What Gears for A4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 114
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From: Sachse Texas
What Gears for A4
Alright everyone I have spent quite a few nights searching the forums and trying to come to a conclusion on what gears would be best for my 2004 C5 A4. I have already had LG lng tubes and borla stingers installed. Future mods will be cam and heads from LG.
My car came with the 2.73's stock and I'm looking for a little better response from a standing start. 3.90's are maybe a little too much, so I'm considering 3.73's or 3.42's.
I know alot of you guys have already had this mod done and therefore I'm reaching out to you for input.
Thanks
My car came with the 2.73's stock and I'm looking for a little better response from a standing start. 3.90's are maybe a little too much, so I'm considering 3.73's or 3.42's.
I know alot of you guys have already had this mod done and therefore I'm reaching out to you for input.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,406
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From: Dallas Tx
4.10!!!! lol j/k, 3.42's would be my recomendation. 3.73 would probably leaving you shifting gears a LITTLE bit more often then you want to. That's the problem i ran into with 4.10's in my 6-spd Trans Am.
Shane
Shane
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
I have had both 3.42s and 3.73 gears in my car. Since you are planning to do H/C at some point you should also be considering a high stall T/C.
I would recommend the Yank SS3600 & 3.73 gears. Your car will drive more like stock with 3.73 gears not to mention better performance. And you will only be spinning 200 RPM more when you're locked up in OD cruising on the highway. If money is an issue 3.42 gears will work fine with the SS3600. If you are really serious about the drag strip go with the Yank SS4000 and 3.73 gears.
I would recommend the Yank SS3600 & 3.73 gears. Your car will drive more like stock with 3.73 gears not to mention better performance. And you will only be spinning 200 RPM more when you're locked up in OD cruising on the highway. If money is an issue 3.42 gears will work fine with the SS3600. If you are really serious about the drag strip go with the Yank SS4000 and 3.73 gears.
Last edited by Mitch C; Feb 24, 2006 at 05:59 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,154
Likes: 1
From: Murphy TX
Cruise-In II Veteran
I agree wholeheartedly with Mitch's suggestion. The cam you intend to run should be factored into both your choice of converter (as well as whether or not you need/want one) and gears. You'll also want to be thinking about traction.
FWIW, I've had a SY3500 and 3.73s for four years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. I recently went from the Corsa Indy (w/ long tubes) to the Stingers and found the Borlas to be a little loud at low cruising speeds.
FWIW, I've had a SY3500 and 3.73s for four years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. I recently went from the Corsa Indy (w/ long tubes) to the Stingers and found the Borlas to be a little loud at low cruising speeds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 917
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From: 10.54 @ 129 346 N/A A4 Record 9.78 @ 139+ on 150 shot
i spent a ton of time debating this issue , after doing lots of reading and talking to a few shops i went with 3:73 and a 3600 stall. from 2:73. under normal driving its fine you just need to get used to it a day at most then you will wonder how you lived with the 273's
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,725
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From: South Bend IN
I've had both 3.42's and 3.73's and i would recommend the 3.73's with a A4. It will definately spruce up your acceleration and still be highway friendly unless cruising in the triple digits often. Do a Vigilante 3200 convertor at the same time and you'll be driving a far different car. 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
I love the jump from 2.73,s to 3.42's. I had a 2800 stall installed at the same time and I hated the feel of the TC. I had the stock unit reinstalled and I love just the 3.42's. If I drag raced alot the high stall TC would have been great.
The stock engine spins up the tires shifting into second even! You will love the change!
I've heard that 2.73's are only good for the High Horsepower guys over 500hp. Tires don't break loose so easy.
The stock engine spins up the tires shifting into second even! You will love the change!
I've heard that 2.73's are only good for the High Horsepower guys over 500hp. Tires don't break loose so easy.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 433
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From: Brookfield WI
I went from 3.15 to 3.42 and am happy. Definitely not as big of a boost in performance as I would have expected, but as a daily driver it balances performance and engine noise. I have headers so cruising at 5 mph over the posted limit is noisier now than before since the engine RPMs are a little higher. The 3.73 gears would have provided noticeably better performance but would probably dropped that noise level to 65 mph - something that would personally drive me crazy.
So I guess it depeneds on what you are really after. HTH.
Chip
So I guess it depeneds on what you are really after. HTH.
Chip
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,763
Likes: 5
From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Went from 2.73 to 3.42 I was only slightly impressed. Changed to a 3.73 and a Yank SS3600 T/C 
Hang on, impressive is an understatement............ EXCELLENT performance and street manners. 
Bob
Hang on, impressive is an understatement............ EXCELLENT performance and street manners. Bob
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Tempe Az
We need to take a poll for times with a big stall and shorter gears.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by BlownV6
We need to take a poll for times with a big stall and shorter gears.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
I can certainly relate to that! I recently had a H/C job done on my '04 A4 coupe along with a Yank SS3200 stall converter and it runs about as close to "stock" as one could want....until you press on the "go pedal"....then things start happening very fast.
While I have no doubts those with 3.42 or 3.73 gears will run away from my dog-earred 2.73's off the line, mine is by no means the "slouch" that it used to be.....and I STILL manage to get 30 mpg on the highway.
What (that other fellow) needs to do, if it's at all possible, is actually get someone to let him drive a Vette with 3.42's or 3.73 gears in it and see for himself if he thinks it's worth the effort, according to what sort of driving he intends on doing.
Just my opinion, of course.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Gears
Had A&A put H/C package, 3500 Yank, and 3:42's in my a4. If you do a lot of highway driving I would not recommend going to 3:73s. I run around 80 on the road and it's turning a little over 2500 and gas mileage is 25, down from 30. These mpg are from fill ups, not the computor.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 114
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From: Sachse Texas
I'm getting some good feed back here...EXCELLENT.
For those who were curious march 9th i'll go in for the gears. Getting alot of good feedback here so hopefully will have made a decision on the gears by then.
The heads and cam will be in may and will get the 205cc AFR heads with the G5x3 cam. Will probably have a TC dropped in at this time as well after judging the performance of the gear install.
I do appreciate all the opinions I have gotten so far and look forward to more.......
For those who were curious march 9th i'll go in for the gears. Getting alot of good feedback here so hopefully will have made a decision on the gears by then.
The heads and cam will be in may and will get the 205cc AFR heads with the G5x3 cam. Will probably have a TC dropped in at this time as well after judging the performance of the gear install.
I do appreciate all the opinions I have gotten so far and look forward to more.......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Originally Posted by BlownV6
We need to take a poll for times with a big stall and shorter gears.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
I say leave the 2.73's and get a higher stall. With just a 3000 stall and 2.73's i ran 12.51@108.22mph. I'm thinking about going up to a 3600 stall next.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Originally Posted by caleb
I'm getting some good feed back here...EXCELLENT.
For those who were curious march 9th i'll go in for the gears. Getting alot of good feedback here so hopefully will have made a decision on the gears by then.
The heads and cam will be in may and will get the 205cc AFR heads with the G5x3 cam. Will probably have a TC dropped in at this time as well after judging the performance of the gear install.
I do appreciate all the opinions I have gotten so far and look forward to more.......
For those who were curious march 9th i'll go in for the gears. Getting alot of good feedback here so hopefully will have made a decision on the gears by then.
The heads and cam will be in may and will get the 205cc AFR heads with the G5x3 cam. Will probably have a TC dropped in at this time as well after judging the performance of the gear install.
I do appreciate all the opinions I have gotten so far and look forward to more.......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
Originally Posted by Face
That's going to feel sloppy. You don't know what you're missing out on by leaving those gears out back. With with AT LEAST 3.42's, if not 3.73's out back, the car will feel much better.
I could not agree more. Do it right the first time, with a big cam like like you are planning to install go with at LEAST an SS3600 T/C and at least 3.42 gears with 3.73 being even better.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Mitch C
I could not agree more. Do it right the first time, with a big cam like like you are planning to install go with at LEAST an SS3600 T/C and at least 3.42 gears with 3.73 being even better.
Well, I guess I gotta disagree then. I still have the 2.73 gears with the cam job and the Yank SS3200 converter is very tight with what I would call "normal driving". Nothing "sloppy" about it whatsoever.
You start off like always from a traffic light. You drive around on the highway like always. But when you stick your right foot in it more than usual, that convertor "unlocks" and the car goes faster.
Press the go pedal down some more, then the tranny itself backshifts, and the car goes that much more faster.
The only valid argument I can see for changing the gears, is if you're really into racing and want that thing to get up and going right out of the hole. Otherwise, once the vette is already moving....what advantage, there may be to the lower (numerical) ratio is slim at best?
Again, just MY opinion, of course.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
I went from the 3.15's to the 3.42's, which was nice but nothing like the switch to 3.90's! I should have made the switch at the outset. With heads/cam and an aggressive exhaust it could get loud on the highway but if that doesn't bother you I would say go for it and do it right the first time. I can't comment on how my car would behave with a higher stall converter but I am satisfied with my little old 2400 PT unit. Traction is hard enough to obtain with this setup, I couldn't imagine what a higher stall setup might be like.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Tempe Az
Originally Posted by Face
That's going to feel sloppy. You don't know what you're missing out on by leaving those gears out back. With with AT LEAST 3.42's, if not 3.73's out back, the car will feel much better.
Were you just told it feels sloopy or have you actually driven a high stall car with 2.73's? Car feels fine and i don't know where people say it's sloppy.