A4-Drag Racing Question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
Been reading some of your posts. Do you still have the stock trans in your car?? If so beware. Don't drag race. Don't manual shift. No shifting into D at WOT. Unless you have a extra $2,500.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Im slowly saving up for an upgraded one maybe ill just wait till i get some more cash
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
The 12.8's were pre-H/C package, gears, converter, etc... Just the stinger/tune and stock EMTS. You need to be able to get a good launch and have gone < 2.0secs 60' on EMT
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Transgo shift kits for A4 ?
While we're on the A4 shifting/drag racing subject.... How come NO one's mentioned the Transgo shift kit. I mean are those things really that bad, and useless that nobody seems to care about them? I did a lotta reading on those. They say, you're able to shift at any point/Rpm/speed. And they are also "supposed" to give better oil flow = cooling to the tranny, and firm up your shift points as well. Reading all this makes it sound like a cheap insurance and lotta fun. So, what's up with TRANSGO...????? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
The Trans-go shift kit is a good product--However when installing one the recommendation is to delete all of the torque management---Some people aren't willing to do that and give up the driveline and tranny protection that the TM gives you.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,407
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
While we're on the A4 shifting/drag racing subject.... How come NO one's mentioned the Transgo shift kit. I mean are those things really that bad, and useless that nobody seems to care about them? I did a lotta reading on those. They say, you're able to shift at any point/Rpm/speed. And they are also "supposed" to give better oil flow = cooling to the tranny, and firm up your shift points as well. Reading all this makes it sound like a cheap insurance and lotta fun. So, what's up with TRANSGO...?????
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
And one really cool thing the programmer did was set the shift firmness so that it stays at the stock level under normal driving, but the first time I go full throttle, the shift firmness stays on a very firm setting from that point on (until I shut the car off, then it resets back to the stock firmness again) I like this setup because the super firm setting is not something I want to have all the time but it definitely helps when racing. So when I make back to back runs at the strip (hot lapping) I get a nice performance boost on the second and third runs (it picks up an extra tenth)
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
How come NO one's mentioned the Transgo shift kit
I got exactly the type of shifts I wanted using a handheld programmer (Predator). Also, I can make changes at-will when arriving at the track, and then before the drive home from the track.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
The Trans-Go Shift Kit will allow you to manualy shift your trans without letting off the gas to a certain RPM can't remember. Maybe up to 2500 Rpms? Not much higher than that. But there will be a price you will have to pay for that extra fun someday. I broke one of my trans manualy banging 2nd (I think it was the fourth or fifth one?) can't remember
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
It seems like it has mechanical benefits that a programmer can't do. Then again, some of us are at the learning curve.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
what do you expect? They're trying to continue to sell older technology in a new technology world.
Really, though... the only drawback to a shift-kit I can see is the lack of easy fine tuning. Each time you want to make a "test" change to witness the results and see if that's where you want to be.... how you gonna easily do that with a shift kit???
With a shift-kit, how do you have one setup once you're at the track... and another setup for everyday type driving ?
I dunno; like I said - my 2002 shifts exactly like I want it to. But since each persons goals differ, maybe a handheld can't achieve what you want it to.
Really, though... the only drawback to a shift-kit I can see is the lack of easy fine tuning. Each time you want to make a "test" change to witness the results and see if that's where you want to be.... how you gonna easily do that with a shift kit???
With a shift-kit, how do you have one setup once you're at the track... and another setup for everyday type driving ?
I dunno; like I said - my 2002 shifts exactly like I want it to. But since each persons goals differ, maybe a handheld can't achieve what you want it to.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 253
From: Hillsboro OR
I love what my programming has done for me on my A4! The shift points have all been raised to 6100rpm, and the speed at which the trans makes the shift is quicker now too (the stock program has the trans hesitate too much between gears-this is a different function compared to shift firmness)
And one really cool thing the programmer did was set the shift firmness so that it stays at the stock level under normal driving, but the first time I go full throttle, the shift firmness stays on a very firm setting from that point on (until I shut the car off, then it resets back to the stock firmness again) I like this setup because the super firm setting is not something I want to have all the time but it definitely helps when racing. So when I make back to back runs at the strip (hot lapping) I get a nice performance boost on the second and third runs (it picks up an extra tenth)
And one really cool thing the programmer did was set the shift firmness so that it stays at the stock level under normal driving, but the first time I go full throttle, the shift firmness stays on a very firm setting from that point on (until I shut the car off, then it resets back to the stock firmness again) I like this setup because the super firm setting is not something I want to have all the time but it definitely helps when racing. So when I make back to back runs at the strip (hot lapping) I get a nice performance boost on the second and third runs (it picks up an extra tenth)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
I love what my programming has done for me on my A4! And one really cool thing the programmer did was set the shift firmness so that it stays at the stock level under normal driving, but the first time I go full throttle, the shift firmness stays on a very firm setting from that point on (until I shut the car off, then it resets back to the stock firmness again)
So if you go on a long trip and pass someone at WOT you have to pull over every time and turn your car off in order to have regular shifts at part throttle????
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
I'm not sure how he did it, I do know he used LS1edit, but I didn't realize this function even existed in there.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
If I'm cruising along in 4th gear and go WOT to pass someone, it doesn't always seem to go into the highest firmness setting after that, it seems to happen only if I've gone full throttle in the lower gears. Very odd yes, but I'm definitely not imagining it. I'm sure there is someone on here who knows LS1edit inside and out that could explain how this programming was done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 2
From: Niagara Falls NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
You should have put it in D
Sorry couldn't resist.If you get enough passes it never hurts to experiment.Just make sure you average out a few runs before deciding what is best.Keep a record of all your runs.I would think that your rear end gear would have an affect on which is best.I think a car looses a fraction of a tenth on each shift so leaving it in 3rd in theory would be faster.In actuallity I don't think you will see any difference on your time slip.A lot of facters here so experiment.I would be more concerned on getting the car off the line and making it consistant.Next time you go down it may pickup for no reason at all.I know it sucks to get excited after a mod and the car does not pick up or slows down.
Good luck.
Sorry couldn't resist.If you get enough passes it never hurts to experiment.Just make sure you average out a few runs before deciding what is best.Keep a record of all your runs.I would think that your rear end gear would have an affect on which is best.I think a car looses a fraction of a tenth on each shift so leaving it in 3rd in theory would be faster.In actuallity I don't think you will see any difference on your time slip.A lot of facters here so experiment.I would be more concerned on getting the car off the line and making it consistant.Next time you go down it may pickup for no reason at all.I know it sucks to get excited after a mod and the car does not pick up or slows down.
Good luck.
Well I just got back from the track and I'm sorry to say it sucked ***. I ran 13.5xx on all 4 runs, compared to my 13.404 that I ran before I put the Vararam intake and BFG KDWtires on. What the hell is up with that?
Why did I get slower? It was overcast the whole day and cold and misting half the time we were there, maybe weather is at fault? I was just disappointed the whole day, I did what you guys told me to do and my best run was 13.511 today. At least I beat a GT(which I took off late on the launch and caught up and passed him) and a 300 SRT-8 which was alright. But I was expecting to run low 13's maybe high 12's so I think I'm gonna get the car tuned and see if that helps. Just thought I would share my crappy day.
Why did I get slower? It was overcast the whole day and cold and misting half the time we were there, maybe weather is at fault? I was just disappointed the whole day, I did what you guys told me to do and my best run was 13.511 today. At least I beat a GT(which I took off late on the launch and caught up and passed him) and a 300 SRT-8 which was alright. But I was expecting to run low 13's maybe high 12's so I think I'm gonna get the car tuned and see if that helps. Just thought I would share my crappy day.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
You ran a good time.
You really did nothing to your car that would give you 4/10ths better time.
The Vararam is a good intake but don't believe all the Ram Air crap (you'd have to be going 160 mph to make a difference). On a stock motor you may get a 10th at most.
Tires? When you changed did you go to a tire that was the same size circumference? A larger diameter tire will slow you down. You would need to compare you new ones to the old "worn" tires.
You really did nothing to your car that would give you 4/10ths better time.
The Vararam is a good intake but don't believe all the Ram Air crap (you'd have to be going 160 mph to make a difference). On a stock motor you may get a 10th at most.
Tires? When you changed did you go to a tire that was the same size circumference? A larger diameter tire will slow you down. You would need to compare you new ones to the old "worn" tires.