Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 Forum - View Single Post - Where is the 7 speed tranny on the ZL1/ZL1 1LE?

travislambert · 01-04-2018, 11:00 PM

There's not a significant performance benefit to the 7-Speed below ~140 MPH. If you change the rear gear, then the underdrive ratios would have to be adjusted accordingly to maintain drive-ability. In other words, the final drive ratio of the underdrive gears wouldn't change.

I wouldn't want a gear taller than the current 6th gear ratio. A taller ratio would make the engine lug a little too much while using cruise control on the interstate hills. That only leaves room for improvement in 5th gear. Sure, they could get slightly better acceleration beyond 4th gear, but unless you're running on a long straight on the Nurburgring at 140+, when would that ever matter?

I'm perfectly happy with the 6-speed. The benefit to the 7-speed is so negligible I see it as a (borderline) gimmick.

Just my 2 cents... To each his own.

01-04-2018, 11:00 PM	#6
travislambert Drives: '17 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 1,567	There's not a significant performance benefit to the 7-Speed below ~140 MPH. If you change the rear gear, then the underdrive ratios would have to be adjusted accordingly to maintain drive-ability. In other words, the final drive ratio of the underdrive gears wouldn't change. I wouldn't want a gear taller than the current 6th gear ratio. A taller ratio would make the engine lug a little too much while using cruise control on the interstate hills. That only leaves room for improvement in 5th gear. Sure, they could get slightly better acceleration beyond 4th gear, but unless you're running on a long straight on the Nurburgring at 140+, when would that ever matter? I'm perfectly happy with the 6-speed. The benefit to the 7-speed is so negligible I see it as a (borderline) gimmick. Just my 2 cents... To each his own. Last edited by travislambert; 01-28-2018 at 10:09 AM.