 15 hp increase i believe (3.42's feel like +15, 3.73's feel like +30) above 3.08 gears. I believe thats what what said, but search under 3.73's to be sure.

I think the 3.73's also drop your max speed down to 90-sumthin mph unless you have it tuned. Not that you asked, but just to let you know.

As far as the mpg, i have been pondering gears for about 3 months and i have searched alot. There are tons of threads dealing with mpg and 3.73 vs 3.42 in an automatic. Some say huge loss of mpg, others say not much loss at all (hwy driving in od i believe). A select few even have 4.10's.

My personal opinion is that it shouldn't change to much. Y87 packages have 3.42's and i dont think they have any worse mileage than our stock 3.08. So why not jump up to the next up?

Also i think there were issues with people thinking that the rpm's would be very high, but were found not to go that much higher than a numerically lower gear.

To me blasting past people on the line is worth an extra 20 bucks a month anytime [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

So yes, either will give you great results compared to stock, but you will feel it more with 3.73's. And, from all i have read on here, no you will not get too much worse mileage. If i am wrong with anything, someone please correct me.

Also, spend an extra 100-150 bucks for a limited slip. Most prefer zexel.

where can i find zexel's limited slip for 100-150 buck? cause i just got some 3.42's but i don't have limited slip so im waiting to put my gears in so i can put the limited slip in. thanks

[Red]

I got the top speed from this post navyblue2000 "without any correction, your speed limiter will be 98mph with 3.73's, despite a reading of 118mph"
http://www.camarov6.com/cgi-bin/ulti...;f=23;t=003502

Possibly he doesn't have an auto, maybe that could make the difference.

Also, i know i read somewhere that it felt like +15 hp to go from 3.08-3.42 . It seemed believable because everyone talks about the huge acceleration difference. They may have mis-spoke, but it was definately said (maybe another forum).

The lsd can be found in ebay stores, ebay auctions or pick-a-part yards.

[NOS2006]

Why buy the limited slip Zexel? What does it help?

[iGoRa]

It DOES help , believe me, I would rather have LSD installed than gears; Without LSD car is potentially dangerous, especially with bad weather conditions. Zexel is the best because it doesnt use clutch like others.
This is one is the best upgrade that you can do to your drivetrain. You WILL notice big dfference.

[Jtownrook99firebird]

I thought that 3.73's and higher could be harmful 2 our transmissions...?

[Little G]

no sir

[98Camaro3.8]

This thread is funny. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally posted by Jtownrook99firebird:
I thought that 3.73's and higher could be harmful 2 our transmissions...?

Find whoever told you that, grab them by the back of the head, and repeatedly slam their face into the nearest solid object. If they ask why, tell them that they should not be spreading lies to people trying to make their cars fast. :D

- Justin