1981 Malibu Gearing help

[Curlz]

I have 81' malibu with a 305, TH350 and 2.73 gears in the rear end on an open carrier. I have a 200R4 that i plan on swapping in it but my question is should I change the rear gears? Its my daily driver/ cruiser and i'm wondering with the 200R4's overdrive of 0.67:1 and my 2.73's in the rear end will be good enough or make it a pig on the highway. I have a set of 3.42's from a monte carlo SS but i'm not sure if swapping them is worth it. Was a 200R4 and 2.73's a stock package ever? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Longroof79]

I personally think it will be a slug with the 2.73 gears and 200-4R. The 3.42 gears will give you a happier medium from low end to upper end. You can try it with the 2.73's, but I don't think you're going to be too happy with that combination.

 

[Curlz]

Perfect, that's kind of what i was thinking, I do most of my driving around town so I was already leaning in the 3.42's direction.

 

[Doug213xrj]

X2 3.42`s.




Doug

 

[azmalibuwagon]

FWIW, my wagon has an SBC 305 with a 2004r. It had a 2.59 rearend in it when I got it, and it was a slug. I have a 3.73 in it now and that's too much for highway driving (but it is fun). I think either a 3.23 or 3.42 would be a good choice.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you have some power the 2.73 gears are nice, the 2.73 was the corvettes performance gear for years

 

[Longroof79]

2.73 gears would be a nice ratio for a stick shift car...or like you said Steve, a car with some power. For a stock 305, I think the 3.42's should help it along, especially with overdrive.

 

[Bar50]

Grand Nationals and 442s came with the 3.42 behind the 200R4.
Almost every Monte SS I have had or got parts from came with 3.73 except for a few special ordered with 4.11 rear gears. That is what made the 305 in the Monte SS fun to drive!

 

[mixerdriver]

Just joined the forum love the insights. I just bought an 80 bu with the 305 and a 700r4 stock 10 bolt what a pooch getting 3.73 posi installed but will be running a taller tire to offset some of the top end loss.