hey guys, my camaro is running 14.0 with 28x10.5x15 mt et drags, i have a 3.23 gear so i figure its hurting a lot, what if i put a 373 in it and a 26'' slick, would that help a lot? also i have a 275/60/15 for the street so would the Cruising rpm's be decent? thanks
Adam

My experience has been that without overdrive 3.73 is a bit too much gear for a true street driven car. If you will make any highway trips of more that 50 miles, 3.73 will get old in a hurry. In my opinion 3.42 or 3.55's are the perfect street strip gear. If you have overdrive then that's another ball game. I have run 3.42, 3.73, 4.10, and 4.56's on the street (in performance oriented cars). Maybe a few guys will chime in that are running 3.73's without overdrive and give their point of view.

I run 3:73 with a 350 auto. I turn 3500 RPM or so at 65 MPH. But it is a blast to drive in town and works great in the 1/4.

i too am running 3:73's in my camaro, th350, 28" tire, 406 cu. i feel they are just about a perfect compromise for somebody that wants a bit more kick, but doesn't drive a ton on the freeway. i don't find it brutal on the freeway, but just don't plan on a nice quiet cruise at 75+. 60 feels fine, however. i drove my car 45 minutes one way on the freeway for a couple of months, with my old 350 in it, and it really isn't bad, but thats also only my opinion, i'm sure others might find it nerve racking. i do feel it would help your car at the track, however. i'm actually going to go with a bit more gear and a smaller tire next year, my car see's little time on the freeway, mostly city with trips to the track. my car hooks so well i feel it could use more gear to bring down the 60' times, and more rpms through the traps. in short, i like the 3:73 for a street car, as long as freeway cruising isn't the main use of your car. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I'm running 3.73's / 4 speed Muncie in my 69 Camaro. I like the torque, but I also like to run on the freeway too. I find the 3.73's a little low. About 3300rpm at 65 Mph. I originally had 4.10's (factory) but changed them to 3.73 so I wouldn't kill the 302 at low rpm. Since I put in the 350 I wish I had 3.42's or 3.55's.
Jim

My car has an M-20 and 3.31's in the old 12 bolt and with a 25.5" to 26" tall tires and a motor built for midrange grunt is a blast.

Turns right at 3050rpm with 25.5" tires doing 70mph!!

I like to roll her outta the hole and nail her, hazing the tires up through the gears!

pdq67

I tend to agree with 68rs406- not really that bad on the highway unless you are on a long trip. Cruising above 70 is somewhat annoying though if you have loud exhaust. My car will be seeing more highway time in the near future, so I plan to drop in an OD trans to boost the milage and slow down the motor a bit. The 3.73s are lots of fun in the city... :D

I run 3.55's and a 26" tire. 65 mph is about max cruise speed for a long distance - I run 3300 RPM at that speed. I do take mine on long trips ocassionally and I wouldn't go any steeper than a 3.55.

Your 27.5" tires would make a 3.55 about perfect for a top cruise speed of 65-70 IMO, a 3.73 would probably cruise a little slower - about the same speed as my 3.55 and shorter tire but not too bad.

Just my opinion.

Use one of the mph/gear ratio/tire dia. calculators if you want to play around.

pdq67

3.55's 26.1 tire 70 mph 3500rpm

just my experience. Even at that rpm I wish I had an 700r4 trans