Thinking about downgrading to 3:42

[DJ Taso]

Yea, I know, you guys probably thinkg I'm crazy. My car's been stored for the winter for 2 months now and I've been thinking. Don't get me wrong, the power is there and the pull is increadible with an M6, but there's 2 reasons why I'm thinking about downgrading to a 3:42:

1. Gas. I $h#t you not, I go thru $10.00 a day and with these gas prices it's gonna get worse.

2. Gear whine. I've tried everything to get rid of it (even bringing it back to the shop where I had it done to get it re-shimmed), but it just won't go away.

My 3:73 gear was the second upgrade I did to my car before my ram air. With a 3:42, I think I would feel comfortable.

[Z Ya Later]

What brand did you get? How old are the gears? I might be interested

[Joe 1320]

You may want to consider a takeout rear end assembly from an M6 car. At least you know the gears will be quiet.

While you're in here, you might want to read here:
http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4197

[lt1maro]

Dude i feel you on the gas mileage. The whine is also an issue for me too. But when you let me drive your car at the track, i didnt notice a hint of whine in comparison to mine. Let me know if you sell the gears cause i have a friend that wants some.

[Jeff95TA]

Do you have the original gears? If you do aftermarket, you could still have whine with the 3.42s.

[Injuneer]

I can't believe the 3.73's get you all that much less miles/gallon than the 3.42's. With the M6, I found the 3.73's made 6th gear a lot more friendly. There's really no reason to drive at higher rpm... just drop the rpm by going to the next gear sooner.

[wolfdogs]

I can't believe the 3.73's get you all that much less miles/gallon than the 3.42's. With the M6, I found the 3.73's made 6th gear a lot more friendly. There's really no reason to drive at higher rpm... just drop the rpm by going to the next gear sooner.

im with fred. i got better mileage with my 4:10's in the CompTA than i did with the 3:42's..... and i had the lt4 hot cam and a bunch of other stuff...

it made 5th and 6th more efficient.

[DJ Taso]

What brand did you get? How old are the gears? I might be interested

It's a Motive gear. Got it installed back in August of '01.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Yea, I know, you guys probably thinkg I'm crazy. My car's been stored for the winter for 2 months now and I've been thinking. Don't get me wrong, the power is there and the pull is increadible with an M6, but there's 2 reasons why I'm thinking about downgrading to a 3:42:

1. Gas. I $h#t you not, I go thru $10.00 a day and with these gas prices it's gonna get worse.

2. Gear whine. I've tried everything to get rid of it (even bringing it back to the shop where I had it done to get it re-shimmed), but it just won't go away.

My 3:73 gear was the second upgrade I did to my car before my ram air. With a 3:42, I think I would feel comfortable.

Bro - your gears aint too loud. Your exhaust is too quiet

[fastTa]

Bro - your gears aint too loud. Your exhaust is too quiet

Great Kevin's think alike.

[DJ Taso]

Bro - your gears aint too loud. Your exhaust is too quiet

lol. Any louder, I'd be setting off car alarms.

[Z Ya Later]

lol. Any louder, I'd be setting off car alarms.

LoudMouth baby...LoudMouth lol. I set off car alarms just by firing the Z up lol. Also, how much do you want for the gears? I'm assuming they are for the stock 7.5" rear, right?

[Dan B. 96 T/A]

I've got 4.10's and hardly noticed any difference in MPG at all! As long as you can keep your foot off the loud pedal!

[markd79ta]

I lost 5-7mpg on the highway and 1-3mpg in the city when I went to the 4.10s. Four years ago, when I went to Vegas from Denver, I averaged 28mpg; this last fall I averaged 22mpg. The car was a lot more mild mannered in the mountains; the gears made the drive a little less comfortable. I lost a little in the city, but mostly from getting on it a little more. I really like the performance of the gear change, but believe it or not, the car is not nearly as fun on a trip and the gears are burdensome in the mountain passes compared to the stock 3.42s. However, the speeds traveled on this trip are between 79-85mph so sixth gear with the 3.42s is incredibly efficient. Oh, the speed limit is 75mph; it is enforced as keep it under 80 in some places and keep it under 90 in others.

[fastTa]

I lost a little in the city, but mostly from getting on it a little more.

This is ususally the reason people "report" losing gas mileage when going to a numerically higher gear over the stockers.

Most cars will actually see an improvent in gas mileage when going from 3.42's to 3.73's. Like mentioned before, it makes the upper gears more efficient. And when going to a 4.10 your gas mileage should be better in town and possibly just 1-3 MPG less on the highway.