looking for 70 buick rivera rear end w/ 3.42 gear

[XcumminsX]

Hey guys my buddy has a 70 riv and hes looking for a 3. 42 gear. Does anyone know where i can get this gear? This car looks so awesome and he needs this gear so his car will be alittle more of a ripper instead of a cruiser.



Thanks



Nick

 

[mcoleman]

Check out the Buick GSCA homepage and V8Buick.com they both have classified sections.

 

[Philip]

The car would like 3:73's a little better. This ratio uses the same carrier as the 3:43's do. Cruise RPM would come in around 2,600 at 60 MPH. Off the line acceleration would be very good. Without killing the top end of the car.



If you go to a dealer make sure you order it for a 3 series carrier assy. The 3:73's are made in a 4 and 3 series carrier config.



What gear does he have now. If he has something in the 2:00 range. The 3 series gears would require a 3 series carrier.

 

[mcoleman]

The Buick 455 doesn't need that low of gear and won't gain anything but poor mileage with them. We have tried everything from 3. 42s up to 4. 10s in my car as well as both of my x-brother-in-laws cars and the performance difference just isn't there unless you have a big cam and heads. We were running 1. 59 60 foots and 7. 50s in the 1/8 with a 3. 42 geared low compression 455 on 28 inch slicks. I ran 4. 10s in my car and switched back for more streetability. The 3. 73s will hurt your kick down ability on the highway also. Greg Gessler who is one of the premier head porters in the Buick world did a comparison on his 11 second car and actually ran quicker with a 3. 55 than a 4. 11. The Rivera should have either a 2. 73 or 2. 93 being a 70. The GS Rivvies came with the 3. 42 ratio.

 

[TowPro]

I thought the riviera was front wheel drive, like the Olds toronado and what ever caddy that was? Sure you want a new Rear?



I bet a different set of gears for that THM425 or what ever they called it would be tough to find. Not much all for them I bet. Wonder if there was ever any selection from the factory?

Originally posted by XcumminsX

Hey guys my buddy has a 70 riv and hes looking for a 3. 42 gear. Does anyone know where i can get this gear? This car looks so awesome and he needs this gear so his car will be alittle more of a ripper instead of a cruiser.



Thanks



Nick

 

[Duluth Diesel]

So, mcoleman, you're implying that mileage should be considered when running a 455? HA! If I had that engine, the last factor that I'd be letting compromise my performance options would be mileage.

3. 42:1 gears? 8mpg.

3. 73:1 gears? 7. 8mpg.



Just having some fun.



But I have to agree with you, mcoleman about the 455 not needing gears that low. My Ford Ranger needed 4. 10 gears because the family of hamsters under the hood needed all the mechanical advantage they could get. My CTD does very well with my 3. 55:1 gears.

 

[mcoleman]

You would be surprised at what the mileage a 455 will get with a good qjet and a properly timed hei distributor. I never checked the mileage in my racecar of course but I did stick a 455 in a 75 GMC 4 wheel drive and it would get 13 mpg in the truck compaired to the 406 smallblock that was only getting 10 before it let go I was impressed. Dad had a couple of new Electra's back in the day and properly tuned they would hit 15-17mpg on the highway. I didn't even like the 3. 73 gear option on my Suburbans. I had 1 new Burban with each and the 3. 73s were horrible out on the highway. It wouldn't downshift at 55mph into 2nd as the old TBI 350 was out of rpm at that level. The 3. 42s actually improved the passing power as it would downshift. Know what you mean on the Ranger. Friend of mine had one when we were in the Army with 36s all the way around. He had 4. 88s installed in it to help the 4. 0 engine out a little. We popped over a berm out in the desert outside of Tombstone AZ and snapped the pinion. He had his foot on the brake and the wheels turned to make a turn when we landed. SNAP. Good thing we had tools with us. LOL