3.42s in a Street Truck

[TROJAN366]

I am thinking about going up to 3.42s and I'm wondering how they will feel on the street. Curious if I will notice a big difference merging onto the highway and just cruising around town etc. I like the idea of a taller gear ratio for the highway but don't want to give up the quickness at low speeds. Also think this might give me more tire options if I decide to take the truck back to the track post rebuild. PS I will be running 305/50 tires on the street. Who has done it and what do you think??

Edit: Should also note that I will be stalling the converter a bit higher (2400ish) so that I can launch in 1st gear again and I plan on running a tapshifter to keep the rpms up when I need to.

 

[hondarider552]

I think it will benifit more because it can hold each gear a bit longer

 

[Chevy1925]

What your after is about 50rpm different from what my truck use to be with stock gears and 37" tires.

the truck is gunna act lazier around town and loose some initial quickness off the line when not under boost. your going to see a noticable difference for sure. dropping your tire size will help some there for around town. under boost, its just gunna feel like it pulls longer in gears (which it will).

 

[jacobdewey]

I was reading somewhere that the 3.42 gear itself is one of the strongest for our rearends. Maybe someone else can chime in as I'm not certain. I've been thinking I may do 3.42's in my stockish pickup.

 

[Chevy1925]

I was reading somewhere that the 3.42 gear itself is one of the strongest for our rearends. Maybe someone else can chime in as I'm not certain. I've been thinking I may do 3.42's in my stockish pickup.

it will be as the pinion will be much bigger than the pinion for 3.73 without sacrificing the ring gear size. there is a point where too high will cause the ring gear to become thinner and thinner

 

[PureHybrid]

Call Mark and ask him, IIRC he's running 3.42s in the white truck.

 

[TROJAN366]

Call Mark and ask him, IIRC he's running 3.42s in the white truck.

That was the plan, I just wanted to run it by everyone here before I bothered him hahaa

 

[A. Stock Lbz]

i dont know if this will apply but in the gasser turbo world a higher gear-numerically lower will load the motor harder and spools the turbo a bunch harder. i would think a diesel wouldnt care to much with all the low speed torque on hand. you should try it and report back. also i run a 2.73 gear ratio with a 28" tall tire its a little more lazy on the street but the turbo lights like a somebeach now!

 

[LWATSON]

You will love 3.42's. I've ridden in an LLY with around 800HP, about the same diameter tire you plan to run and an S480 and 342's. I loved the way it pulled it felt like it had very long legs if you know what I mean. I've always felt like 1st was too short of a gear and the 3.42's helped out with that.

 

[MarkBroviak]

Mine is 3.42 and love it! Wish I could run 2.90 gears! You'll love it Steve!:thumb:

 

[TROJAN366]

Thanks for the responses guys. I just wanted to confirm my thoughts before I spent the dough.

 

[SilveradoTwins02]

Steve, sorry to change gears on this thread. But have you had time to see what happen to the motor yet?

 

[TROJAN366]

Steve, sorry to change gears on this thread. But have you had time to see what happen to the motor yet?

Chris had a build planned in front of mine. Should be tearing it down sometime in January. I didn't plan on driving it in the salt anyways so we are taking our time.

 

[TROJAN366]

Just stumbled onto a set of front and rears with one hook on them. Got a heck of a deal. Will post results in 3-5 months :roflmao:

 

[zf>allison]

Subed for review in a few months

 

[thunder550]

I love my 3.42's also. Stepped down from a 3.73. 275/55R20 tires, so they are a little smaller than most of you guys. I've actually thought about going to 3.23's but I haven't been able to find a set of them for the 8.25 front diff.

 

[ikeG]

I was reading somewhere that the 3.42 gear itself is one of the strongest for our rearends. Maybe someone else can chime in as I'm not certain. I've been thinking I may do 3.42's in my stockish pickup.

The gear mesh on 3.42s is stronger than any other ring and pinion that is available for the 11.50. If setup is not an issue, you literally will never have a ring and pinion failure. The pinion itself has more teeth and is bigger dia. I have a used set for front end that is in perfect shape if anyone is interested.

 

[SmokeShow]

I've considered going 3.42s for better RPMs on the interstate in my truck too.

 

[jacobdewey]

The gear mesh on 3.42s is stronger than any other ring and pinion that is available for the 11.50. If setup is not an issue, you literally will never have a ring and pinion failure. The pinion itself has more teeth and is bigger dia. I have a used set for front end that is in perfect shape if anyone is interested.

Could you possibly pm me a price shipped to 83221? Thanks!

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I have 3.42's in my BURB, and am very happy with them. I cursed them awhile back because it got laggy on me, but it ended up being my CP3 had gone out and not building rail pressure. Swapped it out, and she's an animal again. I run stock 245/75/16 tires with the 3.42's, and my only real complaint was with the stock shift points. It would hang in 3rd right around 30, and also in 4th around 45, and no more shift point issues. Now if I could get the lockup tables fixxed so it would stay in lockup below 55 with my foot off the throttle, it would be perfect. The best comparison I have found is it brings my RPM's with stock 245/75/16's about to where it would be with 34's. It's nice running 70 at 1900 RPM's.