A4 Trans Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
A4 Trans Question
I am upgrading my DIfferential from 3.15 to 3.73 and my TC to 3200 or 3600 Stall. Over time I am going to add additional HP with a Head/Cam upgrade and performance intake manifold. Eventually I hope to get to around 410 to 430HP
My question is should I consider upgrading my Transmission at this time. I'll have the car apart and this would add no more labor at this time. I have talked to Gear Star about the 4L65E Level 3 upgrade. They can add the TC before they ship transmission. Also if anyone has any info on Gear Star or other Transmission shops that provide an upgrade pleasse include this in your comments.
If anyone has gone threw this or even has any thoughts on this project please share your informmation.
Thanks
Randy
My question is should I consider upgrading my Transmission at this time. I'll have the car apart and this would add no more labor at this time. I have talked to Gear Star about the 4L65E Level 3 upgrade. They can add the TC before they ship transmission. Also if anyone has any info on Gear Star or other Transmission shops that provide an upgrade pleasse include this in your comments.
If anyone has gone threw this or even has any thoughts on this project please share your informmation.
Thanks
Randy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
I would. My tranny just stopped working last weekend and is at The Vette Doctors being upgraded. She did last approx 20K miles on my heads/cam package but only 5K on my 3.90 gears. While she is out I figure that I might as well change the torque converter from a Pro-Torque 2400 to a Vig 3200. and inquire about a hotter cam and better flowing heads, since my package is already 6 years old.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
tranny
Had A&A do hi-stall, 3:42s, H/C pkg. (over 400rwhp) and asked about tranny upgrade. Was told they could tweak tranny with computor (shift times, line pressure and reset shift points) and it would hold that level of horse power. If I went to more HP would then have to do tranny up grade. So far no trouble-2000 miles. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
1. You will have to have your PCM changed to the new gear ratio.
2. If you never have your car dyned tuned you should get it done and they will fix you up with new shift speeds etc.
3. I would add a tranny cooler while your at it.
4. If you have the funds right now I would call Rodney at RPM Transmissions and upgrade now while you are apart. He is listed in the supporting vender list on the lower left of your screen. I would ask him about a TC also since they are not, all the same. You will need a upgraded tranny with additional HP
2. If you never have your car dyned tuned you should get it done and they will fix you up with new shift speeds etc.
3. I would add a tranny cooler while your at it.
4. If you have the funds right now I would call Rodney at RPM Transmissions and upgrade now while you are apart. He is listed in the supporting vender list on the lower left of your screen. I would ask him about a TC also since they are not, all the same. You will need a upgraded tranny with additional HP
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 22
From: Bella Vista Ca
If you have the money to spare do it. Many members have run 500+ with out any issues for many miles... But some have after a few hundered miles. I have run 2000 on my stock A4 with an A&A vortec with zero problems. When it goes I will replace it. Can't justify it until then.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 0
From: Sparta NJ
The stock tranny's longevity will depend on how you drive, if you plan on regularly visiting the drag strip, etc. with your new gears/TC and H/C. At a minimum, add a tranny cooler when you do the gears and TC as heat is a tranny killer. Rodney at RPM transmissions is the MAN when it comes to bullet proof trannys. Give him a call.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info. Upgrading the transmission is an additional cost for parts but the labor to get everything else done and the tranny installed is the same. Down the road this upgrade will add an additional $750 to $1000 in labor I'm figuring. I have a quote for $1000 in labor to have the differential and TC installed and adjusted does that seem lke a good price. In St Louis we do not have many options to get this work done. Would the dealer do this work and if so will they install the high performance parts I have aread got that are not factory.
Thanks for the help and the info. I am new to corvettes so all of this I am doing for the first time and I haven't found a good vette shop locally yet that specializes on high performance upgrades to C5's there are several for the C3's and C4's.
Randy
Thanks for the help and the info. I am new to corvettes so all of this I am doing for the first time and I haven't found a good vette shop locally yet that specializes on high performance upgrades to C5's there are several for the C3's and C4's.
Randy
Last edited by vettejockey; Mar 26, 2006 at 08:15 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 0
From: Sparta NJ
Originally Posted by rjung
Thanks for the info. Upgrading the transmission is an additional cost for parts but the labor to get everything else done and the tranny installed is the same. Down the road this upgrade will add an additional $750 to $1000 in labor I'm figuring. I have a quote for $1000 in labor to have the differential and TC installed and adjusted does that seem lke a good price. In St Louis we do not have many options to get this work done. Would the dealer do this work and if so will they install the high performance parts I have aread got that are not factory.
T
T
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Get a Rodney (RPM) trans and a BIG transcooler with a fan. Money well spent. 
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 3
From: Anderson Indiana
Starting to sound like a road trip. (4hrs.) Make us your one stop shop. Seriously if this sounds like something you want to do to save some money, give me a call on Monday and we can go over your options.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: East Lansing, Mi
Yep-go with England Green's advice and many others at the forum. Mine is at Rodney's right now getting the trans swapped out. I hope to have her back and on the road sometime this week. After listening to everyone elses experiences on the forum I decided that Rodney was the place to go. I met with him last week and I think that only confirmed everyone elses advice.