Lowering gearing?

Lowering gearing?

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Beemer-5

Original Poster:

7,897 posts

215 months

Wednesday 11th June 2014
quotequote all
Many reviews of modern day Corvettes say the gearing in 7th, 6th and even 5th is too tall.
I find the gearing too tall on my 2009 Corvette.
Two answers it seems. More power or lower gearing.
Easiest way to lower the gearing would be what and at what cost, anyone?
Thanx.

Beemer-5

Original Poster:

7,897 posts

215 months

Wednesday 11th June 2014
quotequote all
It certainly isn't a case of just changing down!
I have had many sports bikes and a simple sprocket change to lower the gearing has often had an amazing effect.
Bike and car makers have to consider noise and emission laws.
My Monaro 6.0 was badly over geared in 6th.
Several car magazines have criticised the high gears in Corvettes.
A lower set of gears can make a car feel like it has more power.
When a car can do 180 in 5th out of 6 or 7, it's over geared for street use.

Beemer-5

Original Poster:

7,897 posts

215 months

Saturday 14th June 2014
quotequote all
Got it in one Gixer. Changing down is not the answer to what I am saying.

I have only ever lowered the gearing on cars in the past by fitting 2 inch smaller wheels in diameter and making sure tyre profile stayed the same or almost the same.
Not what I want to do with the Corvette. Bikes are much easier to do, with chain drive.

Many American-engined cars like my Monaro are geared too high for street use. At 70 mph, even with a 6 litre V8 it needed two gears dropped if I wanted real overtaking power. It was geared for 200+ in top, in theory.
Lowering the gearing can improve top gear performance, give you are a better top speed in a more realistic 6th, make the car livelier generally and the fuel consumption difference over a year of mixed driving will be what, £100-£200 extra maybe?

My mate wants to lower the gearing on his 2012 Viper V10 8.4 for the same reason. Geared for 100 mph at 1,950 rpm in sixth.