2.41 to 3.42 gear help

[supkylesup]

i found a set of 3.42 gears for my 7.5 rear end i was wondering how hard is it to change those gears?
also i need to know what ill need other than the installation kit?
i have absolutely no knowledge of how to do anything with the rear
should i just have a shop do it?
my other question would be
what are the effects of changing these gears from the stock 2.41 gears to the 3.42 gears
would my car still be fine on the road
as far as highway and regular daily driving would it be fine
or is this ratio not right for the daily driver?
and if it makes and difference im still running my 3.8l v6

opinions and input are greatly apreciated

 

[monte olrac]

http://www.differentials.com/install.html try that limk

 

[Blake442]

Have a shop do it for you...

You'll be very pleased with the difference.

Don't forget the speedo gear so your speedometer reads correctly.

 

[dogsht]

Have a shop that has done it before that has what is it a dial caliper and plenty of shims to do it right. Look at shops that build 4x4s. Other than that you can sometimes find a whole rear drum to drum from a MCSS for $225 ish. That you can do yourself with simple tools and its hard to muck it up.

 

[84GP455]

I'm not positive but i think the highest you can go in a 2 series carrier is 3.08"s unless you get a 3 series carrier. I looked into this before when i was going to do the swap also, but someone will surely chime in and verify this i'm sure.

 

[jrm81bu]

I'm positive but i think the highest you can go in a 2 series carrier is 3.08"s unless you get a 3 series carrier. I looked into this before when i was going to do the swap also, but someone will surely chime in and verify this i'm sure.

Yes unless you get the "thick" gears or use a ring gear spacer.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Here is a calculator to see what the difference in rpm's will be with those gears. Stay out of the rear end- get a GOOD shop to build it. Myself, I would go with 3:08 or 3:23 gears for nice pickup and good highway manners. A 3 series posi carrier and installation kit and a guy to do it will cost you more than a whole rear ready to go. http://www.wallaceracing.com/calcmph.php

 

[supkylesup]

so should i buy the 3.42 gears?
or should i just get a monte ss rear with better gears in it already?
im confused about the 2 series 3 series thing
do i have a 2 series?
anyways thanks for the input guys

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

so should i buy the 3.42 gears?
or should i just get a monte ss rear with better gears in it already?
im confused about the 2 series 3 series thing
do i have a 2 series?
anyways thanks for the input guys

I'll see if I can clear things up for you a bit.

The pinion gear is what sticks out the rear end and the driveshaft hooks to. The centerline of it can not be moved due to being cast into the rear end housing. The ring gear is what runs against the pinion gear. There are differant thickness of ring gears. The differential (also called carrier) itself is offset in deffering positions for the thickness of the ring gear.

A set of 3.42 gears for a differential with a stock 2.41 will need to be thicker to make the pinion mesh with the ring gear and the differential mounting for the ring gear.

So, since you have stock 2.41 gears you need a set of 3.42 gears for a 2.xx series carrier due to the ring gear thickness. If they are GM gears or you can buy the differential they are bolted to, chances are they won't fit. A 3.42 (or 3.73) GM gears will automatically have a 3.xx series carrier.

To replace the gears (assuming they will fit your 2.xx series carrier) will cost between $150 - $200. Plus whatever the gears cost you. And an install kit.

A good rearend from an SS should be about the same money (give or take) as what all the above will cost.

The Monte SS with the overdrive transmission will be a 3.73 and the non overdrive cars got the 3.42. Posi was optional for either.

 

[supkylesup]

wow
way to deffinetly clear up
well basically all me rear end questions lol
thanks alot
i think ill just search some yards and look for a monte rear
might as well just get a that instead of having to find get all the parts and get the shop to put em all in
but i really appreciate it
thanks again