I have a 96 ws6 with about a 400hp le head/ cam/ header setup with a spec 4 clutch. want to make it another year without changing to a 9 inch as it needs paint this year. with a reinforced cover and tube supports and arp cap bolts what is the best gear to put in it as far as not breaking the rear, have nitto dr on the rear.

thanks

what normally breaks on these?

 

Drag only: 4.10 or even 4.56

Street only: 3.73

Street/Strip: 3.73, maybe 4.10, depending on if you saw more highway or more city miles...

 

unless you are real picky about picking up a tenth or two at the drags, stick with 3.73's for drivability and highway mileage.

 

yea with your mods, 3:73's are your best option..4:10's in a 10 bolt with your power will result in torching tires and broken 10 bolts!!!

 

anything with any kind of power is too much fot a 10 bolt. 10 bolts will handle automatic holeshots very well, but they do not take shock load at all and that is what screws us 6 speed guys.

 

i see alot of guys in the 11s with 10 bolts and just want to buy some time then i'll do it up right. what is it that breaks?

 

4.10's all the way.
Tons of low end power and so much more funt to drive.

 

I don't understand the point of tons of low end power if you can't use it on the street.
-b

 

So why do you say it cant be used on the street.
I can launch much harder without barking tires even when not racing. Plus if i do want to dump the clutch my tires still hook very well as long as it is warm.
If you power adders or big power then the 4.10's wont do on the street.
Plus like I said, the fun factor is much higher. I find myself not having to shift as much cause above 30MPH you can just leave it in top gear.

 

ttt
which will hold up the best with my set up and drag radials I have one of those cast caps with the preload bolts from jegs

 

ttt

 

People will claim the 3.73s are stronger due to the tooth count. However, with the setup you are talking about, you would go out the back door at about 5600-5800 in 4th, far from ideal. Depending on where you want to rev, I would go with 4.10s or 4.33s if you want to set the car up to run as good as it can.

However, Don't think you can side step the clutch. You will need to do more of a quick slip, and make sure that the drivetrain has a little preload in it to help the life of the rear.

 

i'm running a spec 4 clutch

 

If you're gonna do a gear set up I'd just go ahead and do the 4.10s. Just don't go crazy with it and you'll like it alot more. I agree with the above statements, there just alot more fun to drive and it makes it run a little stronger.

 

I had 4:10's with my 10-bolt and when it broke (GM gears, broke on street tires) I put 3:89's in my 9-inch. I always missed my 4:10's and have since changed the gears in my 9-inch to 4:11's. If my wife hadn't bought me the 4:11's for christmas, I would have went with 4:33's. I now put nothing but drag radials on my car. Makes for lots of fun.