where to buy new rear gears?

[johnd]

Where should I go to get rear gears for a 81 corvette?

Thanks,
John Dykstra

 

[vettered91]

I got mine from Jeg's (excellent service) and there's Summit too (very nice prices and a lot of products).

jegs.com

SummitRacing.com


I hope this helps because my vette is an LT1!

 

[johnd]

somewhat it helps but I don't know what type of rear to buy for there are quite a fewe different size pumpkins and we are not dealing with the typical chev rear axle.


anyone know what size rings I will need?

 

[IH2LOSE]

I have a 1966 corvette and I used 4 speeds by darrel to build an entire new pumkin for me.(UNFORTUNATLEY there are no more mecanic shops in my area who are cabeable or they dont want to get invoulved in a gear change job)So I just had an entire new carrier built witch made it just a bolt in week end project
GOOD LUCK

 

[vettered91]

First of all you need to know what kind of rear axle you have (carrier) and the ratio (3.73, 3.45, 3.07, etc).

Do you know if you have the original one(stock) and the ratio?

I'd only change the ring and pignion from 2.59 to 3.54 (it's cheaper $) and it works beautiful!

 

[ratorto]

I replaced the 2:55 rear end in my 87 Corvette with a 3:75 which I bought from Jegs for around $300. The performance difference is outstanding.

 

[macx]

81 Rear Gears

I've been researching the same topic -
have found it's a Dana 44 BUT peculiar to the Vette. So, a more limited range of gears. The commonly listed Dana 44 gears like 3.36, 3.23 won't fit, (I'm told) so only the 3:07 (or 3.08?), 3.54, 3.73 etc. You've got to make sure it's for a Dana 44 for an 81 Vette. Here's a place with specific Vette listings. Found it thru Corvetteforum, somebody referenced it and gave it a good review.

Might be more $ than Jegs or Summit, though, prob'ly good to check.

http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/cat24.htm

 

[Eric R.]

Just started looking into gears but found it states something about a breaking point in ratios as far as what gear will fit the '81. Does anyone know for a fact that anything around the upper 3's to 4.10:1 will fit? If so, what brand / model?

 

[macx]

Oops! Wrong link!

Sorry - this is the right link.

Go into their products, follow the
threads for ring & pinion, Dana 44.
It lists, among lots of others, the
80-82 Vette. It says the break for
a different carrier is between 3.73 and 3.92

www.drivetrain.com

Apparently gears from up thru 79
won't fit, I checked Jegs & Summit and
that's what they list, I suppose because
there's lots more 79 & older Vettes.

 

[johnd]

my vette is the stock gears I believe they are like 2.53 or something of that nature I have a friend that is a mechanic and he said it would cost like 300 to get the gears installed.

 

[4 webers]

dana 44

I recently installed a set of 3:73's in an 81 alloy rear . Any numerical higher ring and pinion requires a change to a series 4 differential case . You can purchase pretty near any ratio for a 44 series . If you I can be of any assistance let me know .


geo

 

[Glensgages]

According to a source-book I have, '81s with a stick came with 2.72:1 gears; autos came with 2.87:1 gears.
Your car came with a Dana-44-type housing, and as stated earlier, you can run ratios up-to 3.73 (numerically) with the original carrier.
In August, I bought 3.73s gears, new and in-the-box, for $125 + S&H, from a place on Long Island ( "POWER TRAIN". I spoke to 'Ronnie" @ 1-631-589-7020. These ARE brand-new, in-the-box, and they DO fit '80-'82 Corvettes. "Ronnie" seems very nice and informative, and 'says' he can get more when his supply is exhausted.).
The gears were installed by a local guy, who has 30+ years of servicing GM vehicles, and many Corvettes. It cost me $425, including $60 for new speedo-recalibration parts, for the installation.
E-mail me if I can answer further questions!

Damn, George; you beat me to it AGAIN!!!!!

 

[4 webers]

Hey there Glen ,,,,,,,,,,,,, shucks us old folks gotta go fast to keep ahead of you yunguns . Good to see you here . Looks like the pennsy weather is getting fired up, makes me really miss that summer sun .

geo

 

[Glensgages]

..."YUNGUNS"...?

Raining bad here today; I saw an old man alongside the road, building hisself a boat, and a bunch of animals hanging around....

I only got 11 more days of insurance this season; I got the '82 cleaned-up & put-away, but, weather-permitting, we may get it back out a few more times.....

 

[4 webers]

Yup yunguns ,,,,,,,,compared to some of you folks ,I am older than dirt . But my vette that goes like stink , makes me feel good real goood

geo:L :L