hello, not a camaro, but have an 85 grand prix with 404 chevy small block. It has 882 heads, mildly ported, performer rpm manifold, 750 edelbrock, 9-1 cr, shorty headers, and comp magnum 280 cam. I have a th350 with 2400 stall, and stock 2.41 posi. I am running 27 inch tall tires. I know this gear is killing me. I have a set of 3.73 gears, but would 3.55 or 3.42 be better? I do plan to do a little highway driving. Thanks

You'll have to give on one end or the other. 3.42's will give better highway mpg, but won't be quite as quick as 3.73's. None of your choices is that extreme so I would decide which you will be doing more of racing or cruising. I personally have 3.31's and feel they are a great all around gear, but I have a 4-speed so...

The 373's will be fine for your ride. Not too big not too small.

3.73's and 26" tall tires = 3000-3300rpm's @65mph(27"tall tires 2800-3000ish) , something to think about.

373s and a 26" tire will put you above 3000rpm at 60mph with converter slipage. I'd go 342s

3.42's in my opinion

You oughta be just about right on 60mph with a 3.73 gear and your tire height. When you check the math, it says 65 mph, however, it was already mentioned that there will be some converter slip. So, I figured in 8% slip and viola, it comes down from 65 to 59.XXXXXXX. Anyways, you might see anywhere from 5-10 percent, so I used 8 as a happy medium due to the fact that your converter is relatively mild, so if you went on the highway with the car and wanted to keep the revs at 3000 or less, count on driving somwhere close to 60. If you can handle that, than Id be lookin at 3.73 cause that would be my preference with that camshaft. I guess a 3.55 would be my next choice.

Keep in mind that this is my own preference. I know I sound like Im pushin for 3.73 gears, but its not because I think that it has to be that way in order for it to work well. I feel that anywhere between 3.42 to even a tad larger than a 3.73(maybe about a 3.90) would fit that particular motor/cam combo(basically that should be the range for the smallest to the largest gear that makes sense with that motor), so its up to you in the end. If you want it to still perform well, but do its best on the street, the 3.42s are in. If you dont mind sacrificing a little bit of cruising manners for a bit more punch, go with a 3.73 or somethin real close to it.

In the end, youve got such airplane gears to begin with that even a swap milder gear like the 3.42s will feel like a giant difference in the way the car performs compared to what you got now. So, you oughta be plenty satisfied either way you go.

Go with 3.42's you won't be sorry. You really don't give up much off the line. the difference between 3.73 and 3.42 is only .31. That .31 is big on the highway but, not that big in the 1/4 mile. I doubt you would see much difference in ET, you should have plenty of torque with that engine, so getting off the line shouldn't be an issue. 3.73'a will buzz your engine pretty good on the highway (who drives 60 or 65 anyway?).

This opinion is coming from a guy that has run 3.42 up to 4.56's on the street (3.42, 3.73, 4.11, 4.56 among others). My favorite all around gear is 3.42 (unless you have OD or a real tall tire).

I agree. I have 3.73s, but for freeway trips, I'd prefer a 3.42 or a 3.55.

I have 3.73's too and have no idea as to how much slippage I have, thats why I said 3-3300, I run about 3300.

Consider this,, I was running 1:1 high gear 26.7 tire, 3:73 gear , cruise 33 to 3400 at 70,, so you are not slipping that much if any. Its something to consider when you have a 2200 or so stall convertor and running 700 r4, where your cruise range rpm is at stall speed. Then theres the lock up convertor that is supposed to lock up. This was not in my present car.