Shift Kit or Gears?

I am looking to make another trip to Milan with my bird. I wanted to do something cheap before I go.

So which mod would make more of a difference in performance?

A Shift Kit

or

A rear axle swap to a posi rear 3.23-3.42 rear

BTW I already have the rear end so I figure the prices will be comparable.

P.S. I seem to beat most people off the line and have a decent lead 1/2 way down the track but then it seems like my car starts to taper off.

I ran a 16.0 1/4 last time at like 75 MPH. I have headers, intake, cat back...

[shawnc16]

gears... shift kit wont do anything for ya

[rcazan10]

Gears

[1BADAIR]

convertor

[98blackbeauty]

basic rule of thumb, your car should pull hard all the way, or almost all the way if you have the right gear in rear. Sounds like yours gives out part way down. So sounds like you need 3.42 gear. IMHO

[jderry]

I have both, a 3:42 and a shift kit, i noticed alot more out of the gears. The shift kit just shifts a little harder.

[Ridings Automatics]

Converter !!!

Shift kit will help with durability. Gears will make a big improvement. But a converter will be the best bang for the buck mod, bar none!

Mike.

[MiDi_2001]

Shift kit = wow
Gears = holy crap!
Gears + Converter = go find some clean pants...

[nascarnate326]

3:73?

[JoeliusZ28]

convertor

x2.

[1qwikSS]

Turbo!!

[phoenix_rising]

Thank you guys. Is there a way to tell which gear set I have currently? As I understand it, an auto 3.8L from 1997 could have any one of 3 gear sets, 2.73, 3.08, 0r 3.23 where as the manual trans would have received a 3.42 or 3.73 gear set.

Also what gears were available in '94 for a V8 auto {my replacement axle}

[DeadOnWS6]

'94 v8 auto could have either a 2.73 or 3.23's depending on what transmission set-up it had. If it had first gear select it had 3.23's. If it started with 2nd gear select it had 2.73's. Or in the glove box of the car the rear came from the code GU2 is 2.73 and GU5 is 3.23

[phoenix_rising]

1QuikSS: I've want a Forced induction setup badd. But I am only looking to spend a few hundred dollars right now.

Is there any way to tell by looking at the gear set what ratio it is? I did not get to look at the car before I got the axle. I bought it and had it delivered a few years ago and have been dragging it around since.

[9T8W66]

Ben you can determine gears by marking and rotating the driveshaft or pinion yoke and count it's rotation vs one rotation of the wheel.

example if the pinion rotates approx 3 and a half times for one wheel rotation then the rear gear is a 3.42.