Topic: Gear Selection
in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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Was wondering what RPM's I should be turning at 65 MPH in Overdrive with my 2004r trans with 3 different gear ratios/
I bought a set of 3:55, Thinking about 3:91 or 4:11. The rear wheels are 27" tall. 2004r trans and a 383 stroker. What is the highest RPM you would want to run going down the highway @65 if gas mileage meant nothing to you. I was thinking around 2500 rpms would be about the max for a long haul. Does anyone have the conversion chart for this.
Also is the rear out of an 81 the same or different then my 72. I found a set of 4:11 for an 81.
Thanks
Rodney
I bought a set of 3:55, Thinking about 3:91 or 4:11. The rear wheels are 27" tall. 2004r trans and a 383 stroker. What is the highest RPM you would want to run going down the highway @65 if gas mileage meant nothing to you. I was thinking around 2500 rpms would be about the max for a long haul. Does anyone have the conversion chart for this.
Also is the rear out of an 81 the same or different then my 72. I found a set of 4:11 for an 81.
Thanks
Rodney

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From the info you gave, I ran some numbers through an online engine rpm calculator. The 200R4 I believe has a .67 overdrive ratio.
At 65mph a:
3.55 = 1924 rpm approx.
3.91 = 2119 rpm
4.11 = 2227 rpm
'80-'82 differentials are the aluminum DANA 44. These are weaker that the cast iron units.
Gear sets from '80-'82 will not work in the older cast iron '79 and older corvette differentials.
Some guys with '80-'82 vette are adapting the cast iron units to the aluminum "batwing." Good upgrade if you going to be pushing some power.
Speaking of diff's. Not to get off the subject. I'm waiting for my differential for the '81 to come back from a fellow in Texas. I had him machine a left bearing cap out of billet steel and fit a C4 carrier w/posi unit. These are a weak points in the Aluminum Dana 44. I'm going with 3.54 gears. This should work good when I swap over to the "Baby LS1" engine.
|UPDATED|5/26/2012 7:04:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
At 65mph a:
3.55 = 1924 rpm approx.
3.91 = 2119 rpm
4.11 = 2227 rpm
'80-'82 differentials are the aluminum DANA 44. These are weaker that the cast iron units.
Gear sets from '80-'82 will not work in the older cast iron '79 and older corvette differentials.
Some guys with '80-'82 vette are adapting the cast iron units to the aluminum "batwing." Good upgrade if you going to be pushing some power.
Speaking of diff's. Not to get off the subject. I'm waiting for my differential for the '81 to come back from a fellow in Texas. I had him machine a left bearing cap out of billet steel and fit a C4 carrier w/posi unit. These are a weak points in the Aluminum Dana 44. I'm going with 3.54 gears. This should work good when I swap over to the "Baby LS1" engine.
|UPDATED|5/26/2012 7:04:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
TKO500 5 spd.
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Personally, I'd go with the 3.55, but the 3.91 would be ok too. I would not go to 4.11 if planning on running very many highway miles. Low ratio gearsets like that tend to get hot in use. I think Darryl's RPM/Gear ratio "chart" is prolly correct.
Also correct in that you cannot use gearsets designed for the Dana(aluminuminum) carrier in the iron carriers.

Also correct in that you cannot use gearsets designed for the Dana(aluminuminum) carrier in the iron carriers.

Joel Adams
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you can find a couple of different sites that has a calculator for such purposes...
one neat one i found that has a display in real time of a tach and speedometer, along with gear selections, both rear gear and transmission, tire size selector,etc..
this one is a little more straight forward.. :)
just plug in your numbers.. :)
Thanks for the replies. I will start to look for a set of 3:70, 3:90 or 4:11. If I dont find any of these by the time I pull mine apart I will go with the 3:55 gears I bought. The overdrive looks to make a huge difference.
Thanks again for the responses
Rodney
Thanks again for the responses
Rodney


HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
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Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Very happy with my 3.70s. 65 MPH is at about 2000 RPM - engine is loafing and first gear converts to something like a 4.56 rear due to the lower first gear in the 700.
Those poor tires...

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I am very happy with the 3.55 gear and my 200-R4 trans
With the better first and second gears for low end really helps with fast starts. Anything more and all I do is spin tires anyway.
200-4R: 2.74
first, 1.57 second, 1.00 third, .67 fourth
Turbo 400: 2.48 first, 1.48
second, 1.00 third.
Turbo 350: 2.52 first, 1.52 second, 1.00 third
Brian - NCM Lifetime Member
73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System
Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components
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