Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - To much gears hurt perfomance?

I have a 1977 gmc 350. I put 4.10 gears in it last year but it doesn't pull as good as it used to with the 3.40 I used to have. Can too much gear hurt you 1/4 mile. I have 26 inch tall tires. I know it doesn't pull as hard cause my buddy with a mustang is identical speed as me and before the gear swap i could pull him the whole way to a hundred. Now with 4.10 i pull him hard out of the hole then at 70 he passes me. I don't understand. Please enlighten me. Thanks, Jared

yep 4.10's and higher get killed up top.. thats why i love my 3.73's and my bigass stall my power is all the way through

Wow. You need a taller tire. I'd go with a 28".

And yes, there is such as "too much gears". What's your peak rpm? Do you have stall? I take it you have a 350 tranny? Just curious, what kinda vehicle is it in?

Like everything else, yes there can be too much gear. Gears should be matched to your engines powerband. 2.73s aren't good on an engine peaking at 6600 and 4.56s are no good on an engine peaking at 4800, etc. Of course the transmission ratios also have to be taken into consideration.

Like everything else, yes there can be too much gear. Gears should be matched to your engines powerband. 2.73s aren't good on an engine peaking at 6600 and 4.56s are no good on an engine peaking at 4800, etc. Of course the transmission ratios also have to be taken into consideration.

Yep, what he said. Same goes for the converter selection, too loose and your blowing through the powerband, too tight and it's wasting time getting into the powerband. There are plenty of cars making good times with 3.73 and numerically lower gearing. 4.10's give a good punch off the line but could be winding the motor out too quickly.

Derek

4.56s with a 30'' tall tire is where its at.

:]