As some of you know I've got my car scheduled to go into MTI just after the new year for some additional mods that should put me at close to 600rwhp, if not over. After thinking long and hard I'm considering changing things up a bit. My concern is my tranny (duh).

I'm currently making approx 500rwhp with my 2.73 axel- and have been for the last year.....I've had no probs with it. I'm not a big drag racer (go to the track maybe once/twice a year) but do enjoy my putting my foot into it from a roll on the street. It's not my daily driver and I put about 6k miles a year on it.

My question is how long will my stock A-4 support 600+rwhp(which will include a 2800 stall and a 3.42 carrier) with my driving habits? How bout with 530-540hp (If i decide to do alky injection and run more timing)? Are any of you guys still running the stock A-4 tranny with 500+hp?

Guess what I'm saying is.....if it might last a significant amt of time with the 530-540hp range then I might revisit my thoughts on spending so much money on the 600hp mods, only to have to turn around a month later and spend another $2500 on a tranny. If I can spend a little less but still make 500+rwhp and have a safe/realiable tune with a stock tranny, that may be the way to go.

I know "you have to pay to play".....trust me. I'm not trying to "cut corners" here or trying to go fast cheap, but merely trying to figure out the sequence of events and how to mod accordingly.

Your thoughts/feedback greatly appreciated.

-Jason-

 

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showth...light=turbo+c5


i will run twin te44 ptk kit. bought spare tranny as a backup and will build with parts that kevin steele recommended. cost for parts $1200 bench labor $600 oh bt the way i boughtthe spare a/4 & rear for $510!!!!

 

I am suprised your A4 has lasted as long as it has.

I would recommend an FLP level 4 or 5 or equivalent.

 

Give Doug at ECS a call. He has a killer A4. I am sure he will guide you in the right direction. I would say Level 5 if your going to do it and back off a little of the power so you can save a little money, then add the power and your already covered.
Jon

 

Very little bang for the buck going from 500-520 rwhp to 600 rwhp.. By the time you add up the cost of the forged bottom-end, driveline, etc - it's just not worth it.. Going from 500-520 rwhp to 650-700 rwhp, on the other hand - might be worth it .

Mark

 

Many say anything over 450rwhp and your tranny is going to go out...just a matter or time...

 

i am sure that flp makers a great tranny. but those parts are nothing special and can be purchased easly and built by any good hi po tranny builder.

sun beast reactor
red eagle plates
kolean metals
gm planator gears front and rear
transgo shift kit
transgo vacuum kit
hardened input shaft
hd 3 4 servo
ect
ect

no rocket science nor voodoo

 

I agree, but maybe they have some tricks that they do in the setting up of these parts. I've got an FLP Level IV and it's a nice trans that shifts VERY quickly, and is Rock solid, and my car is VERY lightly modded compared to yours. Heck, my car is stock compared to yours, who am I kidding!

In answering Busa's original question......I don't see it lasting very long with that kind of power going to it. I'd be a little nervous that every time you stepped on it that it was going to break and leave you stranded somewhere. Just for piece of mind it's worth the better trans (there I go spending someone elses money again.....sorry about that).

 

In answering Busa's original question......I don't see it lasting very long with that kind of power going to it.




YES

 

I'm a bit surprised that your tranny is still alive. I don't see it lasting very long at all, especially if you bump up the hp, and go to a higher stall tc, and go to a 3.42. If you are doing the tc and diff gear, go ahead and put in an upgraded tranny to save on the labor costs.

 

You are on borrowed time for certain, mine lasted less than a month after the turbo install. aROUND 450 is the limit of what a stock 4l60 can reliably handle.

 

I have the P1SC with a forged bottom end (after blowing the stock shortblock) and Stage II heads from Andy. My A4 is still stock but not for long. I will be replacing it in the spring with a Level IV or V. My car is at 600RWHP now, and the stock A4 is slipping at times (no catastrophic failure though).

 

I would really check out FLP. They are known for their work and when it comes to auto's Chuck really know his stuff

 

Yah you will break something soon unless you really just baby it on launches and in the 4 to 3 down shifts. The first gear puts all the strain on the metal and the 4 th gear transition messes with the clutches.

Best picks

FLP,Rossler,Strange, Raptor

 

I would get the tranny built at the same time. Or don't do the mod, that would be silly IMO.

 

Thanks Jon,
Busa, we have found that on a 500rwhp car, going from a stock trans to properly built trans averages a 1-4 tenths gain in the 1/4 mile. Adding a convertor naturally increases the gain. The shifts are usually so sloppy on a stock trans that you can easily gain a tenth per shift. Weather you bought a trans from us or any of the other good tuners out there, I would suggest going that route first. Build a strong foundation, then go from there.

 

I'm at 490rwhp - ATI Procharger P-1SC plus other mild mods (Blackwing, Stingers etc.)

2001 A4 2.73:1 gears & stock TC. B&M shift kit and predator shift imporvements is all I have done in that arena so far.

Nothing has broken - but I do not do burnouts, nor do I drag the car or do hard standing start pulls. Drive at high speed = yes. Manually shift up and down = yes. Rolling starts = yes. Kickdowns at WOT = YES

So far nothing has broken and everything feels tight. Don't know how long that's going to last.

Early next year, I'm going to 3.73:1 gears, mild 2800 stall (Vigilante), tranny cooler and possibly a stage V FLP (if funds permit). I really want to do it at the same time and save the labour costs.

If I had to do it all over again - I would have done the gears/tranny first, then intake/exhaust, and then the blower.

Oh well, live and learn.

EG