Ok guys... I need your opinion. I have at least $600 to spend. I was thinking of getting a dyno tunning or gears. But I am pulling toward gears. My question is, when you converted to 3.73 how was your traction? I heard a lot of stories that the traction on a firebird 3.73 is very very poor. I all ready installed a stall converter 2400-2800 TCI and I think if I went with a 3.73 gear my traction will totaly suck! I know I will feel the power but it is no use for me if I don't have traction at all. I will be spinning my wheels while the other guy had taken off already. Should I go for dyno tunning instead?

I have a 94 Firebird Formula w/ 255x35x18 in front and 285x35x18 in back

also I just installed headers.....

 

Get the gears. Then later get some better tires. A tune is good and all, but if your sportin 2.73's then you'll want those 3.73's Yes traction will suck, but overall the car will be alot faster. Practice your launch after you get them in and you will be surprised how much they wake the car up.

Or with the $600 you could get some LTs and not have to worry as much about the traction as you would with 3.73's

 

I took .5 seconds off my et with 2.73 to 3.73 gears. buy some slicks later.

 

Andy, did you regret getting the 3.73 just because you had to put in slick tires to feel the difference.....

 

You will not need slicks to feel the difference. You'll just need to learn to launch it. I just prefer not to mess around with street tires when I'm racing. You'll enjoy the pull with street tires or sticky street tires or slicks.

The biggest drawback is going to be the reduction in gas milage. I can't tell you what that will be with the A4 as mine started slipping on the 12.24 pass and 114,000 miles on the odometer (the gears are not going to cause transmission failure).

Currently, I get 13 MPG with the TH350 and the 3.73 rear end, so expect it to be better than that. I get 15 MPG with the "wintertime" 2.73 rear end.

 

thanks for that advice. I will probably looking to purchase 3.73 gears. Time to look around.... I heard www.thunderracing.com is a good place to purchase 3.73 gears. Do you know of any website or company that you prefer...

 

Hey guys, is the 3.73 gear loud. For example, you can hear it spin.... What is the down fall of your 3.73 gear?

 

some are louder than others, you'll hear lots of different opinions on em, personally i think the motive gears are the best. the strange ones are good too but also more expensive.

 

Do you think is worth buying the Ratech Gear Install Kit? Basic, Deluxe or Complete...

I thought all I need is the oil and gasket and that only cost me $20

Do I still need to put the GM additive when installing a 3.73

 

When you buy gears, all you get is the ring and pinion gear and that's it.

The install kits come with shims, bearings, paste, stuff like that. The kit "level" will determine on how much of that kind of stuff you get Most everyone who buys gears buys an install kit. Which one depends on how much stuff they have laying around the garage and if they want to change bearings too.

I'd still put the additive in the rear. It has to do with the rear type (limited slip) and not really the gear ratio.

 

I agree with what the others say, you have to learn how to launch the car. The 3.73's did lower my traction when I first got them. But after a weekend of practicing launches, I was destroying cars out of the hole. I ran concistant 2.0 60fts with regular dunlop street tires.

Since you are packing a bigger converter, I would suggest some drag radials. It will take you from 1.9 or 2.0 60fts, to some serious 60fts, that will amount to a big drop in yout e.t.

You will love the 3.73's, it is a night and day difference. Yes you burn more gas, but if you can take it easy. And not be a lead foot, you will find that you give the car less throttle. Like when I'm cruising on the highway, and have to make a lane change, just going 1/4 pedal gets you to 80 in no time in OD, because of the 3.73's.

Till this date it is my best bang for the buck mod. GM should of never offered these gears in our cars. 3.23's should of been standard, with an optional 3.55 IMO for the a4. The car really wakes up, and you will notice this especially hammering it from a roll.

Back when I had my 2.73's it seemed like the car wasnt running to its potential when I would punch it from a roll. After the 3.73's went in, the trand downshifted, the engine roared, heard the tires chirp, and the car felt like it just leaped forward. I was like HOLY CRAP! lol I finally got the feeling I wanted out of the car.

Just be sure to get the pcm reprogrammed for the gear change. Or else your speedo will be almost 20mph above normal, and you will be running on the 2.73's shift points, which are too long, which will cause you to hit rev limiter inbetween shifts.

Good luck.

FYI, im running richmond 2-series 3.73 gears. They sing. Yes they are louder, then most gears, but with a loud exhaust it wont bother ya.

 

dont you have to change carriers from a 2 to a 3 if your car came with 2.73s...i was gonna do a gear swap, but didnt want to mess with changing everything else along the way.

 

no, they have 2 series carrier for 3.73. I found a guy who can sell me a richmond gear for $179.00 is that a good deal?

 

yeah thats a pretty good deal id take em.get that install kit too though..

 

I just ordered them and installed new tires today... I hope the 285 35 18 Michellen Sport is good tire to use with 3.73 gears...