Does the factory torque converter have to be replaced if you go from a 2.73 to a 3.42?

 

I need to swap my 2.73 with used 3.42. If anyone intrested in ungrading it from 3.42 to higher one, please let me know. I'll give you my 2.73 + half of the cost for you to up grade for your used 3.42.

 

absolutely and completely 100% false.

Please don't post bad info on this forum. We try very hard to keep this place accurate.

Yes the A4 needs a reprog, but it is not to correct the speedometer. There is no speedo error when changing the rear axle ratio on a C5. Doesn't matter what year of C5 or tranny.

 

no... you don't have to. But if you want to go with a higher stall TC, then it's best to do both at the same time as the gear swap or you'll end up paying double labor costs.

Read here for details:
http://mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm


.

 

Thanks for the information, Mike...great stuff!

 

I DO have the 3:15's and on my list is a set of 3:73's. If you're going to change, you might as well change enough to make a difference.

 

I think that if you're going to swap out your gears, do it right. Going from a 3.15 to a 3.42 (to me) doesn't seem like that much of a swap. If you had the 2.73's, the 3.42's would be a nice upgrade. If it were me, the 3.73's would be the better choice - along with a nice 3500 or so stall and a TransGo shift kit.
To me, the rmp/ fuel milage difference between the 3.42's and the 3.73's isn't that much. I'm not sure what future plans you have for the car but I know I am keeping my 3.15's since I plan on adding an ATI ProCharger and don't want too much gear. I did a 3.73 gear and a 3200 stall converter on my 98 Z28 along with a mild cam, intake and complete exhaust and am having serious traction issues on the street and don't want to run a drag radial unless at the track. So this time (with my 01 C5) I'm going to do it differently. No upgraded gears or converter. I was to hook A.S.A.P. and then have the car pull harder with each gear.
It all depends what you want out of the car and how far you want to take it. There is many different ways to get where you may want to go. I know for myself, a fairly stock C5 (with exhaust & Vararam) with a SC is the way to go. When I want it to drive like stock it will. And, when I want it to go like a (fill in word here), it will.
Hopefully my $0.02 helps.
Good luck!

 

I went with the 3.42...and it was a BIG difference from the 3.15. I do a lot of freeway driving and it is a daily driver.

If it were just a weekend car I would go with 3.73

 

Rob01C5; I don't understand your answer - especially if you read all the posts in this thread before posting.

first you say:
I think that if you're going to swap out your gears, do it right. Going from a 3.15 to a 3.42 (to me) doesn't seem like that much of a swap. If you had the 2.73's, the 3.42's would be a nice upgrade. If it were me, the 3.73's would be the better choice - along with a nice 3500 or so stall and a TransGo shift kit.

then you say:
I did a 3.73 gear and a 3200 stall converter on my 98 Z28 along with a mild cam, intake and complete exhaust and am having serious traction issues on the street and don't want to run a drag radial unless at the track....I'm going to do it differently



it's already been said that going from the 3.15 to 3.42 is worth it if the car owner insists on running with lower traction EMT tires. And I am one of them.
With the 3.42 and EMT type tires, maintaining good traction is still a no-brainer.

So when someone asks "what is the highest rear ratio you would recommend for someone wanting to keep EMT tires" - most would say 3.42

At that point - does it really matter what ratio the car currently has?
(talking non-dragstrip cars here)

 

And this is KEY.

What type tires do you wish to run and what type of traction issues will you be faced with?

Speaking from personal experience, the 3.42s are about as high as I would want to go with runflats. And I like runflats as my "everyday" tire. I have DRs for the track now

And even if you go to the track with "just" 3.42s on runflats you, very likely, are going to have traction problems.

The reason I know is because I did just that after my gear upgrade and actually ran worse than I did with my 2.73s before I had to go to the DRs for the track. Had I gone to 3.73s I am confident that I would have smacked the wall on runflats with 3.73s.

Changing tires involves a lot of other issues as well. Tire repair kits, compressors, removing your tire pressure sensors if you will be using fix a flat products.

Runflats take a lot of abuse here, but the truth is, you can't beat them for convenience. The thought of having to plug a tire in a dangerous area does not appeal to me but I still want "performance". Hence the 3.42s. But thats just me. Someone else may and will likely differ.

I agree with Mike on a couple of counts here. If you are going to stick to the runflats then choose your gear carefully. Also your "speedometer" has NOTHING to do with a gear change.

 

Mike Murcury: I apologise if I might not have made myself clear. I was repying to this thread while being constantly interupted at work. All I was trying to say is that I prefer a 3.73 gear vs the 3.42's if a gear swap is going to be done. A stall to go with it would also be nice (if those were the only mods being done to the car). But, everything is dependant on what future plans might be instore for the car is question. I myself would not do a gear or converter swap if I was going to SC the vehicle. From doing a gear/converter swap on my 98 Z28 it would be too much. I just wanted to put emphasis on considering future plans prior to doing something of this nature, that's all. I just also wanted to point out that I went one way to get to a low 12 with my Camaro and am going to go the opposite way to get there with my C5.

 

well hell; tell your boss to stop bothering you when you on the Corvette Forum....

 

Well, I plan on getting rid of the run-flats as soon as I get back from DEPLOYMENT (MAY time frame). I have been seriously thinking of a CENTERLINE Supercharger and I have been concern with traction issues and ratio problems in the gearing. I like my 3:15s, but I honestly didn't think that I would see enough if I went to a 3:42. Truth be known, I probably should find someone that has the 3:42 and drive it and then find someone else that has 3:73s and try that out.

I have been pressed to get the GOODYEAR GS D3s to replace current run-flat and I hope that this will help with traction issues that I have now and traction for future mods.

I want a car I can cruise the street (DAILY) and I was just trying to get some ideas from guys and gals out there that have done this mod whether or not it is worth it.

I appreciate all the threads posted on this and now that you guys no what I plan to do with the rubber maybe you can email me:

herronmp@los-angeles.navy.mil

because this will be my final post for a while do to deploying again tomorrow for a while.

Take care my friends!

Micah

 

3.73 check my signature. The issue some have is the increased RPM's I have 5 cars and after getting my 3.73's I checked them all and the RPM's I now turn after installing 3.73's is close in all 5 cars. IMO I would definately go 3.73.

 

my bad that's the way it was on the F-body, but that's a different animal..I forgot the speed sensor or whatever the hell it is ,is not measured from the rear end on the C5.

I only ask that if youre going to quote something, please do it Entirely..I also said it needs a reprogram for shift points which is true.. that way I only look like half an idiot instead of a complete one

I stand corrected

 

Don't you guys with A4 390 gear run out of RPM. I was on the highway with my friend who had the vette and me in the my accord v6. He floored it (at 60mph) ...he pulled away in the beginning but felt like he just stayed in place up front..what do you guys think. I have a A4 with 315 axle and was worried about that.

Thanks,
Joe

 

Sure, they run out...around 160 mph or so.

 

I had 3.15 when the car was stock and with the supercharger. I then went with 3.42s, a 3000 stall, and a built tranny, and non-runflat tires for the street and DRs for the strip.

I also debated hard about doing 3.73 with the blower thinking that it would be too much. So, I went with 3.42 and had them on for about 18 months until the rear end began to howl.

I recently went to 3.73 from DTE with a hardened output shaft. The additional rpm are not that bad on the interstate. I have not been to the track yet since the car is hibernating.
Over time you will get used to performance increases and want MORE!

Get the 3.73s (unless you are a wuss! Traction is really a matter of throttle control Also, get a moderate stall converter to save on the labor cost. It wil compliment the gears nicely.

 

The reason is because 3.42s are the best option for the A4 in our cars.

Excellent performance, won't kill your gas mileage, engine RPMs reasonable on highway cruising, and they are readly available from any number of tuners that have exchanged them on MN6's that went for 3:90 or 4:10

 

Just plano good Texas common sense.....