I'm looking to get a little more "seat of the pants" excitement out of my stock 71 without spending a ton of money and digging into the inner workings of the engine itself. So far I've switched from 2bbl and stock intake to 4bbl and aluminum intake and that's helped a bit. I'm also going to be adding headers and Magnaflow exhaust next week. After that I figured I'd step up from the stock rear gears to a 3:73 ratio.
With that in mind I'd like to get some advice on the best way to go about this and if there are other considerations beyond just switching the gears themselves.
I'm almost certain my stock gear ratio is 2:56 and guessing open diff. I'm going to try to get the axle code today. Currently it's seems to be hidden and well-protected by a very stubborn layer of grease, grime and who know's what.
Current setup: 1971 Nova, Stock 350 (L65) with TH350, 8.2" 10-bolt rear, 2:56 ratio & non-posi (assumed).
Questions:
Is this a straightforward replacement? Gears for gears? Or are there other things that require attention as well? I don't have the tools, space or know-how to do this myself so I was going to take it to a shop, and being on a budget I'd like to get a ballpark idea of how much the gears, parts and labor may set me back. I'd also like to add posi if I confirm that the current setup is open.
I've also read that some just source out a complete rear axle from a parts car or boneyard that has what I need and just swap one for the other. Thoughts on this route? Pros and cons?
With that in mind I'd like to get some advice on the best way to go about this and if there are other considerations beyond just switching the gears themselves.
I'm almost certain my stock gear ratio is 2:56 and guessing open diff. I'm going to try to get the axle code today. Currently it's seems to be hidden and well-protected by a very stubborn layer of grease, grime and who know's what.
Current setup: 1971 Nova, Stock 350 (L65) with TH350, 8.2" 10-bolt rear, 2:56 ratio & non-posi (assumed).
Questions:
Is this a straightforward replacement? Gears for gears? Or are there other things that require attention as well? I don't have the tools, space or know-how to do this myself so I was going to take it to a shop, and being on a budget I'd like to get a ballpark idea of how much the gears, parts and labor may set me back. I'd also like to add posi if I confirm that the current setup is open.
I've also read that some just source out a complete rear axle from a parts car or boneyard that has what I need and just swap one for the other. Thoughts on this route? Pros and cons?