Another Gearing Question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
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From: New York
Another Gearing Question
I presently have an '04 C5 with A4. My current mods are a Cat Back and air intake. I want more acceleration from a stop and when you lay on the throttle a little while the car is cruising at around 20 or 30 MPH. I don't race the car but mainly use it for cruising around town and some highway. I DON'T want to affect drivability or gas mileage appreciably. My car has 3.15's now. I am thinking about 3.73's or 3.90's. Which do you think will give me the best ALL AROUND "feel" I am looking for. Other than a good tune after the gearing, I'm really not planning to do too many more extensive mods....I hope!! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Vette'n04
I presently have an '04 C5 with A4. My current mods are a Cat Back and air intake. I want more acceleration from a stop and when you lay on the throttle a little while the car is cruising at around 20 or 30 MPH. I don't race the car but mainly use it for cruising around town and some highway. I DON'T want to affect drivability or gas mileage appreciably. My car has 3.15's now. I am thinking about 3.73's or 3.90's. Which do you think will give me the best ALL AROUND "feel" I am looking for. Other than a good tune after the gearing, I'm really not planning to do too many more extensive mods....I hope!! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me with this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
I have a M6 , so I'm not up on the A4 stuff, but from what I've read, unless you plan on changing the torque converter I think 3.42's are all you would want. Check the archives. I'm sure there is plenty of info on the subject. I'm sure the A4 guys will chime in and give you the straight scoop.
Here's some info on the subject.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rque+converter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rque+converter
Here's some info on the subject.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rque+converter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...rque+converter
Last edited by Greg_E; Jun 16, 2006 at 10:39 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Metairie La.
3.42 differential and a mild torque converter (3000/3200) is all you need. It will feel like a totally different car with no change in driviability and only a small reduction in gas mileage, provided you can control your 
right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: New York
Originally Posted by yaonttwo
3.42 differential and a mild torque converter (3000/3200) is all you need. It will feel like a totally different car with no change in driviability and only a small reduction in gas mileage, provided you can control your right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
If you want to maintain driveability and decent fuel economy. Keep your 3.15 gears and install a Yank SS3200 T/C. Your cars performance will improve greatly and you will still get the same MPG on the highway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
Originally Posted by yaonttwo
3.42 differential and a mild torque converter (3000/3200) is all you need. It will feel like a totally different car with no change in driviability and only a small reduction in gas mileage, provided you can control your right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
right foot . Total cost $2,000.00+/-.
This is the combo I'm installing in my wifes DD. It will proably hurt hwy milage by a couple mpg, but can actually increase city mpg (if you can keep your foot out of it) by eliminating the minor "lugging" from the low gears you have now. My 3500 created a small amount of "slippage" that would cause you to feel like you were giving it just a little more gas, but after my head change it went away competely (more torque down low??) I don't think the 3000 will be as noticable. that's why I'm going with it on my wife's car.
By the way, depending on who does your work and where you get your parts it can be cheaper than $2000. My total cost not including fluids is going to be $1400. (Re-tune is free)
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 179
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by Vette'n04
Will adding the TC result in ANY lag in acceleration when I step on the accelerator? I want the throttle to have a real crisp response! Thanks!
3.15 to 3.42 is the smallest rear gear ratio change possible on the C5. You will notice a difference, but it won't be a night/day improvement.
I did just that (3.15 to 3.42 - using the factory converter) but I had unique goals in mind.
here's a video of a girl driving my 2002 just after the 3.42 upgrade:
http://hometheater.home.att.net/ohiogirl1year.mpg
Last edited by Mike Mercury; Jun 17, 2006 at 10:44 AM.
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Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 1,110
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
3:90's will wake it up.
converter also.
when i first started my mods on my car, i had 2:73's and a 3500 converter. i knocked off 7 tenths in the quarter with the converter alone !!
converter also.
when i first started my mods on my car, i had 2:73's and a 3500 converter. i knocked off 7 tenths in the quarter with the converter alone !!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
gears
Don't go lower than 3:42s if you do a lot of highway driving. I put 3:42s and a 3500 stall in my a4 from 3:15s. Gas milage dropped 3 mpg and the performance increased considerably. I can not tell any difference in drivability. You will gain in performance from low rpms due to the stall.