Shift Kit or Gears?

[phoenix_rising]

Thank you for the info guys... Turns out I have 3.08's in my car now and I will have to use craig's method to figure out the other one.

[98blackbeauty]

Ben, if the pumpkin has not been disturbed, the factory puts a metal tag off one of the bolts with the gear ratio.

[1BADAIR]

just pull the cover and see what it says. I would change the gear lube anyway if your gonna install a different axle

[phoenix_rising]

Very cool Larry(s) I should be getting the axle out of storage tonight and will be doing more cleanup and paint work to it.

Here is a taste of what is to come...

Posi rear with 3.23 gears and 4 wheel disc brakes $0
Aluminum TA cover $0
Aluminum DS $65
Stainless brake hoses $75
Powder Coated brake calipers $0
Slotted brake rotors and some nice ceramic pads $200

Is there anything else I should take care of while I am under there?

How much of a difference should I see between the 3.08's and the 3.23's? I was told that for the 3.8L V6 3.23s are optimal especially if I am considering forced induction, which I always am.

[Ridings Automatics]

won't be that noticable.

A one up change in gears you probably won't notice too much. A two up change in gears ( 3.08 to 3.42) would be noticable in the seat of the pants.

Mike.

[c0ncEpT]

I went from 3.23 to 3.42 and didn't notice a difference really. I bet it will be the same case for you

[DETROITMUSCLE]

that gear swap won't feel like much or really make a huge difference at the track but a converter will show massive gains. A shift kit isn't even necessary either, just have someone tuned your trans and bump up the line pressure and it does the same thing.

[Fbomb]

Electric turbo. I've seen them before but they're for ricers that don't ingest any more air than a dirt devil.

Maybe you could rig up ten of them?

[Z28ISGR8]

I went from 3.23 to 3.42 and didn't notice a difference really. I bet it will be the same case for you

Maybe someone already said this but why not go up to a 3.73? Going from a 3.23-3.43 is a pretty small difference.

[sman]

Not sure about 3.23's, I however went 3.08 to 3.42 and it REALLY woke the car up.

[jderry]

A one up change in gears you probably won't notice too much. A two up change in gears ( 3.08 to 3.42) would be noticable in the seat of the pants.

Mike.

I agree completely, my freind put a 3:23 in his car i didnt notice a ton of difference, however my 3:42 seems more noticeable.

[MiDi_2001]

Maybe someone already said this but why not go up to a 3.73? Going from a 3.23-3.43 is a pretty small difference.

I was kinda thinking on the same line but I thought there might be something being that this is a 6 and not an 8.

I went from the 3.42 to a 3.73 and there was some difference...but definitely not what I expected.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

he wants to stay with a lower gear ratio in hopes of putting a turbo on his car down the road.

[MiDi_2001]

he wants to stay with a lower gear ratio in hopes of putting a turbo on his car down the road.

Ahhh.

[phoenix_rising]

Yessir! I love my 6. I just want to tweak it a bit. If I can get this thing into low to mid 15's by the end of summer I will be happy as a clam. My dream for this car is that someday it will become a 12 second car while running FI on a 6.

I bought my '86 TA to build as a V8 speed demon. Really looking at some big blocks for the Trans Am. I had a lead on a pair of Buick 455s for $400 but they sold. I'm thinking why not??? Haven't you ever seen a 3rd gen pulling a boat trailer doing 10 second quarter miles???