3.43 Or 3.73 With The 6.2?

[rsfoster]

With the new six speed transmission what gear option would be the best for using a truck probably 80% as a daily driver but also pulling an approximately 6000 pound boat trailer most weekends as well as the occasional hunting and camping trips? I do plan on upsizing the tires to probably 275/60/20 as well.

 

I guess another way to phrase the question is with the 6.2 what are the advantages/disadvantages of a 3.73 over the 3.42?

[knipper_03]

Get the shortest gear available at the factory. You might get a little less gas mileage as a daily driver but when towing you'll have more grunt and passing power. 6000 lbs is quite a bit....go 3.73s. Gas mileage is negligible anyway considering your getting a 6.2 liter lol A taller gear will allow for larger tires in the future without sacrificing as much power loss. I know with gmt800s 4.10s are perfect in my opinion...with the six speed The difference in the 6 sp vs the 4 sp is there is more gears available on acceleration so it shift faster optimizing your ratio

 

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 R

4.027 2.364 1.532 1.152 0.852 0.667 3.064

 

 

 

4 speed

* First - 3.059:1.0

* Second - 1.625:1.0

* Third - 1.000:1.0

* Fourth - 0.696:1.0

* Reverse - 2.294:1.0

 

 

On the 6 speed you got a lot more low end grunt gearing from 1st through 3rd. You can see that your overdrive in both transmissions are about the same.

 

Overall I think go 3.73s because these engines seem flat in the torque area at lower rpms....keeping your rpms a bit higher might give you a truck that pulls better.

[Stevens03]

I've driven a few now and just another yesterday with 3.42's. I WOULD NOT get 3.42's if you plan on towing. The truck just seems to labor down the road. Out of the hole, quick, highway just doesn't seem like all that powers there. And the 6-speed still has issues in my book. This think on several occasions fell flat on it's face and could decide what gear it needed. I took it for a long drive, up mountains, highway, intown and was VERY disappointed. If this is what GMs doing stock.. it sucks That 4-second delay is HORRIBLE and the most times the 6-speed was nice, but every now and then it would slam gears... or just take what seemed like forever to shift.

 

I hate to tell all of yins with denali's and 3.42's. My diablo tuned 6.0 would stomp your 6.2, 3.42's If they (6.0 vs 6.2) there stock to stock, most likely the 6.2 would stomp the 6.0. Just wait till after the blackbear tuning.

 

Flame on!

[rsfoster]

Thanks for the replies, I was leaning to the 3.73 and that hepls me make up my mind.

[uh6tdrvr]

I've driven a few now and just another yesterday with 3.42's. I WOULD NOT get 3.42's if you plan on towing. The truck just seems to labor down the road. Out of the hole, quick, highway just doesn't seem like all that powers there. And the 6-speed still has issues in my book. This think on several occasions fell flat on it's face and could decide what gear it needed. I took it for a long drive, up mountains, highway, intown and was VERY disappointed. If this is what GMs doing stock.. it sucks That 4-second delay is HORRIBLE and the most times the 6-speed was nice, but every now and then it would slam gears... or just take what seemed like forever to shift.

 

I hate to tell all of yins with denali's and 3.42's. My diablo tuned 6.0 would stomp your 6.2, 3.42's If they (6.0 vs 6.2) there stock to stock, most likely the 6.2 would stomp the 6.0. Just wait till after the blackbear tuning.

 

Flame on!

 

How would you explain me beatin a 4 speed Vmax with my stock 5.3 and 6 speed? Last night it happened and i was wondering how I would do. It did better than i thought it would. I do agree with the delay it sucks but T/C and stability trac off it runs pretty good.

[Jeff_R]

How would you explain me beatin a 4 speed Vmax with my stock 5.3 and 6 speed? Last night it happened and i was wondering how I would do. It did better than i thought it would. I do agree with the delay it sucks but T/C and stability trac off it runs pretty good.

 

Easy, stock 4 spd Vmax's are SLOW! Race a tuned one sometime.

[GPSilverado]

Thanks for the replies, I was leaning to the 3.73 and that hepls me make up my mind.

 

 

I have the 3.42 in my 2009 ECRB 5.3 with the 4 speed. For towing, I would definitely say go with the 3.73 gears. As for fuel mileage, I think the 3.73 would probably get you the same mileage unless you live in an area where all of your mileage is done on flat roads.

 

My 3.42 w/AFM is pretty much useless. The AFM kicks off even on level ground at 55 - 65 mph from time to time. It seems that even maintaining the speed is too much for it. If you go up a slight grade (and I mean slight, barely noticable) it will always kick out.

 

I turn 1600 - 1700 rpms at highway speeds on an interstate with a speed limit of 70mph. I think a 3.73 would up that rpm to approx 1900 rpm, so not really much change.

 

I have owned 2 1994 Chevy Silverados, extended cab shortbed 2WD trucks. Both Identical except for the rear gear. The one with a 3.42 would get 15 mpg regardless of city or highway, while the one with a 3.73 would get 15 city and up to 18 on the highway. I think the gears being to high (lower number) puts the trucks in a lugging condition at highway speeds, which may actually use a bit more fuel. Like I said earlier, I believe the really flat highway areas would produce different results.

 

Just my opinion.

[ybsane]

How about a little more information on how far you have tow on the weekends and how far is your commute.?

If it was me I would go with at least 3.73 gears, since that 6-speed has two overdrives in it I would go with a 4.10 ratio, especially towing 6,000lbs and you plan to bump up the tire size.

 

Rob

[Jeff_R]

How about a little more information on how far you have tow on the weekends and how far is your commute.?

If it was me I would go with at least 3.73 gears, since that 6-speed has two overdrives in it I would go with a 4.10 ratio, especially towing 6,000lbs and you plan to bump up the tire size.

Rob

 

You can't get 4.10's, unless you get an HD.

[Badass69]

I've driven a few now and just another yesterday with 3.42's. I WOULD NOT get 3.42's if you plan on towing. The truck just seems to labor down the road. Out of the hole, quick, highway just doesn't seem like all that powers there. And the 6-speed still has issues in my book. This think on several occasions fell flat on it's face and could decide what gear it needed. I took it for a long drive, up mountains, highway, intown and was VERY disappointed. If this is what GMs doing stock.. it sucks That 4-second delay is HORRIBLE and the most times the 6-speed was nice, but every now and then it would slam gears... or just take what seemed like forever to shift.

 

I hate to tell all of yins with denali's and 3.42's. My diablo tuned 6.0 would stomp your 6.2, 3.42's If they (6.0 vs 6.2) there stock to stock, most likely the 6.2 would stomp the 6.0. Just wait till after the blackbear tuning.

 

Flame on!

 

X2. I left the NHT 2010 on the lot for pretty much the reasons described. That and the 0-60 tests I ran with the truck and my G tech on a 740' DA day were in the 8's and quarter miles in the 16's with no tire spin. Couple that to a really nasty surge at around 4000 rpm all on a new truck........Sorry, no dice.

 

Seems kinda hit or miss in a way with the 6 speed. The 6L90E in my 09 3/4 ton is fine. It has shifted fine since day one and beyond the odd harsh 2-3 shift pulls right along. I was half tempted to line this truck ( emptied out) beside that 6.2 with 373's..... I am pretty sure this truck would lose by very little.... if at all.

 

Gm needs to revamp there tuning on the trucks and make it more consistent. I am sorry but 16 second or even mid 15 second quarter miles with a 403 hp/417 lb 376 cid V8 in a 5500 lb pickup is just sad. If that's all it can muster you may as well not upgrade from the Vortec 350's of the later 90's because that's in the realm of what they could run stock....... with a whopping 255 hp/330lb ft. What happended, I thought performance increased with power not held steady. Really these trucks are the most pathetic, sorry excuse for 400 hp I have ever driven. I know racing may not be in everyones head but performance should correlate to the horsepower numbers posted. If they don't then post power numbers that actually match how the trucks perform.

 

That being said it seems to be hit or miss as I stated. I have driven 4 6.2's total, 2 with 3.42's and 2 with 3.73's. One of the 3.73 trucks seemed pretty good and tempted me to want one. The 3.42 geared ones were awful to drive.... this coming from someone who at the time daily drove an 06 1500HD with an LQ4......

 

A tune would rectify this and then void all incurred warranty at the same time if caught of course. That is simply not right...... buy a brand new truck and have to tune it to make it run how you would expect the truck to react...... that makes no sense. Tuning should be there to make a good thing better..... not to make a truck run what most would expect in the first place.

 

Get 3.73's as it's a deep as you can get........

[RyanbabZ71]

The 3.42 geared ones were awful to drive...

 

wow, I love my 6.2/3.42 Crewcab.

 

How many miles did the trucks have that you drove? I hated mine at first and it was more of a shifting issue. After about 700-800 miles and I got used to it and the truck was broken in I wouldnt trade it for anything. It doesnt fall on its face at all. I dont notice that much lag compared to my other vehicles (2000 5.3 3.73 ext cab and 2008 5.3 3.42 2wd Tahoe). I hit the gas and it goes.

 

If I was in your shoes I would go with the 3.73 mainly because your adding larger tires. The reason why I went with the 3.42 is because I wanted the Z71 suspension and appearance pkgs. I know the 3.42 is plently capable of towing anything I will need to in the future (fish/ski boat, utility trailer, etc)

[Matt_]

I've towed 6000+ with my truck with the 3.42s and 6spd and it has no problems at all. It'll still downshift and accelerate smoothly at highway speeds.

 

If you were towing that load weekly or even at least once a month then i'd sway towards the 3.73s. For for a daily driven truck that'll tow that load a few times a year (like what i do), the 3.42s are awesome with the 6.2L 6spd.

 

 

I hate to tell all of yins with denali's and 3.42's. My diablo tuned 6.0 would stomp your 6.2, 3.42's If they (6.0 vs 6.2) there stock to stock, most likely the 6.2 would stomp the 6.0. Just wait till after the blackbear tuning.

 

Lets do it this spring before your blackbear tune. E-town opens in April!

 

It took my truck ~300 miles for the trans shifting and performance to really settle in where its supposed to be. It now shifts smooth as silk and NEVER falls flat on its face. I don't think that test drive you went on was representative of how these trucks perform... even stock.

[RyanbabZ71]

I don't think that test drive you went on was representative of how these trucks perform... even stock.

 

+1

[uh6tdrvr]

I've towed 6000+ with my truck with the 3.42s and 6spd and it has no problems at all. It'll still downshift and accelerate smoothly at highway speeds.

 

If you were towing that load weekly or even at least once a month then i'd sway towards the 3.73s. For for a daily driven truck that'll tow that load a few times a year (like what i do), the 3.42s are awesome with the 6.2L 6spd.

 

 

I hate to tell all of yins with denali's and 3.42's. My diablo tuned 6.0 would stomp your 6.2, 3.42's If they (6.0 vs 6.2) there stock to stock, most likely the 6.2 would stomp the 6.0. Just wait till after the blackbear tuning.

 

Lets do it this spring before your blackbear tune. E-town opens in April!

 

It took my truck ~300 miles for the trans shifting and performance to really settle in where its supposed to be. It now shifts smooth as silk and NEVER falls flat on its face. I don't think that test drive you went on was representative of how these trucks perform... even stock.

 

 

What he said....and Stevens 7, make sure you have someone in the truck with you to record it cause its going to be hard for you to drive away and record out your back window at the same time!

[Badass69]

The 3.42 geared ones were awful to drive...

 

wow, I love my 6.2/3.42 Crewcab.

 

How many miles did the trucks have that you drove? I hated mine at first and it was more of a shifting issue. After about 700-800 miles and I got used to it and the truck was broken in I wouldnt trade it for anything. It doesnt fall on its face at all. I dont notice that much lag compared to my other vehicles (2000 5.3 3.73 ext cab and 2008 5.3 3.42 2wd Tahoe). I hit the gas and it goes.

 

 

 

 

One 3.42 geared truck had around 1200 miles on it and the other was brand new with nothing on it. The stronger of the two to both myself and the salesman at the time....... the one with no miles.

 

They both lagged, they both stumbled and the 1200 mile may as well have had a 4.8 under the hood for the way it pulled. The salesman couldn't believe it either and told me to buy a Vortec Max...... or a 5.3 for that matter because apparently it makes no difference. That kinda made me wonder about the guy. I never hardly said two words to him and he had nothing good to say. I will give him props though..... he was just being honest about the situation.

 

Don't worry, I am an apparent anomally and get only poor running new vehicles to drive. I don't believe that for a second but that's what the internet forums all try and tell me.

 

I like the HD I drive, it runs along just fine, pulls hard and is stock beyond synthetic oil in the engine. Whatever, just saves me money.

 

But this isn't about why I should buy anything or not so to the OP, get 3.73's. The mileage difference will be negligible at best and you get the mechanical advantage of the 3.73 gear in every gear of the transmission. Most people try and focus on first here and it's 4.02:1...... how much driving is done in first gear..... 2% maybe. Mechanical advantage is mechanical advantage no matter what.