help... rear end gear ratio???

Question

is there a easy way to tell the gear ratio of a car, 1980 camaro,
i was told it had "racing gears", (i've "walked on it" in our alley and only one tire spins)...

Answer 1

The one tire spinning has nothing to do with the gear ratio. If one tire spun, it merely means it is limited slip instead of positive traction. The gear ratio is in the differential. You have to count the gears in the differential to find out the ratio.

Answer 2

I own a shop, and build a lot of racing rear ends. The one that came in yours is NOT a limited slip, and the ratio (stock) comes in at a 2.72:1 ratio. A limited slip will spin both tires, but the right tire will spin the longest distance. If the rear end has been gone in to, the only way to tell what is in there is to take the cove off, and look. On the ring (largest) gear you will find some numbers. They will be like 41-10, and stamped on the ring gear facing you when you look straight into the housing. The 41 would mean there are 41 teeth on the ring gear, and the 10 would be there are 10 teeth on the pinion gear. Divide the small number into the large number, and you get 4.1 which is called a 410, or 4.10:1 ratio. If you can't find the stamped number, then count the teeth on each gear and do the math. What ever number you get will be rounded off to the nearest number, such as 2.724321 would be rounded off to a 272, or 2.72:1. If the cover looks like it has never been off, then look on the Axel tube on the drivers side for a code stamped on it, call a dealer, and they can tell you what ratio the rear end is.
Glad to help out, Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

Easiest way to tell is jack up the rear end so the tires are off the ground and car is supported well with jack stands. Put the trans in neutral and have a friend slowly rotate one of the rear tires one complete revolution while you watch the driveshaft rotate..it's helpful to mark the driveshaft with a piece of chalk or tape...and count the number of rotations the driveshaft makes as closely as possible to a 1/4 turn..i.e. if it turns 3 and a half times you have a 3.42 ratio axle...if it's a little more than 3 turns, it's a 3.08 ratio...a little less than 3 turns, it's probably a 2.90..etc A Chevy parts dept can tell you what ratio's were available on that year Camaro. It's not 100 percent accurate but it'll give you a close idea without pulling the axle cover off.
You might also look for a little metal tag on the axle cover or some stamping numbers on the front side of the passenger side axle tube of the axle...these codes can be cross-referenced by a Chevy parts dept also and tell you what ratio it came with unless someone changed gears.
Hope this helps....Paul

Answer 4

i own a shop,and you can count the ring and pinion gears on it that will tell you the ratio,but that's the only way to do this if its not a stock rear end for it,it should bite down if it had racing gears in it,and both tires grab,it may have a bad posi -unit in it,good luck hope this helps.

Answer 5

Gear ratio is rated as high or low top end speed.It has nothing to do with burn outs.If you're spinning with just one tire it just means you have single traction.That's definitely not racing gears.Somebody just geared it down and thought it meant it was ready to race.Back it down and nail it.You'll know for sure then.

Answer 6

what Pauls says, but divide by 2 if spinning one tire, other wise spin them both together. for open rear ends

sometimes it easier to leave it on the ground and mark the bottom of the wheel and roll the car forward one full turn while counting the turns of the driveline, this will get you close

Answer 7

Yes, 2.60 will mathematically allow you to achieve a higher top speed assuming you are not limited for some other reason. Your trade off will be that your acceleration will suffer. I don't think the difference between a 2.80 and a 2.60 will give you that much gain in top speed.

Answer 8

If you want an easy way, take your VIN to a GM dealer & they can tell you from this # what came in it, at least origionally & any other options listed in your RPO list.

Answer 9

racing gear,s?...........that depend,s on what type of racing you want to do........first of all.....you have what,s referred to as an open rear end......no limited slip/positraction........only good for open road racing...........your gear ratio?.....you would want low ratio for drag racing......higher ratio for oval track/open road type racing............your ratio can be determined by checking the number,s stamped on your ring gear.....then dividing as described in the previous answer...hope this help,s you!

Answer 10

that has everything to with it guy above me! if it does a one legged burnout then its not "racing gears"