3.23 vs. 3.42 Rear Axle Ratio

RockyTopSilverado · February 18, 2019

I'm 2019 Silverado 1500 shopping. Does anyone have knowledge or an opinion on these two gear ratios, in particular with respect to acceleration and gas mileage? Two trucks have caught my eye...one is a High Country with the 3.23, the other a LTZ with the trailering package and thus the 3.42.

OnTheReel · February 18, 2019

I have the LTZ 6.2 with the 3.42 and I love it. It’s by far the fastest truck I’ve ever driven, and the 3.42 complements the 6.2 very well. Also, the fuel economy difference is probably negligible given the 10 speed and multiple overdrives.

But there is a slight downside. The ride is not as good with the max trailer package. My truck seems to ride somewhere between a half ton and 3/4 ton. It’s a little firmer than the Z71 I drove. Personally I don’t mind because I wanted the fastest/ sportiest truck I could get, but you should drive them both and decide.

There are trade offs with everything but if you want the best performance and trailering capabilities, it’s the way to go.

dgstarr63 · February 18, 2019

You did not specify which engine or if you are going to tow. If you are towing with the 5.3, go for the 3.42. If not towing up hills with the 5.3 or you get a 6.2, it won't make that much difference.

RockyTopSilverado · February 18, 2019

I'm getting a 2 wheel drive, so unfortunately the 6.2L isn't an option. I'd prefer it & the 10 speed transmission, but for whatever reason GM decided not to offer this combo for 2019.

I won't be doing any significant towing. Just a daily driver.

Thanks for the ride consideration OnTheReel...that hadn't occurred to me. What kind of gas mileage do you get from your 6.2L with the 3.42?

f8l vnm · February 18, 2019

the 5.3 and 6.2 are within 1 MPG of each other, if that ..very close . My 6.2 2016 Denali with standard bed 4x4 gets the same as my wifes Yukon 5.3 with 3.08 gears ..performance wise its not even close but i have to say the 5.3 does sound a little better ,.

OnTheReel · February 18, 2019

My 6.2 will do an honest 23 on the highway / back roads/ not 80mph obviously. In town, between 13-16. But we’re on winter gas here and I do use the remote start a lot. I also can’t help but have a lead foot at times. The numbers I’m seeing are still comparable or better than my old 5.3 3.42. That said, the 6.2 is on premium fuel so that adds some cost.

I did have a loaner 19 with the 5.3, 4x4, and I believe it had the 3.23 gears. It was still a good performer and the mileage was maybe about 1-2 mpg higher than mine.

They did lose a lot of weight and improve the tuning quite a bit for 19, and I wouldn’t have many problems with getting the 5.3 / 3.23 in these trucks. Now in the older ones, that combo would have been a complete dog. Heck, my ‘16 was a kind of a dog, and it had the 3.42.

RMR · February 18, 2019

I would prefer the 3.42 for any configuration. If it is not going to be a hwy road trip vehicle, 3.42 all day.

ForestryGuy · February 18, 2019

3.23 will be better suited to highway cruising and better fuel economy. 3.42 for better acceleration and better towing performance.

yankeedoodle86 · March 23, 2019

Shared by someone else but here’s the screenshot I saved. Final drive ratios look good on the 5.3 / 3.23.

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Bryanhutchinson · December 4, 2019

Hey fella’s I just saw this thread. I am shopping a 2020 Silverado and am torn between what package to get. I’m looking at the trail boss either 5.3 or 6.2. The 6.2 in the custom only comes equipped with the 3.23 and the 5.3 with the 3.42. What is you guys take on this choice?

Grumpy Bear · December 4, 2019

Ford T-18 gear box had a 6.69:1 low gear and the 300 CID I6 made like 260 lb./ft. torque just under 2,000 rpm (1800 rpm actually)

The GM 10L90 box has about a 4.70 low gear and the 6.0 makes about 345 lb./ft. torque and 2.0000 rpm.

The Ford I6 with a 3.25 gear gives 5653 lb./ft. axle torque.

The 6.0 GM with 3.23 gear gives 5237 lb./ft. axle torque.

Both between 1800 and 2000 rpm.

To get the full 460 lb./ft. torque for the 6.0 you would need a 4K rpm converter. OR a converter capable of 2X torque multiplication. Even then many of the 300 sixes were equipped with 4.10 final drives. Off the axle torque charts. Torque moves loads, not horsepower. Horsepower says how quickly that work is done. So mind over matter. You don't mind, it don't matter.

Are you looking to move the load or are you looking to drag race while towing a 10,000 lb. trailer? Are you looking to maintain speeds pulling 80K lbs. that a DD15 Cat would have trouble with?

I own a 4.3 with a 6L80E and a 3.23 gear. Thing is quicker that my old 87 5.0 Mustang to 50 mph. Quicker that my 76 Corvette

L-48 to 90 mph.

Seriously, on the street, how much is enough people?

swathdiver · December 4, 2019

37 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Seriously, on the street, how much is enough people?

To beat a McClaren F1 in the quarter mile while towing a travel trailer AND getting 25 MPG! LOL

Bob2C · December 4, 2019

Seriously, on the street, how much is enough people?

And to watch the people’s reaction when the Cybertruck”s 0-60 times were shown. It’s a truck or something like it. Who cares about 0-60 times. Heck where I live your lucky to make it to 30 before your at another red light or traffic.

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Ezekiel2517 · December 5, 2019

My 6.2 NHT rides smooth. I think it's as good as my 2014 z71 with billsteins all around. Definitely better than the 14 with the factory ranchos. That was like riding in a covered wagon.