Confused about Gears!!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
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From: New York
Confused about Gears!!!!
I have an '04 A4 with 3.15's. I have read SO MANY threads on gear swaps and what is thw best number. I want more off the line oommpfff, but I DON'T WANT to lose significant MPG. I have read that many members have installed stall converters with their gears, but from what I understand about them there is a little acceleration "lag" when the pedal is deppressed. I want "CRISP" acceleration with NO lag. Any suggestions? Thanks for all your anticipated help!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Sounds like you want more gear and not a converter. If you don't want to hurt mileage more than you have to, then 3.42's might be the answer but 3.73's will give you more grin.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 880
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From: Detroit Area Michigan
I have an 04' with the 315's, I'm going to the 373's with a converter after driving Yankeevette's car. Try to find a forum member close by you like I did, then make your decision, otherwise you might not be happy, especially going from the 315's to 342's.......bob.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
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I had the same question - thanks for posting. Does the converter act like a turbo, where you will have some lag until you get up to the converter's stall (2600, 2800, 3200, etc)? If yes, then would it make sense to get a 2600 stall converter so there is less lag? Does your transmission get a little "sloppier" the higher the stall. I also read that the 3.42 gears act very similar to the 3.73 in the first 3 gears for an A4.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I had the same question - thanks for posting. Does the converter act like a turbo, where you will have some lag until you get up to the converter's stall (2600, 2800, 3200, etc)? If yes, then would it make sense to get a 2600 stall converter so there is less lag? Does your transmission get a little "sloppier" the higher the stall. I also read that the 3.42 gears act very similar to the 3.73 in the first 3 gears for an A4.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
If you don't race, I would use a low-mid 2000's with a high STR ratio (It will feel less sloppy) and 3.42's
Chris
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
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From: Flagstaff Az.
I went from 3:15's to 3:42's with a 3500 Yank. A good converter will not lag and will certainly out accelerate a similar car without one. I would not recommend 3:73's if you plan on doing freeway driving. My mileage dropped about 10% on the highway and less than that around town. I would advise you to do both as a converter install will only run about $100 with the rear diff change. By the way, you can sell your 3:15's for $400-500-depending on the miles- to offset the cost of a new diff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 880
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From: Detroit Area Michigan
On Yankeevettes car, you barely noticed anything relating to what people are calling 'lag'. with the 373's, it drove like my stock vette with the 315's. UNTIL you punched it! then it was a different car completely. Dick's car has a 3500 or 3600 stall converter, I'm getting the 3000 stall, don't do one without the other, now, I'm going to do both. like I said before, try to find a forum member close by to give you a ride, Dick let me drive his car and I had never met the man before, there are some great people on this site, find one......bob.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
For those that say 3.73s are to much for an a4 you are wrong
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
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From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
There's the KEY phrase!....don't want to lose significant MPG.
I have 3.15's and a Yank SS3200 stall converter.
There is no significant "lag".....what you might experience, and I must emphasize that word 'might' feel, is a little what I would call a "softer" feel to the acceleration off the line under normal driving. There is no lag or hesitation.
There is virtually no loss of fuel economy at expressway speeds and a neglible amount of loss around town.
The advantage of just adding a stall converter is that you retain literally all of your driveability, and when you want to "go faster" you push the go pedal and I guarantee, you will definitely GO a lot faster!
In spite of what all the nay-sayers will come up with, going to 3.42 gears will cost you in MPG's....up to 3 or even 4 mpg at 75 mph. Don't even think about 3.73's on an A4, unless you're a glutton for punishment.
Just my opinion, of course. Yours may vary.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
I run the 342 in my 98 w/stock converter. I would drive or ride in a geared car w/ no converter and a geared car w/converter before you decide 
good luck
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,338
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From: Whittier California
I went from 3.15 to 3.42 with the stock converter and am very happy. Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 880
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From: Detroit Area Michigan
I agree with what the guys are saying that you might be happy with the gears alone, my point was that you might do the gears only and then find that you would have liked the converter also, AND if you are going to do that, then the best time is when you are doing the gears. anybody here live by Rye, New York? that's where this guy lives, maybe when the weather breaks, someone will give you a ride...bob.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,329
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Another yankeevette convert- dick let me drive his car and I hardly noticed the converter until he told me to hit on the long on ramp to M59!!
I noticed then!!
Wife drives the car and she never says anything about it - it is a little "slutty" but not much -still creeps in gear at idle
I have 3.42's/Yank SS3600 -love it!!
I noticed then!!
Wife drives the car and she never says anything about it - it is a little "slutty" but not much -still creeps in gear at idle
I have 3.42's/Yank SS3600 -love it!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
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From: New York
I had the same question - thanks for posting. Does the converter act like a turbo, where you will have some lag until you get up to the converter's stall (2600, 2800, 3200, etc)? If yes, then would it make sense to get a 2600 stall converter so there is less lag? Does your transmission get a little "sloppier" the higher the stall. I also read that the 3.42 gears act very similar to the 3.73 in the first 3 gears for an A4.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
Sorry vette n'04 - not trying to highjack your post, but I am a newbie and have the exact same dilemia you have. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: New York
Thanks for ALL the responses! Wow, what a great bunch of helpful people. Obviously from the consensus, I should drive a car with and without a stall converter. I am still somewhat confused. Some say 3:73's and a converter are the way to go, while others say 3:42's and NO converter is where it's at! That being said, anyone live near Rye, New York? It's a suburb of New York City, located in lower Westchester County. PM me and maybe we can get together in the Spring. Thanks again for all the help!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
but that right there tells you something; than no one can really tell you want you want. That's something you need to decide on yourself.