I currently just have a 96 3.8l Camaro with a Magnaflow cat-back system on it. I'm considering getting a posi. rear end for it because I plan on putting in a 383 that will be built with a used lt1. I just want a ratio that I can put the most power to the ground with my current 3.8 and with the future 383, if it's possible to use the same rear end. I would also like to know how much I'm looking to spend on it.

 

It all depends on what transmission you are using and what you intend to do with the car. In general, for a street car, and this is very open to discussion, 3.70s make a good choice for an automatic, and 4.11 for a manual. Strictly drag racing, get the fattest tires and lowest gears that willlet the enginerev just past the power peak indirect drive as it crosses the finish line (4th gear in both the auto and t56 manual), probably 4.80s or 5.12s. This will also stress the heck out of the stock rear end and axles, so you may want to get something stronger.This also means you will have to put in 3 good shifts in a hurry, easy for a properly built auto, but not so easy using a manual box.

 

I have an automatic transmission. Actually I plan on pulling out the transmission sometime this next week and getting it rebuilt, so do you have any suggestions as far as what kind of parts to get that built with, that would be a good combination with the new rear-end andthe 383? For themost part this will be a street car but I do plan on bringing it to the track on the weekends once I get the motor swapped so it will be used for drag racing, but not anything too extreme. Given what I have just shared and also the rear-end you recommend, what do you think would be a good tire to run on my stock wheels?

 

With an auto I'd run a 3.73, but it depends what rpm you'll run the motor too and what size rims are you using and what style do you have? Drag style skinnies up front and big rear tires or low profile tires on 16, 17 or 18" rims? Either way depending on how much you plan to drive the mickey thompson drag radials work great with automatics and my friend is running consistant 8.30-8.40's @ 160's on a 275 60 15 drag radial.