Chevette 4.11 gear email, fallout, facts, lies, conjecture, whatever.....
I'm going to post the email I get about this subject, pro or con, for or against, mad at me or not !
The first one up is from Shawn Begin, and it's pretty neat
Heya Bob!
I read the 4.11 Diesel page, very fascinating, and very false on 4.11's in a diesel from GM. I wouldn't think they'd revive a 76-77 only rear end just for diesels, not to mention, the motor would really wind out.
I have a 4.11 in the 76, and have swapped it into the Diesel for in town driving, before I got a job 15 miles from my house. Yes, it does help acceleration, and 1st gear is useless with that low of a rear. I remember burnies were nice tho.
All that low end and a trusty snap of the clutch in second would send my 165/80 r13's into balls of smoke and sparks (snow tires), and make a scene when a DIESEL chevette out smoked a "riced" civic. Brake stands for 5 minutes are fun.
I removed the rear after 3 weeks, mainly because I didn't want to injure it much more than it was from the 76's burnout streaks (yes, smoke from a 25 yr old, dead carb, dying auto- chevette). I believe the rear I have is the 3.36, I had the cover off once for a gear lube change, but neglected to write down the gear numbers. Btw, the fluid it in might have been stock, with 216k on it, it was nice and nasty with sand in it. Not to mention I have changed every fluid in the car to synthetic, except for the engine oil. Synthetic Diesel oil is more than5 a quart, and I didn't want a 30+ dollar oil change every 2,000 miles
Take care!
Shawn
Next from Chad Pickhinke
Hi Bob,
What a read! You sure did your homework well!
To confirm the rumor: NO Diesel Chevette came factory with a 4.11 ratio. Chevrolet discountied the 4.11 ratio in 1978. 1979 Chevettes may have the 4.11 ratio, as they were a leftover option from the 1978 model year.
I also can contruibte the fact that 95% of the Diesel Chevettes came with the 3.36 ratio. There may be the 3.62 ratio paired up with the automatic transmission on 1981 and/or 1982 Diesels.
If anyone came across a Diesel Chevette with a 4.11 rear end, someone must have put it there at some time of ownership. This is the only reason I could think of.
Chad
From Darryl Lowes !
Hi Bob!
Most of the axle info is a collection of information from the old chevette forum, and from personal experience. We used to have a 1976 chevette, and that one had a 4.11 rear end.
As far as I know, most later chevettes (1979-1987) with the gas motor and the automatic had the 3.62 rear end while 5 speed gas models had the 3.42 rear end. As far as the diesels go, I have heard from some people that they have the 4.11 rear end, although I am not sure on that. Hopefully, I have given you some useful info!
Darryl Lowes
Sorry, I just realized that I said 3.42 ratio in my other e-mail that I sent you.... I meant to say 3.36!
Darryl Lowes
From Jim Ellis !
Hey Bob, when installed another so called 3.36:1 rear end in my
Scootermania, I counted the teeth on both gears, I found that 3.36 in
reality is a 3.38, just doing the math. By the way Scootermania is still
running "3.36 gears" at 60 mph I'm running 3000 rpm on my tach. My rear
tires are 205/60/13. I used to have 155/80/13 on her and didn't change my
rpm significantly, all I did was get my e/t down a 1/10 of a sec. due to
better traction! This winter while my car is in storage, I'm going to get a
4.11 rear from my buddy Brian out of his 76 Chevette. I'm hoping to see
high 16 sec times with my 1.6 Litre!
Also coming is an electric fuel pump, electric fan, and some other need work
to the car!
Hey thanks for everything!
Jim Ellis Newark, OH, USA
Dr. Chevette Doctor of Chevettology
From Dave L. taken from the Chevette Performance Forum
Hey Bob, Last year I took a rear out of a diesel, it's a 3.36 the same as what's in my
85 Chevette, 87 chevette parts car & 87pont 1000, (all 3 auto trans) and the black (4
speed) that's on my wheel page. The only chevette I have that came with a low rear is my
80 HO, a 370. I didn't check Rays old scooter yet. I don't know what the
"red-line" is on a diesel but I can say that with a 4.11 rear and 175/70R13's 66
mph would be 4034 RPMs. I've found a site
that does the math for you, all you need to know is the overall diam. (22.6") of the
tires. the ratio of your rear (4.11 or other) and the speed that you will run. Just click
on the link, then click "RPM & MPH correlation. Please put the 4.11 Diesel rear
Myth to rest for us all. Dave L