C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

2.73 question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 04:39 PM
  #1  
mrosa65's Avatar
mrosa65
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,739
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Default 2.73 question

I have a 2002 A4 Coupe and am interested in changing the stock 2.73 gears to 3.42

I've done a few searches but can't seem to find everything I would need to do to replace them

I plan on having a shop perform the actual install.

Will the new 3.42 gears fit in the stock 2.73 pumpkin ?

Is there anything else that will need to be replaced other than the gears ? I've read many posts saying to replace the TC and also many saying it's not needed. This car will be strictly for street use, I just want better response time for those moments I want to get on it a little.

Any help or links that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

I understand the car will need to be tuned after the replacement for the new shift points.

Does anyone know of a good tuner in the Tampa area ?

I'm also planning on adding headers, X-pipe, rear exhaust and a Vararam so I thought I would do it all at the same time and then get a good tune.

Thanks,

Mike
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 05:53 PM
  #2  
Mike Mercury's Avatar
Mike Mercury
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Default

look here for a quick primer:
http://mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 08:39 PM
  #3  
mrosa65's Avatar
mrosa65
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,739
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Default

Thanks for the information Mike. Do I need to purchase an entire rear Diff, or can I keep the one I have and get the gears changed out ?
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 11:40 PM
  #4  
yaonttwo's Avatar
yaonttwo
Instructor
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Metairie La.
Default

You will need to purchase the entire differential (try GM Parts Direct or Fred Bean for pricing of Z06 part, its cheaper than regular C5). Shop charged me only $100.00 more for labor to install Yank converter, so if you are even remotely thinking about it, do it now.
New up shift points should be: 1st to 2nd - 41 MPH
2nd to 3rd - 80 MPH
3rd to 4th - 130 MPH
New down shift points should be: 2nd to 1st - 36 MPH
3rd to 2nd - 79 MPH
4th to 3rd - 118 MPH
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:23 AM
  #5  
STA-BLK's Avatar
STA-BLK
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: simpson town Mo
Default

Originally Posted by mrosa65
I have a 2002 A4 Coupe and am interested in changing the stock 2.73 gears to 3.42

I've done a few searches but can't seem to find everything I would need to do to replace them

I plan on having a shop perform the actual install.

Will the new 3.42 gears fit in the stock 2.73 pumpkin ?

Is there anything else that will need to be replaced other than the gears ? I've read many posts saying to replace the TC and also many saying it's not needed. This car will be strictly for street use, I just want better response time for those moments I want to get on it a little.

Any help or links that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

I understand the car will need to be tuned after the replacement for the new shift points.

Does anyone know of a good tuner in the Tampa area ?

I'm also planning on adding headers, X-pipe, rear exhaust and a Vararam so I thought I would do it all at the same time and then get a good tune.

Thanks,

Mike
I have everything you need for the swap. Im getting ready to de-mod my car.I have Everything you have listed and more. Headers,xpipe,Bullets,3.42s,stall,and vararam.P.m. me if you want to do all of the above at a drastic discount compared to new.Thanks!!!
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 06:02 AM
  #6  
mrosa65's Avatar
mrosa65
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,739
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Default

PM sent...thanks
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 06:03 AM
  #7  
mrosa65's Avatar
mrosa65
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,739
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Default

Ok...I'm still a little confused. I have a local mechanic telling me I don't have to replace the entire rear diff, just the gears, is this true ?

Thanks,

Mike
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 09:22 AM
  #8  
FRCTony's Avatar
FRCTony
Drifting
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
Default

It is cheaper and easier to swap to a 3.42 rear. I doubt your local guy can get 3.42's in a 2.73 case.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 11:55 AM
  #9  
Randy@DRM's Avatar
0Randy@DRM
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,615
Likes: 13
From: Burlington NC
Default

I'm not a diff builder at all. But I do know that you need a special spacer because of the spacing. The best thing to do is buy a ZO6 case built-done new for under 1000 bucks. This way the gears will be not noisey, and you will have the stronger case.

Randy
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:04 PM
  #10  
Mike Mercury's Avatar
Mike Mercury
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Default

Originally Posted by Randy@DRM
I'm not a diff builder at all. But I do know that you need a special spacer because of the spacing. The best thing to do is buy a ZO6 case built-done new for under 1000 bucks. This way the gears will be not noisey, and you will have the stronger case.

Randy


one company can put other gears in a 2 series case... and that's DTE. But like mentioned earlier, you can buy a brand new complete carrier with the 3.42 gears for around $1000 (near the costs for swapping gears in an existing 2 series case).
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:31 PM
  #11  
Lovin It!!! - C5's Avatar
Lovin It!!! - C5
Racer
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Haw River North Carolina
Default


Unless you have a shop in your local area KNOWN to do good work on Vette differential, Just use yours as a core and buy one already set up by folks that specialize in Vettes for a living and know them better.
Just my $.02
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 2.73 question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:14 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE