Rear end gear help

[85_455_cutty]

I have an 85 cutlass with an olds 461 thats running around 450hp its a street/strip car and will have more power later. People tell me different gears to run but none of them have an olds, they told me either 3.73 or 3.42 gears cause I have a lot of torque and then other people said put 4.11 gears and it will be just fine aslong as I dont drive it on the highway. I was thinking doing 3.50 gears to be in between 3.73 and 3.42. I plan on taking it to the strip sometimes so i want something that will help me out some.

 

[o ARC ATHEISTxX]

Really depends on your transmission. And how high your engine revs.
If your transmission doesn't have over drive {200r, 700r4} then i would say stay away from 3.73 and 4.11 gears.
3.23 and 3.42 are good with the other transmissions that only have 3 speeds but really depends on your rpm and how much gs you want to be spending while driving on the highway

 

[Chris Van]

I have an 85 cutlass with an olds 461 thats running around 450hp its a street/strip car and will have more power later. People tell me different gears to run but none of them have an olds, they told me either 3.73 or 3.42 gears cause I have a lot of torque and then other people said put 4.11 gears and it will be just fine aslong as I dont drive it on the highway. I was thinking doing 3.50 gears to be in between 3.73 and 3.42. I plan on taking it to the strip sometimes so i want something that will help me out some.

3.55 - 3.73
Both are pretty good all around street/strip gears.
Also depends on how you drive your car. Will you be making any cross country trips or just an occassional cruise night around town and trips to the track???
Seems to me that most of the gears recommended on this forum are from people who intend to drive them across the country and get 25 mpg's.
And that is all good if that's what you intend to do with the car.... but if it's just a weekend stoplight cruiser with an occassional trip to the track.... go with as much as you can stand....LOL

 

[Dr. Rudy]

If your transmission doesn't have over drive {200r, 700r4}

the 700r4 is an overdrive transmission.

 

[CHRIS.O]

3.42 at the most. Sure as hell not a 4.11. You would spend all your time spinning. i personally would run a 3.23 gear.

 

[o ARC ATHEISTxX]

If your transmission doesn't have over drive {200r, 700r4}

the 700r4 is an overdrive transmission.

does this help you sleep better, ( over-drive{ 200r, 700r4})

 

[85_455_cutty]

I have a built up 400 transmission with a 3 grand stall. I dont plan on making any long trips with it unless i have to drive to the drag strip which is 45 minutes away but chances are i will be trailering it. So it will be driven around town and at the strip only.

 

[Dr. Rudy]

does this help you sleep better, ( over-drive{ 200r, 700r4})

why yes, yes it does.

 

[beermonkey9417]

well if yer just gonna be using it for that screw it and get the 3.73. i got a lil 307 pushing a 200r4 with 4.11 in back, its fun! 8)

 

[custom442]

If 75% street, do a street gear (3.55 and less with that big block). If 75% race do a race gear. Use your head or you'll regret it tachin up on the street, or likewise not having enough torque in the 1/4. you'll regret one just as much as the other so choose for your application.