The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > Engine & Drivetrain > LSx Swaps

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-16-2015, 03:46 PM   #1
Guss
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Posts: 11
RPM at freeway speed?

I have a new crate motor, 6.2L LS3, 4L65E trans. Current rear gear is 3.73. GM recommends 3.42 for this engine/trans combo. With the 3.42 and my tire size, RPM's calculate to 2201 at 70 MPH. My question is this, is 2200 rpm going to be in the right range for optimal fuel mileage. I would assume so from a GM engineering standpoint but was looking for real world scenarios. Thanks
Guss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 05:28 PM   #2
solidaxel
Registered User
 
solidaxel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cactus Patch So. Az
Posts: 4,749
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

Sounds like a perfect combination to me!
I would not think you would notice that much difference in MPG , are you thinking that 2000 RPM's is the perfect number?
I am thinking out loud, the difference between 20 and 21 MPG difference.
You could always reduce the tire height by 1/2 inch or so.............. after you burn the first set off!!
__________________
53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD)
53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25
55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73
62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327
340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis
LS 3 4L70E
65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11
78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42
2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser)
2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42
solidaxel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 05:30 PM   #3
GMC-YA68
Senior Member
 
GMC-YA68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Lee's Summit, MO (KC)
Posts: 742
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

I don't know about fuel mileage because I don't care, but I'd keep those 3.73s all day long...
__________________
-Keegan-

'72 Jimmy 4x4 - 5.3/4L65E/NP205 swap
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=663780
GMC-YA68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 07:12 PM   #4
clinebarger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 6,370
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

3.42 compared to 3.73 is not much of a ratio change to warrant changing gear sets.
clinebarger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 07:57 PM   #5
Guss
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Posts: 11
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by clinebarger View Post
3.42 compared to 3.73 is not much of a ratio change to warrant changing gear sets.
I get what you are saying. The 3.73 gear has to go anyway. it isn't a posi rearend and I like to burn the tread off my tires evenly!
Guss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 08:46 PM   #6
BR3W CITY
meowMEOWmeowMEOW
 
BR3W CITY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MKE WI
Posts: 7,128
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guss View Post
I have a new crate motor, 6.2L LS3, 4L65E trans. Current rear gear is 3.73. GM recommends 3.42 for this engine/trans combo. With the 3.42 and my tire size, RPM's calculate to 2201 at 70 MPH. My question is this, is 2200 rpm going to be in the right range for optimal fuel mileage. I would assume so from a GM engineering standpoint but was looking for real world scenarios. Thanks
Which rear end are you running? If your using something like a 10 bolt, 12 bolt, or aftermarket GM case, your not going to find 3:42 gearsets anywhere nearly as often as finding a 3:73. Usually then next "common" drop down would be to the 3:23 (again from an availability standpoint) if needing less gear a-la those needing to build load on a boosted motor.

2200 is fine on the highway, and I'd say its right around where most of us sit. Your stall converter and lockup settings will also affect the seen vs calculated rpm. My 4l80e/ 373 12bolt sits about 150-200rpm higher, but the converter has a slipping problem when hot in 3rd.
__________________
'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING

MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD
BR3W CITY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 09:05 PM   #7
mooseknuckles
Registered User
 
mooseknuckles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ottawa,canada
Posts: 4,550
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

I'm running 3:42 gears with my 6.0l/4l80, and it's right around 2200rpm @70mph....and 2200 is right about when this thing starts to pull... I wouldn't be able to keep tires on it at all with 3:73 gears! if you were doin a lot of freeway driving you could run 3:23 gears easily with that ls3...
mooseknuckles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2015, 11:48 PM   #8
solidaxel
Registered User
 
solidaxel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cactus Patch So. Az
Posts: 4,749
Re: RPM at freeway speed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guss View Post
I have a new crate motor, 6.2L LS3, 4L65E trans. Current rear gear is 3.73. GM recommends 3.42 for this engine/trans combo. With the 3.42 and my tire size, RPM's calculate to 2201 at 70 MPH. My question is this, is 2200 rpm going to be in the right range for optimal fuel mileage. I would assume so from a GM engineering standpoint but was looking for real world scenarios. Thanks
Guss, is this truck on the road?
__________________
53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD)
53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25
55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73
62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327
340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis
LS 3 4L70E
65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11
78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42
2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser)
2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42
solidaxel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2015, 02:07 PM   #9
Andy4639
Old member
 
Andy4639's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,945
Thumbs up Re: RPM at freeway speed?

6.0 4L80E with 4:10 gears and I'm cruisin at 2400RPMs @70MPH, tires are 29" tall. Truck gets about 16-17 MPG.
__________________
1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver
Seeing the USA in a 71


Upstate SC GM Truck Club
2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour


http://upstategmtrucks.com/



Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun!
It sucks not being able to hear!

LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB!
After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.
Andy4639 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com