3:42's or 3:73's for cammed N/A

[whiteThunder]

Well i did search, but wanted to know if going from 3:23's to 3:42's would be a wise move for my 3.4 camaro with a potent N/A motor. (including boring, porting heads, and cam + shift kit and possibly TQ Conv.)I am thinking 3:73, but then again guys like Josh use 3:42's and tiago also, and they are the fastest. So would 3.42's do the trick, or am i just wasting my time, should i just go with the balsy gears? Green Machine i read ur response and would like ur input.

[98Camaro3.8]

Auto or Manual? Edit: Just saw your reference to shift kit and torque converter. If I wanted to keep it as a daily driver, I'd go 3.42. Otherwise I'd go 3.73.

And it's 3.42, not 3:42.

[ October 26, 2004, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]

[whiteThunder]

its an auto, and i do drive it on a daily basis usually, but do have another car. it is a summer car, but with all the $$ and work going into it, i see it as a fun/project car. Sorry bout the gear thing, 3.42 noted!!! 2 more questions
1.) Which setup would work best, TQ. Convt.+ 3.42's or 3.73's, or no TQ. Convt. and just 3.73's or 3.42's
2.)Will 3.73s put more wear on the motor, or give me horendously bad gas mileage? Also what about a T.Q. converter, bad gas mpg?
Will they give me great pull, because thats what i love best, i don't drive over 100mph too often!!!

[tWiStEdBird]

Go with 3.42's if its a daily driver. Wont hurt your mileage much, and will be enough of a performance increase to please you. Also look into a 3000 stall if your going to get a TC. texas speed sells them I believe.

[whiteThunder]

what about 3.73's and a 22-2500 stall

[whiteThunder]

will i tell a difference between 3.42s and my existing 3.23's really?

[tWiStEdBird]

3.73's wouldnt be good for a daily driver, the loss in gas mileage and higher constant RPMs will take their toll. If your going from an open 3.23 to a posi 3.42, you'll definately notice a difference. You could go with a lower stall, but a 3000 will get you closer to our peak torque range.

[whiteThunder]

would 3.73's w/ out the converter keep me in my optimum torque range.

[tWiStEdBird]

Two different things really. You could go with 3.73's without a TC, but a good stall would help you launch a lot closer to your peak torque range. Your planning on adding an LSD too right?

[whiteThunder]

yes, led, gears, shift kit, then possibly converter, but just for the performance minded na cammed motor, will 3.42 do me justice, or will the acceleration with 3.73s work for me. i put approx 6,000 miles on my car a year, lol, so i don't drive too far everyday! maybe 3.73's are looking good

[tWiStEdBird]

If your only putting 6k on a year, yeah 3.73's are probably not a bad idea. As long as its not a heavy daily driver. 3.42's would be good, but 3.73's would give you better gains.

[99v6cam]

3.73 FO SHO!!!!

[whiteThunder]

for those who have 3.37s, can you tell me does the car pull hard at low rpms, but feel like you cant coast up high (kinda like when you drive in 1st or low gear?) thanks

[AlienInv8r]

I'd go 3.73s if you're getting all that work done. You've already said you have a second car, and 6k/year is definitely not many miles at all. I put the 3.42s in my car (granted it's a 3.8) and from open 3.08 gears I felt a noticeable improvement. However, I think I felt the LSD more than gears, and now wish I had gone with the 3.73s. I also daily drive my car, and put about 18-20k miles on it per year. Most guys with 3.73s dont suffer too much loss in gas mileage due to having an overdrive gear; it's only a few rpms higher, maybe 2-300 I think generally.

I dont have an aftermarket TQ converter, but you definitely want one if you can afford it. Most people generally say that if you take off normally that daily driving isnt affected. It will still leave a stoplight normally if you dont floor it. The benefit from them comes when you stomp it and flash the converter, or you can stall up a bit higher. I think you'd still be safe with one, just try to match it up to where you're new torque curve will be with the cam as it will most likely have a different powerband from stock.

[98Camaro3.8]

6000 miles per year is not a daily driver. Get the 3.73s.