A4 gearing with ATI?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
A4 gearing with ATI?
I am planning on going with the A&A S/C in the near future. In the mean time I was going to upgrade my 2.73 to a 3.42 and a Yank 3000 T/C to satify my mod fever need. Reading around I am thinking twice about the gears and T/C. From what I understand you have more than ample power with the S/C off the line to leave plenty of rubber and again leave rubber on the shift to second. Traction seems to be the issue with stock tires/rim size.
Would I gain anything spending $2000+ on the gears and T/C. Would that money be better spent toward better rubber?
Would the best plan be; ATI then wider tires/rims then gears and T/C?
I do realize a tranny would be figured in at some point. Im sure it will let me know when it wanted to be replaced.
Please lend me your setup experiences..
Would I gain anything spending $2000+ on the gears and T/C. Would that money be better spent toward better rubber?
Would the best plan be; ATI then wider tires/rims then gears and T/C?
I do realize a tranny would be figured in at some point. Im sure it will let me know when it wanted to be replaced.
Please lend me your setup experiences..
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 20,474
Likes: 2
From: Detroit
Originally Posted by Mike04
I do realize a tranny would be figured in at some point. Im sure it will let me know when it wanted to be replaced.
Do yourself a favor and have your tranny hardened when the blower is installed. As long as the tranny is out the converter can be upgraded very easily.. Save yourself some downtime and some labor charges and get everything done at once.
As for gears .. Believe me when I say you wont miss your 2:73's..
Cheers,
Mark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
My car started out much like yours.... check out my sig for all the current mods. I'm very glad I went with 3.42's (heck I kinda wonder about 3.73's :o), though my SS3600 may be a bit too much for the street, just my opinion. I do love it at the track though.
I know for certain 2.73's would have been ZERO fun even with the blower. One thing I've noticed is that I "usually" don't even see boost, the gears & LT's have made such a difference in the car! Pulls nicely, but 3.73's may have helped a bit more.
Nice thing about the ATI, when you want the power YOU GET IT!!!! My car pulls like no tomorrow. A buddy of mine with an '03 Cobra (547rwhp) says all the time when he drives my car that it hits like you've just been kicked in the ***.
Gotta love that. I'm sure more people will chime in, look forward to hearing your final decision.
I know for certain 2.73's would have been ZERO fun even with the blower. One thing I've noticed is that I "usually" don't even see boost, the gears & LT's have made such a difference in the car! Pulls nicely, but 3.73's may have helped a bit more.
Nice thing about the ATI, when you want the power YOU GET IT!!!! My car pulls like no tomorrow. A buddy of mine with an '03 Cobra (547rwhp) says all the time when he drives my car that it hits like you've just been kicked in the ***.
Gotta love that. I'm sure more people will chime in, look forward to hearing your final decision.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
I would hold off on the tranny until something happens. I have driven my car (kinda hard) on the street just about daily since the install and the tranny is doing just fine...... FOR NOW.
Sure it'll go eventually, but until it happens I'll keep driving it like I stole it!!
Sure it'll go eventually, but until it happens I'll keep driving it like I stole it!!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 657
Likes: 1
From: michigan
My A4 is holding strong, small steps grasshopper, I m in the situation your talking about the 2.73 gears just take so much of the neck snap out of it. I m planning on 3.42's and the widest tire I can get under it without tubbing. I believe that the 3.42's will only agrivate the tire problem because with the S/C and 3.42's you will get into boost faster and harder. As I drive mine around I find myself seeing where and what speed I can still spin the tires at. Get the 3.42's a good wide set of street tires and an S/C and you'll crap your pants. ATI+3.42+12"pilot sports=pooop in pants.
Originally Posted by dads01dream
I would hold off on the tranny until something happens. I have driven my car (kinda hard) on the street just about daily since the install and the tranny is doing just fine...... FOR NOW.
Sure it'll go eventually, but until it happens I'll keep driving it like I stole it!!
Sure it'll go eventually, but until it happens I'll keep driving it like I stole it!!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City Maryland
Originally Posted by chriskaw7r
Get the 3.42's a good wide set of street tires and an S/C and you'll crap your pants. ATI+3.42+12"pilot sports=pooop in pants.
Is that a proven formula?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 30
From: Friendswood, Tx
Originally Posted by mdhmi
I hope you don't honestly think that you are going to run 450-500 rwhp with a stock A4 tranny for any period of time.. Do a 'search' and you will see no shortage of reports about the A4 tranny going out right away following major mods.
Mark
Mark
I disagree- for now anyway. I've had my stock tranny in my 481rwhp car for approx 5k miles now with absolutley no problems. I'm not drag racing it every weekend, but I'm not taking part in the local parades either. I drive the car fairly hard- seem to get under WOT acceleration every time I drive it.
Just my .02.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 30
From: Friendswood, Tx
Originally Posted by dads01dream
I know for certain 2.73's would have been ZERO fun even with the blower.
I've got my 2.73 gear still in my car- Is it as fun as a 3.42 or 3.73 car???, no I'm sure it's not, but it's still very fun and seems to pull like a **** to me. Not to mention that it's a lot more driveable at low speeds than a 3.42 or 3.73 car, IMO.
If your a huge drag racer than it's a huge deal- get the 3.42's or gear of your choice. Me? My 2.73 is fine for now and is plllleeenntty fast.....although I do plan on upgrading eventually, just not on my immediate "to do" list. Don't let people talk you out of having a 2.73 blown car- there's nothing wrong with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Originally Posted by mdhmi
I hope you don't honestly think that you are going to run 450-500 rwhp with a stock A4 tranny for any period of time.. Do a 'search' and you will see no shortage of reports about the A4 tranny going out right away following major mods.
Do yourself a favor and have your tranny hardened when the blower is installed. As long as the tranny is out the converter can be upgraded very easily.. Save yourself some downtime and some labor charges and get everything done at once.
As for gears .. Believe me when I say you wont miss your 2:73's..
Cheers,
Mark
Do yourself a favor and have your tranny hardened when the blower is installed. As long as the tranny is out the converter can be upgraded very easily.. Save yourself some downtime and some labor charges and get everything done at once.
As for gears .. Believe me when I say you wont miss your 2:73's..
Cheers,
Mark
I do agree the 2.73's should go though, I went with the 3.42 and stock converter.
I can tell you that a high stall converter with street tires would be a waste of money with my combo.
The converter and big tires that bite will take out the A4 in a hurry but the change to a higher gear ratio will lessen the load on the driveline.
Right now the biggest bang for his buck is the gear change and it will benfit him down the road with or with out the S/C install.
Oh and I have about 15000 miles on mine since the S/C install.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
I think that I'm going to go with the S/C first and worry about the 3.42 and T/C the next time mod fever hits hard. As for the tranny, I'll run it till it breaks 
From what I gather new wider rubber will be the death of it for sure.
Thanks again for all the help
Mike
From what I gather new wider rubber will be the death of it for sure. Thanks again for all the help
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
You learn fast, grasshopper!! As someone mentioned before "how would I know about 2.73's being fun?", yes that's COMPLETELY TRUE.
But, I have had other cars that went from 2.73's right up to 3.73's and the improvment was well worth it.
Truth be told, my original plan was to simply get the D1-SC installed at ECS.... THE END .... not!! While there I got "talking" with Chris & Doug and next thing ya know it's getting the gears, t/c, and LT's Kooks headers w/hi-flow catpipe.
Looking back, I'm still very glad I did it. My car's exhaust sound with the Corsa Indys is simply AMAZING!!! You cannot believe how many people pull the ole head spin to see where the heck that sound came from.
You cannot go wrong with the blower, pick a good quality kit from ECS or A&A and you're off to a fantastic start. Be sure to keep us posted as the "medicine" starts to flow!
As someone mentioned before "how would I know about 2.73's being fun?", yes that's COMPLETELY TRUE. But, I have had other cars that went from 2.73's right up to 3.73's and the improvment was well worth it.
Truth be told, my original plan was to simply get the D1-SC installed at ECS.... THE END .... not!! While there I got "talking" with Chris & Doug and next thing ya know it's getting the gears, t/c, and LT's Kooks headers w/hi-flow catpipe.
Looking back, I'm still very glad I did it. My car's exhaust sound with the Corsa Indys is simply AMAZING!!! You cannot believe how many people pull the ole head spin to see where the heck that sound came from.
You cannot go wrong with the blower, pick a good quality kit from ECS or A&A and you're off to a fantastic start. Be sure to keep us posted as the "medicine" starts to flow!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 35
From: Fairview Hts. IL
As others have suggested go with one of the tuner ATI kits and you will be very happy.
When I made my decision, based on information from members of this forum, I went ahead and purchased the 3.42's. If I had it to do over again, I definitely would have gone with 3.73's.
Someone mentioned the higher gearing would be annoying at lower speeds? I am not sure how this is the case? If anything, higher gears, such as: 3.42's or 3.73's will be annoying at highway speeds since the RPM's will be higher. . . In my opinion, the gears and the converter are absolutely essential to make the car perform.
Afterall, who wants to spend the money on a SC only to be beaten by a car with far fewer mods? I suspect, in a quarter mile run, a Vette running 3.73 gears and a decent converter will run nearly identical ET's as a SC only car? From stop light to stop light, the car with gears and converter will likely win!
My .02 cents, go with the gears and the converter first. Then add the blower when you are ready to also build the tranny. Regardless of which choice you make, I look forward to seeing the results!
When I made my decision, based on information from members of this forum, I went ahead and purchased the 3.42's. If I had it to do over again, I definitely would have gone with 3.73's.
Someone mentioned the higher gearing would be annoying at lower speeds? I am not sure how this is the case? If anything, higher gears, such as: 3.42's or 3.73's will be annoying at highway speeds since the RPM's will be higher. . . In my opinion, the gears and the converter are absolutely essential to make the car perform.
Afterall, who wants to spend the money on a SC only to be beaten by a car with far fewer mods? I suspect, in a quarter mile run, a Vette running 3.73 gears and a decent converter will run nearly identical ET's as a SC only car? From stop light to stop light, the car with gears and converter will likely win!
My .02 cents, go with the gears and the converter first. Then add the blower when you are ready to also build the tranny. Regardless of which choice you make, I look forward to seeing the results!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 30
From: Friendswood, Tx
Originally Posted by Mike04
I think that I'm going to go with the S/C first and worry about the 3.42 and T/C the next time mod fever hits hard. As for the tranny, I'll run it till it breaks From what I gather new wider rubber will be the death of it for sure.
Thanks again for all the help
Mike
From what I gather new wider rubber will be the death of it for sure. Thanks again for all the help
Mike
Great choice- that's exactly what I did.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport TN
Do yourself a favor Mike and talk to Andy with A&A. Just e-mail him and he'll explain it to you like he did to me. He recommended the 3.42 to get u to boost more quickly and it changes the car's performance tremendously! I did mine a few months ago and well worth the money and I retained the stock TC. Pulls hard, and I'm doing his SC kit next month. Good luck
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Fullerton CA
I put 4.11 rear differential & Protorque on my A4 first. And that was a big improvement on acceleration. However, it was a little peaky on acceleration initially and did not have enough power to back up. Then, I had Andy install his P1SC last week. He made my car a lot smoother and powerful on acceleration. The car is ready any second to take off from any MPH. However, on the dyno RHWP does not show that much due to 4.11 & the torque convertor. However, it feel like that the car has extra 100 rwhp more than the dyno number. I think that gear, TC, and SC are a good combination. Definately 3.73 or higher is recommanded for A4. Don't go with 3.42.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
I don't know if I would say "don't got with 3.42".... I have it in my car and on the highway it truly is a terrific gear, keeps the rpm's liveable but still HITS when you punch it. My car will light'em up from 70 to 110 with me in the car alone, pretty hairy!
Where 3.42's start feeling a bit tame is on the street. This could be just my setup as I'm running an SS3600 T/C, but maybe others can chime in here for ya.
Where 3.42's start feeling a bit tame is on the street. This could be just my setup as I'm running an SS3600 T/C, but maybe others can chime in here for ya.