is there a easy way to find out what i have?

There are number of easy ways but you will probably get dirty.

1-Open the cover and count teeth (most accurate).
2-If the gears haven't been changed the axle code.
3-Count driveshaft revolutions as you turn the wheels 1 complete revolution....will get you close
4-Build sheet if you have one but the gears may have been changed.
5-Gear ratio = (RPM X Tire Diameter) / (MPH X 336)...can't be an overdrive tranny.

ok so i tried option 2. i turn the wheel once, and the drive shaft turns once? what does that mean?

ok so i tried option 2. i turn the wheel once, and the drive shaft turns once? what does that mean?

You're doing something wrong.

If you have 3.08 gears the drive shaft should turn about three times (3.08 exactly) when both wheels make a single complete revolution in the same direction. You just can't let the opposite wheel do what it wants unless you have posi.

If you are turning only one wheel and the other is on the ground you'll need to multiply the driveshaft revolutions by 2.

It's best if you mark the drive shaft and tire so you get an accurate revolution count.

Lift both back wheels. Paint a mark/line on the yoke flange and the rear housing in the same place. Mark your tire so you can count one revolution of the tire from a point you pick out on the body of the car. Turn your tire ONE time, counting the amount of revolutions the driveshaft yoke you painted passes the same mark you made on the rear housing. Example: 3 times past the mark means you're at 3:00 gear ratio. 3 1/2 times past equals 3:50 ratio. Where it gets tricky but common sense should guide you is when it just goes past your marks a little bit, or not quite one half revolution as my example states. So say it goes an inch past the mark after 3 full revolutions- roughly it'd be a
3:08. And if it didn't quite get to a full 3 1/2 revolutions, it's probably a 3:42. Hopefully you get the idea.

ooh ok so i cant leave the other wheel and let it do what it wants? (i dont have posi) so should i leave one wheel on the ground and just spin the wheel in the air? i understand the "3 times past the mark means you're at 3:00 gear ratio. 3 1/2 times past equals 3:50 ratio"

ooh ok so i cant leave the other wheel and let it do what it wants? (i dont have posi) so should i leave one wheel on the ground and just spin the wheel in the air? i understand the "3 times past the mark means you're at 3:00 gear ratio. 3 1/2 times past equals 3:50 ratio"

If both wheels are in the air they both must turn the same direction one full turn.

If one is on the ground and you turn a single wheel you double the drive shaft count.

Without posi you have a choice.

ok so i put one wheel in the air and got 1.25 x 2=2.50 which im guessing is 2:56 rear gear. now that i know what i have id like to upgrade to a 3:42-3:55 what do i have to do? i have the 8.2 rear.

ok so i put one wheel in the air and got 1.25 x 2=2.50 which im guessing is 2:56 rear gear. now that i know what i have id like to upgrade to a 3:42-3:55 what do i have to do? i have the 8.2 rear.

:thumbsup:

I mostly dapple with 12 bolt housings so will leave this to experts......

12 bolt 10 bolt = roughly the same operation.

Here's a good place to learn alot. http://www.ringpinion.com/Default.aspx

ok so i put one wheel in the air and got 1.25 x 2=2.50 which im guessing is 2:56 rear gear. now that i know what i have id like to upgrade to a 3:42-3:55 what do i have to do? i have the 8.2 rear.

To make sure do as I did. I spun the tire 10 times and had someone else count the drive shaft. They got 33 to my 10 which is right on 3.31's. It's a little more accurate.