What is the stock ring and pinion on a '99+ lightning?? Have they changed in recent years?? I believe i've read 3.55:1, and also 3.73:1. This is naturally a shortminded question, but I am fairly retarded (don't flame if you have a similarly handicapped loved one please) when it comes to L's. Also, the differential looked interesting to me in one picture I saw, it looked as though the differential bolt pattern was designed more horizontally then vertically, perhaps this is a common truck design, but i am used to 10 and 12 bolt 7.5", 8.8" and 9" what is the actual size of the rear??? Thanks fellas

 

The rear is a 9.75" ring gear. The 99-00s came stock with 3.55s, and 01-03 come stock with 3.73s. Hope this helps.

 

Never have to correct Sal... Boy sure does know his stuff.

Although he is where i've learn most of what i know about these trucks too.

 

Quite possibly the kung fu master and apprentice case I see?

 

thanks Sal. what kind of ET difference did this result in? marginal, or none at all??? i guess guess mileage is a little worse in the later models with more turns of the input shaft to turn the axle, but ive never felt the difference of changing to a numerically higher ring&pinion in an A4.

 

EWWWWWWWWW I HOPE THE LS1 IN YOUR NAME DOESNT MEAN CAMARO OR FIREBIRD,I EAT CAMAROS AND T/A'S EVERYDAY,I HAD 2 OF THEM AND THEY SUCK

 

yea thats exactly what it is. unfortunately there are chumps like you around who can't respect a powerful car and have to go around knocking on guys like me who love anything american with *****. sure 99.9% of you on this board would murder me in a race, does that mean I should steer clear of your Forum? it's people like you that give forums a bad name because you're so short minded to say stupid shlt like that. i don't knock on lightning guys when they post on the LS1 forums, I respect them and listen to what they have to say, because there are too many people out there like you that can't ever be cool and talk to another fellow American car enthusiast, just because I don't have Eaton inside. Good job dude. you da man!

 

Well said James . . .

 

what the hell else would LS1 mean? stop running your mouth "SVTBOY", we all know they are good motors and there are some out there that can own us...

 

Any problems with indigestion ?

 

Corvette, Holden Commodore and some of the GM truck engines are "technically" LS1 variants also (4.8L LR4, 6.0L LQ4 and 5.3L LM7) =)

 

thanks flash. good to know we have some cool people on other boards than the ones I am used to.

 

back to the question..

SAL, what are the gains of changing from 3.55 to 3.73

 

Many people may disagree with my view, but I feel gears are a waste of money. Our trucks make so much torque, and every goodie we add just adds MORE torque, so there should be no need for steeper gears to make the truck get off the line faster. All it does is make it harder to launch. The only people that seem to like the steeper gears, are owners of trucks that are mostly street driven (not concerned with ETs) and owners who run at 1/8 mile tracks, where the gears let them get through the gears quicker. For the 1/4 mile, I personally feel steeper gears are a waste. For what it's worth, I took the 3.73s OUT of my truck and put 3.55s in.

Again, these are my views, I suggest you look at what is most important to get out of your truck, and then decide.

 

had 2 ls1's and they took a crap on me,so thats why i shut them out,you'll get over it and see for yourself