I just bought a 95 Firebird Formula, mods in sig. I want to hold off on touching the engine aside from the basic tune-up, for now. So my question is with the current setup what gears should I get? I do most of my racing on street tires and the car is a daily driver. Is 4.10 to much for street tires and daily driving, is 3.42 just fine, or should i go in between at 3.73? Also, what brand gears do yall recommend?

Eddie

 

looks like you already havew the 3.42's. I like mine, you should stick with those. They are a great all around gear, not o obad off the liond and great for the highway. 4.10's will be a lot for everyday driving. 1st gear is pretty much useless and you wil have major wheel spin. I would stay with the 3.42

 

put 4.10s in your car and see if you still agree with yourself.

4.10s are the best mod you do in a 6 speed.

 

I am running 4.10's in my 97 Z28. I like them specially for around town driving. If your gonna drive the car on the highway your gonna need to buy an LS1 aluminum driveshaft ($120 on boards) because with the stock steel shaft your gonna get some unbearable vibrations. So as long as you get that and make sure the gears are set correctly so they dont whine the gears are as streetable and everyday driveable as the stock 3.42's. Traction isnt much of an issue with me since im running the 11" wheels in back with nitto 315-35-17 tires

 

4.10s... I went with GM Motives and an Eaton Posi while I was at it. I drive the stop and go traffic every day. Works great!

 

I agree! 4.10s and a LT1=just amazing fun.

 

I had 4:10's in my stock rear. When I put in the 9 inch, I went with 3:89's. Big mistake, I miss my 4:10's. If fact, if I didn't have a set of 4:11's sitting in my garage waiting to go in, I would go with 4:30's. I don't now, but I used to do a lot of highway driving and 4:10's were no problem with the 6-speed. Just make sure you have a good driveshaft that doesn't vibrate.

 

4.10s on a stock rear end and say goodbye to that. If u ever plan on running a sticky tire at the track or on the street, ur playing russian roulette with ur rear end. One good dead hook and its gone.

I recently had a 3.73 rear end. VERY FUN. Chirped the tires at quarter throttle with a hard shift programming on the PCM. Also were great from a roll. A little whiny though. The major downfall with them was the terrible highway gas mileage. It's really annoying having ur car at 3500 RPMs on the highway, plus i'm a freak and worry about my engine all the time, and staying at high RPMs worries me

Stepping down to the 3.42 was very comfortable . Obviously not as aggressive as 3.73 or 4.10, but if ur driving mostly on the street, no problems.

if u can afford the gas, and don't mind a lot of RPMs, give the 3.73 a try.

 

Most people I know with M6s go 4.10s and the auto guys I know (myself included) went with 3.73s. The 3.73s aren't TOO bad on gas milege but they can whine a little and do keep the rpms up. 3.42s are a good comprmise IMO.

 

410s for sure. I went 4.33 and couldnt be happier. Dont listen to the people who are telling you not to and dont even have them in there cars Traction isnt too bad and they make any gear tons of fun. However your 10 bolt may as well be scrap metal as others have said if you ever get a good solid launch on them.

 

I VOTE 4.10S MY FRIEND HAD A STANG WITH 4.30s AND I LOVED THE FEELING OF HIS CAR SO I DID IT TO MINE AND HE MAD SURE I PUT IN THE HIGHER GEARS AND IM HAPPY I DID IT WINES A LITTLE BUT NOT MUCH AND FEELS LIKE A DIFFERENT CAR BUT GAS DID GO DOWN A BIT BUT THATS CAUSE I LOVE TO FEELING OF BEING PUSHED BACK INTO MY SEAT

 

Hey so I would go with 4.10s!

 

I have 245/50/16's nitto drag radials and a stock 10 bolt but I dont warm them up or anything and hardly launch often should I worry about my rear end if I get 4.10's?

 

You really don't need to worry. But the thought would be in my mind. But it could happen at any time. I know a lot of people that run nittos on a stock rear and they haven't had a problem yet. But it could happen. And I still think you should get 4.10s. You'll have a blast with them.

 

I have 3.73s in an M6. I'm happy with them. It wasn't a drastic change from the 3.42s, but noticeable. My cousin has 4.10s and he wishes he had 3.73s like me. THe 4.10s get the rpms up above 2k on the highway for him and his car is considerably louder from those extra couple hundred rpms. The 3.73s will make the car easier to hook in first gear on the street. I'd say 3.73s if it's a street car with occasional trips to teh track like mine. I should be right around peak HP in 4th in the traps once my cam goes in. The 4.10s would wind out 4th completely which would be better if this were a drag car, but for <10 runs a year it's not worth the louder exhaust on the highway and additional tirespinning from a stop. JMO

-brent