Pleasant Surprises
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Phoenix Arizona
Pleasant Surprises
The other day I was thinking about ways to make my A4 Corvette faster, so I started looking into upgrading the diff ratio. I saw some reasonably priced stuff on eBay, but then I decided to go and check my diff to see what the ratio was.
I walked outside and took a look under the car...
Not sure how well you can see it in that picture, but that's a 3.42 diff ratio! I got so excited when I saw it. No wonder the diff looked so clean despite the car having 187,000 miles!
It was a pleasant surprise, since I wasn't expecting it at all— the car appears bone stock in every other way so I assumed it had the stock 2.73 diff that most of the auto C5's got.
No wonder this Corvette does such good burnouts...
I walked outside and took a look under the car...
Not sure how well you can see it in that picture, but that's a 3.42 diff ratio! I got so excited when I saw it. No wonder the diff looked so clean despite the car having 187,000 miles!
It was a pleasant surprise, since I wasn't expecting it at all— the car appears bone stock in every other way so I assumed it had the stock 2.73 diff that most of the auto C5's got.
No wonder this Corvette does such good burnouts...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The other day I was thinking about ways to make my A4 Corvette faster, so I started looking into upgrading the diff ratio. I saw some reasonably priced stuff on eBay, but then I decided to go and check my diff to see what the ratio was.
I walked outside and took a look under the car...
Not sure how well you can see it in that picture, but that's a 3.42 diff ratio! I got so excited when I saw it. No wonder the diff looked so clean despite the car having 187,000 miles!
It was a pleasant surprise, since I wasn't expecting it at all— the car appears bone stock in every other way so I assumed it had the stock 2.73 diff that most of the auto C5's got.
No wonder this Corvette does such good burnouts...
I walked outside and took a look under the car...
Not sure how well you can see it in that picture, but that's a 3.42 diff ratio! I got so excited when I saw it. No wonder the diff looked so clean despite the car having 187,000 miles!
It was a pleasant surprise, since I wasn't expecting it at all— the car appears bone stock in every other way so I assumed it had the stock 2.73 diff that most of the auto C5's got.
No wonder this Corvette does such good burnouts...
Time for a stall, perhaps? Or go for the old tried and true combo- CAI, longtubes, and tune.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Phoenix Arizona
Hm, I wonder if my torque converter is still the stock one... I'll have to check that.
And yeah, headers, zip tie mod, heads, and cams are in the works for the future. I want to get the car on a dyno first though, just to get a baseline.
And yeah, headers, zip tie mod, heads, and cams are in the works for the future. I want to get the car on a dyno first though, just to get a baseline.
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From: Birmingham Al
I have a friend with a 2008 C-6 Z 558 RWHP with 410 gears and a big set of NITTOS R2s . I seen this with my own eyes @ a 60 MPH start, smoked a new Z . The 410s and some traction WOW .. I don't want any part of that 08 for sure.. I am going with 390 when I get the time to install.
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From: Phoenix Arizona
Also, getting another motor costs way more than putting heads/cam/intake on my current LS1— I plan to do all the work myself so it's not like I have to worry about labor costs. Trying to keep this a low-buck build.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Ocala FL
Is it really worth it to change the motor? The current one runs really well, 187k is nothing for a modern engine. I've had multiple BMW's with motors that had over 200k miles and they were all still within factory specs when I took them apart— I measured a 239k mile BMW V8 recently and it was perfectly in spec. I can't see why a much simpler Chevy pushrod engine would be worn out at 187k miles.
Also, getting another motor costs way more than putting heads/cam/intake on my current LS1— I plan to do all the work myself so it's not like I have to worry about labor costs. Trying to keep this a low-buck build.
Also, getting another motor costs way more than putting heads/cam/intake on my current LS1— I plan to do all the work myself so it's not like I have to worry about labor costs. Trying to keep this a low-buck build.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Phoenix Arizona
I have 195k miles on my '99 and am NOT planning on dropping in a new larger motor. Mine is still strong and I will be putting on a set of heads and a 'small cam' (right now I have a Thunder Racing 224r 112 lsa cam waiting in a box) on mine. PLENTY of high mileage LS1s out there that were stock for 150k+ before the mod bug hit. As long as the motor is sound and still has good compression no reason to dump it for newer and bigger unless you have that king of money to spend. I say build the one you got.
When I do LS6 heads and a performance cam I'll probably pull the engine and do a mild refresh— new rod/main bearings, new timing chain, new head gaskets, etc. I'll check the compression to see if the rings need replacing. All of this is stuff that I'm comfortable with doing in my garage. I have a cherry picker and my buddy has an engine stand I can use.
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Nice that a prior owner did the diff upgrade for you.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Nov 9, 2017 at 07:15 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: Los Angeles CA
That's my thought. There's nothing wrong with my engine, why put in another engine with questionable history if what I have now works fine? I don't plan to buy a brand new engine— if I had that kind of money I'd be driving a C6 Z06 haha.
When I do LS6 heads and a performance cam I'll probably pull the engine and do a mild refresh— new rod/main bearings, new timing chain, new head gaskets, etc. I'll check the compression to see if the rings need replacing. All of this is stuff that I'm comfortable with doing in my garage. I have a cherry picker and my buddy has an engine stand I can use.
When I do LS6 heads and a performance cam I'll probably pull the engine and do a mild refresh— new rod/main bearings, new timing chain, new head gaskets, etc. I'll check the compression to see if the rings need replacing. All of this is stuff that I'm comfortable with doing in my garage. I have a cherry picker and my buddy has an engine stand I can use.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Phoenix Arizona
I was just surprised because the Corvette is completely stock otherwise with no hints of being modified.
Fair enough, I might do that. I've always wanted to re-ring an engine.
Fair enough, I might do that. I've always wanted to re-ring an engine.
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I have a friend with a 2008 C-6 Z 558 RWHP with 410 gears and a big set of NITTOS R2s . I seen this with my own eyes @ a 60 MPH start, smoked a new Z . The 410s and some traction WOW .. I don't want any part of that 08 for sure.. I am going with 390 when I get the time to install.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Greensboro Nc
While it's nice that he added them for you, I always kinda liked the feeling of the difference when I do an upgrade.
I was was disappointed to find some mods on my old car, just because when I got bored with the performance it made it a little more expensive than the simple upgrades
I was was disappointed to find some mods on my old car, just because when I got bored with the performance it made it a little more expensive than the simple upgrades