3.23 or 3.42?

[Camaro98Z/28]

Mods listed here:

TR224 114 LSA, LS2 Chain Gears & Trays, LS7 Lifters, Manley PRs, PAC Valve Springs, SLP Ported/Shimmed Oil Pump, SLP SS Hood, SLP SS Grille, SLP SS Spoiler, SLP Lid, K&N Panel, SLP Bilstein Strut Spring Package, 1LE Front Sway, Circle D 3200 Stall, PS LTs & Y, Magnaflow Cat-Back, BMR ADJ LCAs and Panhard, UMI SFC, TUNED BY JJS PERFORMANCE, Pioneer AVH-4000 HU, All Infinity Speakers.

Right now I have the stock 2.73. I can upgrade to a 3.23 or a 3.42 for the same price as he has one of each.

I already dont like how much drone the car puts out so I want to keep it somewhat streetable. Will the 3.42 or the 3.23 keep me outta the drone zone?


Any input at all would be appreciated guys. I just want a car I can have fun with and take the gf out in and still have fun in (when shes complaining about the noise it makes it a lil difficult for me to actually have fun) and even I'll admit at times especially when starting off from a stop, the car is way too loud.

[92z28camarokid]

I personally would go with 3.42s. It will give you the kick you want and also be great for cruising at highway speeds

[Cutlass]

I wouldn't pick gear ratio based on exhaust noise. Fix the exhaust to reduce the drone. Out of those 2 ratios I'd pick the 3.42. IMHO there's rarely a good reason to pick a performance ratio less then 3.42.

[oldmanZ28]

^^^ agree,if you got an exhaust tone/noise you don't like,fix/modify that first.

gears,since you've got 2.73s' which means a 2 series carrier,if you were to use the existing carrier,you would need 'thick' gears of 3.23 or 3.42. 3.23 'thick' gears don't exist,3.23s' on a 2 series carrier would need the 'ring gear spacer' which is something you would definiely not want to do/use.
are you planning a carrier change to 3 series also.
but of the 2 ratios,I would pick 3.42.

[TLS_Addict]

My 3.73s put me above the drone zone.....lol

[Camaro98Z/28]

^hahha

yea guys, its a full carrier I can buy for 200 either the 3.23 or the 3.42 (just need to reuse my brakes on the 3.42).

Ive also been told the 3.42 will cause more wheelspin on launch thus making it equal to the 3.23, the 3.23 would give better gas milage and be less wear on my tires.

I realize that gas savings and power dont go hand in hand but I currently have a 2005 Cadillac STS4 AWD with 3.23s front and rear and a 4.6l N* it DRINKS gas (average 14 mpg on 93 octane gets 12 city 18 hwy) so the Camaro is actually my economy car. Don't want mileage to tank like my STS is.

I was looking into getting the Magnaflow 14419 to put in my I-Pipe to kill the done, I've already removed the entire interior and dynomatted it, which helped greatly but hasn't done enough to my liking yet.

[TLS_Addict]

^hahha

yea guys, its a full carrier I can buy for 200 either the 3.23 or the 3.42 (just need to reuse my brakes on the 3.42).

Ive also been told the 3.42 will cause more wheelspin on launch thus making it equal to the 3.23, the 3.23 would give better gas milage and be less wear on my tires.

I realize that gas savings and power dont go hand in hand but I currently have a 2005 Cadillac STS4 AWD with 3.23s front and rear and a 4.6l N* it DRINKS gas (average 14 mpg on 93 octane gets 12 city 18 hwy) so the Camaro is actually my economy car. Don't want mileage to tank like my STS is.

I was looking into getting the Magnaflow 14419 to put in my I-Pipe to kill the done, I've already removed the entire interior and dynomatted it, which helped greatly but hasn't done enough to my liking yet.

I would still go with the 3.42s. I was torn between the 3.42s and the 3.73s and my car had a 2.73s in it stock. 1st gear was ok but 2nd would fall on its face.

The 3.42s are not going to spin THAT much more than the 3.23s. Your mileage is not going to be that much different with the 3.42s than the 3.23s. One thing is your car will get up to speed quicker which honestly I think will give you better mileage in town.

[ZForce1]

I am in the process of changing from 2.73's to 3.42's. Can't wait to see how it drives. Does not see the track much at all, had to give at least a passing nod to fuel economy. For what the car is used for I think I chose the right gear.

[robs98mysticZ]

imo just do 3.42s how you drive is gonna decide the gas mileage and between 3.23s and 3.42s you will like the get up and go with the 3.42s more and wheel spin will not be much more and you most likely wont notice a difference as far as tread wear

[redbird555]

I have 3.42's and they are a great all around gear at 80 mph I'm only 150rpms higher than a 3.23 car and the fun around town is well worth it. They do spin the tires a lot but not much worse than 3.23's and with some good tires that should be even less of an issue.

[oldmanZ28]

in the real world,not talking about advertised mpg, of actual mpg vs ratio,the difference between 3.23 and 3.42 will be 1/2 mpg. mpg is 'right foot dependent' more than anything else. cruising speed is 2nd,staying with traffic on interstates,typically 5-10 above the limit will give a mpg value. dropping down to the limit will increase 1 mpg,dropping down to 5 under the limit will gain another mpg. as good as the f-bods are aerodynamically,wind resistance destroys mpg.
do the 3.42s'.

[Camaro98Z/28]

sounds good guys.
much appreciated!

[karpetcm]

i had an auto and went to 3.42's in the past. So my advice to you is do 3.42's. Compared to 3.23's your only going to be 2 maybe 3 hundred rpms higher if that when your cruising on the highway.

[INMY01TA]

Neither. 3:73s or no swap.

[StuntmanMike]

Neither. 3:73s or no swap.

On a DD or a car where MPG is a concern, I'd go no higher than 3.42.

IMO the RPM's will be a bit too high with the 3.73's. I talked to a guy at the track last year who went from 3.42's to 3.73's. He liked them at the track, but he said he didn't like them on the highway and missed the 3.42's for that type of driving.

Plus you'll REALLY have a wheelspin problem with 3.73's.

And what Circle D converter are you running...is that the 278MM for around 4 bills/ How do you like it, I've been kicking around the idea of getting one for mine. Did you take it to the track to see what gains you got?

Thanks.

Oh, and I feel you on the 2.73's...I have them in my car, and REALLY want to go to 3.42's as well. It feels like such a dog with those 2.73's.

[INMY01TA]

On a DD or a car where MPG is a concern, I'd go no higher than 3.42.

IMO the RPM's will be a bit too high with the 3.73's. I talked to a guy at the track last year who went from 3.42's to 3.73's. He liked them at the track, but he said he didn't like them on the highway and missed the 3.42's for that type of driving.

Plus you'll REALLY have a wheelspin problem with 3.73's.

Have you tried them? I have 4:10s (= to 3:73s in A4) in my M6 and dd it for years, my milaege did not go down even one whole mpg. Old wives tale that it absolutely kills mpgs in my experience.

No problems with wheelspin either.

[TLS_Addict]

Have you tried them? I have 4:10s (= to 3:73s in A4) in my M6 and dd it for years, my milaege did not go down even one whole mpg. Old wives tale that it absolutely kills mpgs in my experience.

No problems with wheelspin either.

Cruising speed with 4.10s in a manual is NOT the same as 3.73s with an A4. I turn 2400 rpms at 70 mph with my A4 and 3.73 gears where as your .5 OD and 4.10s give you about 1900 rpms at 70. No way in hell are they even close.

If not mistaken 3.23s are about the same at 70 (actually higher) as your .5 OD 6th gear with 4.10s. You cant compare as they are not the same OD gearing.

[INMY01TA]

Cruising speed with 4.10s in a manual is NOT the same as 3.73s with an A4. I turn 2400 rpms at 70 mph with my A4 and 3.73 gears where as your .5 OD and 4.10s give you about 1900 rpms at 70. No way in hell are they even close.

If not mistaken 3.23s are about the same at 70 (actually higher) as your .5 OD 6th gear with 4.10s. You cant compare as they are not the same OD gearing.

I'm going off the fact that you're going up two sets of gears with either car but okay. My friend had an A4 w/3:73s and it was a blast. I wouldn't bother with anything less. Don't be skeered.

[TLS_Addict]

Have you tried them? I have 4:10s (= to 3:73s in A4) in my M6 and dd it for years, my milaege did not go down even one whole mpg. Old wives tale that it absolutely kills mpgs in my experience.

No problems with wheelspin either.

I'm going off the fact that you're going up two sets of gears with either car but okay. My friend had an A4 w/3:73s and it was a blast. I wouldn't bother with anything less. Don't be skeered.

+1......I love them.

Rather have a manual with a 9 bolt and 4.10s though! haha

[redbird555]

3.37's are a bit much on the hwy even if they dont decrease mpg which is bs seeing as the motor is spinning more rpms so it obviously consumes more fuel... even if it didnt the motor would still be at 3k at 80 which would be highly annoying to drive with imo.