Gears Or Headers?

tjcbenz · October 22, 2009

My next big expenditure on my truck will either be gears or long tubes w/custom exhaust. I currently have 3.23s and I am looking to get 3.73s. I have a G80, but from everything I've been able to find out, they are somewhat weak (especially when the truck is anything other than stock and a cam is in my future), so "while I'm at it" I'm gonna upgrade the LSD, a TruTrac or something and I am also going to put an aluminum girdle cover on it. All parts with the master install kit roughly a grand. If I don't do it myself, that's another 500 or so in labor, so 1500 bucks. My headers, JET HOT coated, 2 mufflers, possibly high flow cats and a custom mandrel bent stainless exhaust should also be somewhere around the $1500 mark. Needless to say I want both, but only room for one in the near future. Soooo....which one would you do first?? I figure I'll get the most noticable gains as far as feel out of the gears...but of course the headers/exhaust are a helluva lot cooler! Sound, looks and a nice power gain. On the other hand...if ya can't put it to the ground..... Opinions???

txab · October 22, 2009

Gears for me.

hockeypro1411 · October 22, 2009

With 3.23's, gears will by far be the best bang for your buck. You'll notice a difference with the 3.73's. If you decide later that gears aren't enough, you can go the whole header/exhaust route. Of course my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

music · October 22, 2009

Gears!

deyomatic · October 22, 2009

Another for gears...I think it will be much better as far as the "seat of the pants" dyno is concerned.

Are 3.73s low enough? These are pretty tall tires we have on these...Have you done the research as far as what speeds will be at what RPM with the 3.73s? If not, check out any of the websites and just see. With these tires, if I was changing it, I'd go 4.11-ish, but that's me...

tjcbenz · October 22, 2009

Another for gears...I think it will be much better as far as the "seat of the pants" dyno is concerned.
Are 3.73s low enough? These are pretty tall tires we have on these...Have you done the research as far as what speeds will be at what RPM with the 3.73s? If not, check out any of the websites and just see. With these tires, if I was changing it, I'd go 4.11-ish, but that's me...

Well since I have a RCSB 2wd daily driver, I don't think I need to go too deep. I'm running 275/60-17s which are actually hair shorter than the stock 245/70-17s. According to a calculator online, with my stock gears at 60 I'm running 1519RPM and with the 3.73s it's 1755...and with 4.11s 1933. 3.73s seem to be a decent middle ground gear.

deyomatic · October 22, 2009

Sounds good. I just wanted to mention it so you get the gears you want. I'd still do gears first.

tjcbenz · October 22, 2009

Yeah no prob. Sure seems the votes are tilting in favor of gears

uh6tdrvr · October 22, 2009

my vote is for 4.10. It will be the difference that you are looking for.

66nova · October 22, 2009

Another vote for gears. Definitely going to get more bang for your buck.

hockeypro1411 · October 24, 2009

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=103905

Get a deal on some gears here!

mdauwald · October 24, 2009

I learned many years ago with gears always get one size lower than you think you need. If you really want 3.73 get the 4.10s. Last time I regeared my Jeep I was convinced I wanted 4.10s but was talked into 4.56s. I was really glad I listened. I'm trying to decide if it's worthwhile to go from 3.73 to 4.10s on my silverado. I tow 6K for a couple hundred miles about once a month.

tjcbenz · October 24, 2009

I learned many years ago with gears always get one size lower than you think you need. If you really want 3.73 get the 4.10s. Last time I regeared my Jeep I was convinced I wanted 4.10s but was talked into 4.56s. I was really glad I listened. I'm trying to decide if it's worthwhile to go from 3.73 to 4.10s on my silverado. I tow 6K for a couple hundred miles about once a month.

Point taken. BUT.....I haven't towed anything. If I tow, it'll be a once here and there type thing when the necessity comes up, but by far not a regular thing. If I remember correctly from my owner's manual, my truck is rated to 7500 lbs with 3.23s and 8500 with 3.73s. Per the manual, I won't gain any capacity by steeper than 3.73 gears. I've got the lightest configuration you can get in a full size truck and I'm just not sure I'll gain anything by 4.10s and if I go too steep my motor is singing on the highway....and I can kiss any gas mileage I ever had goodbye. And it's a daily driver. I imagine I'll notice a pretty good difference coming from 3.23s.

uh6tdrvr · October 25, 2009

you will notice a difference but it will be a positve one! you Wont notice as much and i i think you will be disatisfied with the 3.73's plus your mileage will be minimal and city will improve because the engine wont be workin as hard.

4.10's and 4 link it! and you will be satisfied!