ok, I 'm interested in getting some new gears for my car. It's mostly just a street car but I do plan on hitting the track a few times this summer. Are there and drivability issues with something like a 4.10? How much decrease in mpg am I going to see with having a 6 speed? I just have the stock 3.42's in it now. And is a 10 bolt worth building up or should I just save up and get a 12 bolt? I am planning on making somewhere in the 450-500 hp range within the next few years.

 

I might save for the 12 and keep running the 10 as is, that's a lot of power

 

save for the 12 bolt, if u can pick up some gears cheap then go for itbut i would save for a 12 bolt

 

I have noticed that strange makes axle shafts for 10 bolts, and if I bought richmond gears how much power can a built 10 bolt handle? are they worth building up?

 

The 6-speeds tend to hit alot harder than the autos. If you're making that much power don't even bother with a 10-bolt. Go with a 12-bolt or stronger. I'm making about 310rwhp and my 4.10's get louder after every track pass, so I ordered an S60 (overkill but I hope to make 500rwhp later on and never want to worry about the rear again). 4.10's are just fine with a 6-speed car on the street, but because they're thinner, they tend to not be as strong as the stock 3.42's.

 

I've read that 4.11 gears are a little stronger

 

with the strange axles and a diff cover w/ cap supports the ten bolt holds up pretty well.

 

Im in the same shoes as you... dont think that 3.73s are worth the time going from 3.42s...
But ive heard 4.11 are actually weaker thant he stock 3.42s bc of the smaller pinon gear....

Please corect me if Im wrong...

 

I think that going to a bigger gear ratio would more so increase the strain on the axels rather than the differential gears though. But I'm pretty sure that if I bought a richmond gear set that it would be stronger than stock.