Building and swapping rear ends, and am wondering what gears would be best. I drive the car a couple times a week, but would like to start going to the track occasionally. 355 stock TPI pushing probably 275hp. I figure if I ever go bigger motor or blower, the rear will get replaced again with a 12 bolt, so gears for this combo... A4 is stock for now....

3:42's or 3:73's?

 

If you drive it a lot, 3.42's. I've got them in my LB9 T/A and 1st gear is almost useless from a dig. There wont be a huge difference between them and a 3.73, but you'll see it at the gas pump.

 

3.73's...thats what i'm going and mines a daily driver...3.42's aren't enuf IMO....theres not a huge difference between the 2, but theres enoguh of a difference, if your doing the swap you mines as well go with the 3.73's...

 

i've heard people before on here and other boards say that 3.73s are too tall a gear for the 350TPIs powerband since it runs out of breath at 5500rpm and that 3.42s match the powerband better. maybe i'm just imagining things but i can swear this has been said before.

 

I believe that a 3.42 would be perfect for a STOCK tpi trying to get the best 1/4 mi times. BUT I am putting in 3.73.

Reasoning:

1) I don't do much 1/4mi, but stoplight to stoplight and 0-60 the 3.73 will be faster (If you can hook) and thats where I see it most.

2) Stealthram, heads, cam in the future so do not want to buy gears twice.

 

I am putting 3:73's in mine. But I also have a minirammed 383 for a motor. She likes to rev!

 

Yea, I will probably not go beyond stock TPI unless I go forced induction, so 3:42 is probably a better bet from what I am gathering.

I should swap the 3:42's out of my 98 for 4:10's, and put the others in the GTA.....

Hmm....too much money right now for car stuff.....

Thanks!

 

stop light to stop light, 373's are the way to go...TPI puts out tons of torque, so do 373's, that would make a fun match....the 1/4 mile times will be a minumal change...but down the road, you'll always be looking to get more power, and the easiest way to do that is change intakes, and then it'll rev higher, so 373's would be a perfect match..i'm also gettin a HSR, cam, and headwork, so 373's will fit my 350 perfect too...its your call tho, but IMO, why buy gears twice when you can just do it right the first time...

 

Hmmm.....

 

I'm going through the traps at areoun 4700 RPM when I had the 700R4 in the car. Like I said, 3.73s would make 1st gear useless with the T5.

 

You are going throught the traps at 4700 with which gear? That would be ok for the 3:73's.