Hey everyone, i have a question! I have a '78 camaro lt, i put a rebuilt 400 small block from a '72 caprice in it. Its got an edelbrock torker II intake, edelbrock 750 cfm carb, a summit cam, lift is- int.488/exh.488, duration @.050" int. 234 degrees /exh. 234 degrees. the car also has headers. its connected to a th350 tranny and it has the factory 2.73 gears. My rear tires are 275/60 R15. i know i need bigger rear end gears, i want to make it a posi rear end, but i'm having trouble finding one. What other sollution is there? can I buy new gears and make a posi, if so what gears should i get or what other rear ends will fit? also what size stall converter should i use?  

With that tranny you really don't need to get too "big" of rear gears.  What are you planning to do with the car?  street/strip i am guessing so i wouldn't go any bigger than like a 3:43.1 rear gear definitely no higher than 3.73:1 these gears with that tranny it will feel like a 4.10:1.  Also yes you can buy a posi case for your car when you buy the gears.  you should check out summitracing.com.  go to the search engine and type in what you are looking for you WILL find it.

As far as torque converter it really depends on what kind of money you want to spend.  A 2400 stall converter is pretty nice for the take off and it doesn't whined up all that high when you are taking off from a stop light.  It also is a relatively cheap stall converter with some pretty nice converters selling for about $350.00.  A 3000 stall would give you a nicer take off but will whined up higher before take off and the cheapest ones are about as $100.00 more than the nicest 2400 stall converters with the 3000 stalls tarting at around $450.00 .  i think your cam  is probably making power right at about 2000-2500 rpms any way so i would go with the 2400 for the money. but if you are not worried about cost then go with the 3000.

thats my opinion.

late  

thanks for your input. I can buy a 2500 stall from a guy for $100. I'll work on the gears, i can buy the gears from summit, and the housing, is there anything else i would need to get?  

thanks for your input. I can buy a 2500 stall from a guy for $100. I'll work on the gears, i can buy the gears from summit, and the housing, is there anything else i would need to get?  

if you are going to change the differential gears you mind as well get a installation kit which is essentially a rebuild kit.  it will have all the bearings and the pinion nut and everything you will need that will probably cost you another 70 bucks or you can get a cheap one for like 30 bucks.  the quality will be the same but you will get less stuff like no bearings and things like that.  i would get the whole kit and rebuild the thing while i have it apart. that is what i always do.  

hey chevyguy78
im actually doing a build right now on a 1981 camaro, and i also started out with 2.73 gears. it really depends on your tire size, i went with 4.11 but i have 26" tall tires. id round down in your case and go with a 3.73 its a great street able gear. as far as switching it to a posi unit i prefer the Richmond powertrax no-slip systems check em out:http://www.powertrax.com/powertrax/noslip.html
or even a lock right locker if you dont mind the noise.
as far as stall converters go, be mindfull that the higher stall speed you get the hotter the tranny is going to run and the farther it will wind up, i personally wouldnt go over 3000 on a street car. hughes makes real nice converters that are reasonably priced. id go  with a 2500 stall speed or mabee jump up to a 3000 if you dont mind the higher revs from stop.
heres hughes website:
http://www.hughesperformance.com/converters.php

enjoy  

You are running 4:11 gears with a turbo 350 tranny?   that is what is making your car wind up not the stall converter.  the stall converter only effects when the torque converter transfers power to the tranny into first gear after that you are in the transmission.  the 4:11.1 is how many times you drive shaft spins in relation to your axle.  coupled with that tranny that is why you are winding up real high.  i bet you cannot drive 70 on the highway without turning like close to if not 4000 rpms.  Am i right, or can you not even drive 70 on the highway?  i definitely would not gear that high.  

im talking about wind up from take off, not crusing. and it revs about 3400 at 65ish not to bad, but i also have 26" tires  

okay on second look i guess i misunderstood you and totally missed the part about 26" tires