alot of you all know about my swap from the 346 to 406 ,when I had the 4 speed ,I allways thought first gear was there for nothing ,/ my thought is to go from 272 ratio to 342 gears, first gear is like so low with th350 3 speed second gear is fine ,I think to huge torq I now have is great but then even like said with the lt1 allways felt like I never had first ,so what do you think ,thank you

 

I just swapped from 2.73 to 3.42s. I still use first despite it's low 3.06 ratio. But now with the 3.42s, the car can actually use OD effectively. The car will eventually get 3.73s and I probably won't go any steeper than that. You should base your gear selection off of weight, torque output, tire size, cam selection as well as other factors. Research is key here.

 

2.73's are pretty good if you do a lot of highway driving, 3.08 is the next step-up.


3.23 & up would require A "Thick" conversion gear-set to fit your 2-series Carrier.


What is your Tire Height/Diameter?

 

255/40 /zr17 low profile tire ,I did have much wider ones on the back ,but they were gone after 14,000 miles an 3 or 4 burnouts an gas miles were bad that was the lt1 days now its just 255 40 all the way around ,I been thinking about 18 on the back some guys do that ,the ones I have now make good road tires an get about 30.000 for the kinda tire that's pretty good miles an got about 9 rateing for falken ,i already know I can upgrade my rear to the thread craby posted for making gear box stronger is whear I got 3,43 from hear an it talkes about handeling the hp I now have an the tlbs being 458 + ,oh I don't do alot of highway driving mostly in town only about 10 times a year I hit the highway ,thanks guys

 

on those days I allow the 2500 stall take over instead of shifting ,the 2.73 an chirp the tires ,my mechanic was surprised I was geared there ,an if I got 3.43 ,will have quicker take offs ,,I may go in the middle of what I have now ,mabey 3.08,they say though 3,43 make it stronger ? is that what makes it stonger is the bigger gears ,an was told the 3,43 is as big as you can go without changing the pumpkin

 

The Pinion Gear actually gets smaller as you go Numerically Higher in gear ratios. Now the Ring Gear will get thicker. I don't think it adds strength.


You can run "Thick" Conversion gear sets on your 2-series Carrier
Ring & Pinion Sets parts for Chevrolet / Chevy Camaro


Yukon has Thick gears in 3.42, 3.73 & 4.11 for your 7.6" 10-bolt.

 

Going with a numerically higher gear ratio will not strengthen a rear. There's usually less contact area with the teeth, making them weaker. Now, going up in ring gear diameter (measured in inches) will add strength. GM common rears from weakest to strongest are 7.5/7.6, 8.2, 8.5/8.6, (< These all have 10 bolt covers), 8.875 (12 bolt), 10.5 (14 bolt).

3rd and 4th gen F-bodies are split with two different carrier series. Series 2 came fitted with 2.73 or 3.08 gears from the factory. To fit a numerically higher gear, you need thick gears or spacers. 3.23 and numerically higher gears (3.42, 3.55, 3.73, 3.90, 4.10+) were a series 3 carrier

 

thanks guys very interesting what you don't know an now I do know,now , yes my plan is to go with the thread ,that talks about building the 7.5 up with stronger gears ,it just mentions 3.43 in the thread ,if I can build my up to handle 450hp for 500.00 to 700.00 ,will be better for my pocket an that I don't plan to race for now.so then my though is to build it up using the thread craby posted an go with like 3,08,see I thought I have to go with 3.43 to make it stronger ,I guess I need to print up the thread an better read it

 

you wish you had overdrive? its nice with 370s. i would think 323s would work and are common on the z28s. if you have any z28s in the wrecking yards in your area there should be a few to be had at good price.

 

what I realy want to do it what the thread say to do to rebuid the 7.5 stronger ,in some way I actualy like the gears the way they are ,I just think about the age of it 20 year old now ,I changed the gear oil 2 times now ,an was told the gears look good ,I cant rmeber from the thread you posted craby that makes it stronger to handle 450hp