Anybody have any idea what a gear swap goes for these days? 2.73 --> 3.42 on a GM 10 bolt limited slip in a 1988 Firebird. I know I can pick up the gear set for about $200. Just curious what the going rate is for labor these days. Are there any sponsors on here doing them? I looked at the sponsor list but it appears to be a bit outdated. Is Scott from DLS still around doing these? He did my last gear swap and built the 12-bolt for my '02 Z28 so I know he does good work.
Gear swap
- Thread starter 2QuickZ's
- Start date
ultradriver10000
Forum Member
you can probably get a 10 bolt with 3.42 gears for $200 or less lol
Possibly and if I can find a 3rd gen 10 bolt with 3.42 I'll probably go that route. I would do a 4th gen rear since it would be 28 spline axles instead of 26 but they are about 3" wider and I want to keep the car stock appearing with the stock wheels.
Thanks for the info!
mikesfastss
Club Member
Try car-part. Looks like there’s one in Toledo that needs axles for $109. http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi
Oh and a good driveshaft because thirdgens had a terrible factory piece. All of them? Once I went to 3.73's, my DS was all wobbles at 65+ mph.
Siegel1719
Club Member
FYI 90-92 had 28 spline axles if you can find one. Obviously still no where near as strong at a 12 bolt or 9" but atleast one less weak link vs 82-89 26 spline.
LS1 and 4L60E out of a 2002 Trans Am. I am probably going to put a small cam in it along with a 2300 -2500 rpm stall torque converter. I have no aspiration or intent for anything more than that in the future so I'd be looking at 400 rwhp max, probably closer to 350. A switch to a 28 spline axle would be nice but I'm not sure that combo would even break a 26 spline. I'm on a budget and picking and choosing where to spend my money. It doesn't help I keep remembering things I initially forgot to budget for like wiring harness and cat back exhaust system. I might even forgo the cam for now.
Thank you for the reminder on this. I forgot all about that switch.
Thank you for the reminder on this. I forgot all about that switch.
AutoRoc
Club Member
I never had an LS1 but I know you did. Refresher!
Pushrods bend
Cam install is almost easier than oil change(cheap used cam?)
4000 stall works best even with a stock cam
You'll need a tune anyways to get rid of security stuff
Excited to see it come together!
Old-school interesting sidenote: Jason Debler just asked me where he can find a mint thirdgen convertible so he can swap modern power into it.
Pushrods bend
Cam install is almost easier than oil change(cheap used cam?)
4000 stall works best even with a stock cam
You'll need a tune anyways to get rid of security stuff
Excited to see it come together!
Old-school interesting sidenote: Jason Debler just asked me where he can find a mint thirdgen convertible so he can swap modern power into it.
Golden
Club Member
Cam swap is that easy? Hmm...never done a cam before.
I still use LS1tech, and post after post says a Yank 3600 converter is light years ahead of swapping gears in terms of ET. My car also has 2.73s and I had originally planned a gear swap without knowing some people gained nothing in their ET, and some losing ET by swapping gears.
I'm good with a 2500 rpm stall torque converter. It will only occasionally go to the drag strip and is primarily just intended to be a nice cruiser. I had a PI Vigilante 2800 in my '94 convertible and it wasn't that bad on the street but still more than I want for this car.
Cam install looks pretty easy other than getting the crank bolt out and pulling the crank pulley. A Texas Speed cam kit includes cam, springs, seals, retainers and chromoly push rods so I was thinking of going that route. As usual I want to go the low profile route. I like my sleepers! Debating between the 224R and 228R cam on a 114 LSA to keep the lope to a minimum.
Here are the parts I have collected so far. My K-Member that I ordered pre-shutdown is now in the house!
Cam install looks pretty easy other than getting the crank bolt out and pulling the crank pulley. A Texas Speed cam kit includes cam, springs, seals, retainers and chromoly push rods so I was thinking of going that route. As usual I want to go the low profile route. I like my sleepers! Debating between the 224R and 228R cam on a 114 LSA to keep the lope to a minimum.
Here are the parts I have collected so far. My K-Member that I ordered pre-shutdown is now in the house!
I still have the stock set of pushrods out of my '02 Z28 in the garage. Heck, I even have the stock low mileage catalytic converters out there. I wonder what those puppies are worth? Not too many parts left, though. I still have a set of ported MAF ends in the basement. Beyond that, I can't think of much. The cam swap here would be even easier. I don't even have to remove the water pump because it is already off.
I haven't heard Jason Debler's name mentioned in a long time. Do he and Chris still own CZ28.com?
AutoRoc
Club Member
Probably. He moved to Nashville. He took us on a small bar tour down there and I didn't even to think of asking him that.