Need gear advice and good installer Chicago area

[OLXRAM]

Hey guys I live in the Chicago area and have pretty much stock 96 GTS. I would like to change the gears to make 6th usuable. Do I need to go all the way up to a 4.10? or will a 3.73 suffice? I dont really take it to the track just a lot of screwin around at night. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Anthony - 98 GTS]

Go with a 3.55 - anything else is too much.

 

[Snakester]

I second the vote on 3.55 gears max.

I got them installed and they are great, but any higher and you will be shifting all the time, and not get any traction taking off from a stop.

-Dean.

 

[joe117]

I have 3.55 and I like it.

 

[KingSnake97]

Try SvSi they should be able to help you out.

 

[FrankBarba]

SVSI is the company in Chi-town

 

[SapphireGTS]

ls1speed in Shaumburg would be able to do it. They do really good work on ls1s and they are starting to get into Vipers.

www.ls1speed.com. Im having them do my heads.

 

[ZX1100]

Go to FinishLine Dodge in Glenview. Ask for TOM the service manager and he should be able to help you out without a problem. They do plenty of work on Vipers. Then head over to TOOOFST's shop down the street to install nitrous after the gears

 

[SapphireGTS]

Oh yeah, hey Dennis, I had really good luck with FinishLine. They fixed my car first time and called me with updates.

 

[Dixter]

One thing that is almost never talked about with gear changes on the older
Vipers.

I mention this because the older Vipers have different cooling radiators...

That being said, A gear change will cause the engine to run at a higher
RPM than your used to driving at without the gear change.

If your car runs fairly high in the temp's before the gear change it will
more than likely run a bit hotter after the gear change.

This can be even more of a problem if you live where it gets hot during the
summer months.

Some folks use 6th gear for a cruising speed cool down gear. That is, you
can run your car at 70mph in 6th at around 1200 to 1300 RPM and the cars engine
will run just about as cool as it does in the winter months.

Just remember that when you change the gears the car will now run at a higher
RPM ( more heat ) in 6th gear at 70mph.

With 3.55 gears what you were used to driving in 4th will now be 5th gear.

At least until you need to scorch a Vette.