Lightening a rear gear?

[Ed Carpenter]

Is there really that much to gain by lightening a rear gear. I have to get a new ring and pinion(6.17 Dana 60) and figured while I'm at it. I don't have gun drilled axles or aluminum spool etc. Thanks.

[Wade_Owens]

You won't see anything. However, if you do 10 of those things, it does somehow add up to an et reduction. Basic math doesn't apply here....

Wade

[gsa612]

I would look into cryo/ rem the gear set, might be worth a couple plus add some durability with a stick car. I don,t think there would be any visable gain to just machine the ring gear. gsa612

[Jeff Lee]

If it were me, I'd have the lightest ring gear, spool, wheels and slicks possible on a 283 car like yours.

[Ed Carpenter]

90 % of the feedback I've gotten on this is its a waste of money I will see nothing. Now Jeff I can give you my address so you can send me a check to buy all the lightweight stuff you suggest LOL. I never heard back from you on that single disc 10" clutch??

[Jeff Niceswanger]

We didn't see anything. I remember Joey Wilkes did everything. Gun drilled MW 40 spline and all. It slowed down...Ask him about it. It was kinda funny at the time, ( Even he was laughing)

[Jim Cimarolli]

I would say that it depends a lot on how much weight you can get off your ring gear.
I had one lightened in my 12 bolt and it only took off a pound, costed $200, and I didn't see a thing in et. Gears started howling quicker too.

[tim worner]

Can't hurt but won't help. Coating is far better way to spend money.

[Pvt Parts]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

If it were me, I'd have the lightest ring gear, spool, wheels and slicks possible on a 283 car like yours.

X2 And the rifle drilled axles with lightweight flanges and the carbon fiber driveshaft with billet alum ends and the titanium lug nuts. And all of the lightweight transmission components.

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by deuces wild

90 % of the feedback I've gotten on this is its a waste of money I will see nothing. Now Jeff I can give you my address so you can send me a check to buy all the lightweight stuff you suggest LOL. I never heard back from you on that single disc 10" clutch??

Forgot about that clutch. I sold my single disk Advanced clutches. I sold my 10.5" McLeod to a buddy. It's everything but the flywheel. I just called him and asked if it was for sale. It's used but not abused. He will get back with me in the morning. Is that something that you would be interested in?

I'm of the opinion light-weight parts are what you want when you have a little engine like a 283. But I've never raced something like that so what do I know? I do know I saw a guy with a V/SA V-6 pick up around two tenths buy going to smaller / lighter wheels & tires and changing the rear gear to keep the same finish line RPM. I've seen other light-weight tricks performed on low HP / small engines and it always seems to help. If it were I, I would ask that those saying "did it, didn't work" what the combo they did it on was. Because a 350+ engine is entirely different than a 283 engine.
And yes, I do understand it costs $$ and that's hard to come by. If your really tight, buy the gear and leave it alone. Put in a lighter spool though. And those are easy to find used.