Looking for experience with 3:70 gear.

[Duke W.]

Re: ...maybe it's not the gearing.Cam suggestion?

At this point in time the number of available camshafts for small blocks is beginning to approach infinity. I've always tried to use factory cams as a baseline. Upgrading the L-48 engine with an L-82 cam has always been very satisfactory. It produces a much stonger mid-range and top end without too much loss at the bottom end. A slightly milder choice is the L-79 (327/350) cam. This is just a wee bit milder than the L-82. Because of the 350s longer stroke, Chevy basically took the L-79 cam and increased the duration slightly with a slightly later closing inlet valve on the same lobe center angle. I've been told by some reputable experts that modern aftermarket cams have better and more accurate profiles and are the only way to go. You should contact the various aftermarket cam manufacturers. I think some offer on line "counseling". Fill out the form with your objectives, and they'll make a recommendation. Another altenative is to find someone with a set up that you like based on a ride/drive and buy the same cam. Hopefully others will have more definitive recommendations.

Duke

[bill shepherd]

Re: Looking for experience with 3:70 gear.

Let me throw in my two cents worth. I currently own a '55 Cadillac with a 3.77 ratio and a 331 cu. in. engine, and once upon a time I had a '65 Dodge with a 4.11 ratio and a 383 cu. in. engine. Granted, these cars are heavier than your Corvette, but their performance would be somewhat similar. You can do some neat tricks, like starting a manual off in fourth gear from a dead stop, or shutting down people who approach the intersection at speed whereas you had been stopped by the light. But if you intend to do any sort of interstate driving, you will immediately notice that the engine is thrashing about quite a bit at a constant 60 mph or higher. The higher revs will likely decrease the life of your engine and definitely blow out any weak spots in your exhaust system. What you will hear as you drive is not the radio or the person in the other seat, but the engine. Indeed, any spousal unit sitting next to you might wonder just why all the loud noise is "cool". Even short jaunts from one side of town to the other on the e-way are a bit unnerving, since we're all used to a certain engine rpm from driving our everyday cars--and you'd be driving a classic that sounds like it's coming apart. You'll also have to redo your speedometer gearing, and the local police will have an instant attraction to your jackrabbit car.

[Bob Booth #33372]

Re: Looking for experience with 3:70 gear.

Thanks for the insight Bill. I believe you're right that the revs would be higher/louder at highway speeds (music to my ears, I never play the radio in this car) but admittedly it would get annoying after a while. Maybe I will research a 3:55 gear instead. I decided to make this a project for next winter. It's getting too close to spring here in the N.E. to waste time looking at it sitting on jack stands when I could be driving it!

Regards,

Bob Booth