I've looked around and it looks like GM put different gears in the rear ends for different cars? I'm not too sure about this as I am new to F-bodies, but if it is true how do I find out what gears I do have? Also, what is the sive of the rear end of 97 Camaros and number of teeth so I can order better gears if wanted?

 

If your car is a 6 speed it has 3.42s from the factory. IF it is an automatic is has either 3.23s or 2.73s. There is a code in the glovebox amongst all the others.

GU2= 2.73s
GU5=3.23s
GU6=3.42s

 

Another way to tell if your glovebox is hard to open without a screwdriver like mine is. If you have an Auto, if you have a 1st gear selectable you have 3.23's, if you have only as low as 2nd gear selectable you have 2.73's.

Good Luck.

-Dustin-

 

Thanks for the info, with my 6 speed I have 3.42's then. Would it be worth it for me to increase to a 3.73? Or, should I go to 4.10? Also, what is the differential size and teeth number?

 

With an M6? DEFINITELY go 4.10's. I've even got them in my A4!

When buying a new set, order them for a GM 7-1/2" / 7-5/8" 10-bolt (they're standard from '82+ F-bodies I believe, and also used in other GM vehicles).

Right now the 3.42's are 41 teeth (ring gear) and 12 teeth (pinion). 4.10's are 41 / 10 (do the math).

 

what gears you'll want will depend on your future plans. If you're planning on going with a power adder in the future you might want to stay stock or go to a 3.73. IF you'll be just a bolt on car or all NA, you might go 4.10s

 

Well, I don't plan to SC or turbo the engine, but I have thought about using a shot of juice. Probably about a 100 shot, and then only at the strip. So would the 4.10's be too much, or what I should get?

 

Personally I'd go with 3.73s, to retain better top end speed and more streetability, but the 4.10s will work.

 

How bad would 4.10's hurt the top end speed? I talked to a friend of mine who just put 3.89's in his 63 Galaxie with the Ford 9" rear end and a 390 CID engine, and he says he has trouble going over 70 MPH. Is it just because the 390 is a TQ monster or is this the case with all steep gears?

 

Probably just the ratio in the trans making it unbearable over 70 MPH for your friend.

I have 4.10s and I can cruise the freeway at 70 MPH in 6th gear turning a hair under 2000 RPM or thereabouts. The freeway isn't a problem because of the nice overdrive gears

BTW, in the quarter with 4.10s and stock sized tire you will run out of gear at about ~112 MPH in 4th. How high of a top end were you thinking?

 

Probably no more than 125 MPH. No real need to go much faster. So 4.10's would be best then?

 

There are goods and bads to every gear. You'll pull harder down low with 410s, but on the highway they wont pull as hard as a similarly powered car wit 342s or 373s IMO.....

 

Well, within a year or so I plan to have a stroker kit for it, and maybe NOS. With these on there, would the 4.10's be too steep for streetability?