3.73's with an A4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
3.73's with an A4
I've decided I want to go with the 3.73s and a 3200 stall in my stock 01 A4. The car is a weekend driver and I only do short stints on the highway. Very rarely I will do a 70 mile trip on the highway, about once or twice a year.
I am thinkng about doing an ECS supercharger package over a stock bottom in the spring, so I want to make sure I am doing the right thing with the gear/TC setup.
Any advice
?
I am thinkng about doing an ECS supercharger package over a stock bottom in the spring, so I want to make sure I am doing the right thing with the gear/TC setup.
Any advice
?
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Superchargers generally give you much better low end torque however the centrifugal style doesn't have the bottom end power of a roots or twin screw style. The torque converter will really help with this allowing your engine to rev into a more powerful RPM range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
Superchargers generally give you much better low end torque however the centrifugal style doesn't have the bottom end power of a roots or twin screw style. The torque converter will really help with this allowing your engine to rev into a more powerful RPM range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Plan on going the exact same route as you Maddogg. ECS 3.42's and 3200 stall this year, along with ECS supercharger in the future.
Decided on the 3.42's because 3.73 with the supercharger would be overkill. You'll also pay close to 1K more to go with 3.73's since you need to get the 3series carrier (assuming you have 2.73's now), then have Doug upgrade them to the 3.73 cryo's. That extra g' goes directly to the SC install.
Have fun and let us all know your decision.
Decided on the 3.42's because 3.73 with the supercharger would be overkill. You'll also pay close to 1K more to go with 3.73's since you need to get the 3series carrier (assuming you have 2.73's now), then have Doug upgrade them to the 3.73 cryo's. That extra g' goes directly to the SC install.
Have fun and let us all know your decision.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
Superchargers generally give you much better low end torque however the centrifugal style doesn't have the bottom end power of a roots or twin screw style. The torque converter will really help with this allowing your engine to rev into a more powerful RPM range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
This being said, you may want to consider a 3.42 setup to retain good milage. 3.73 and larger gears are usually reserved for cars that will see alot of track time. Your TC and supercharger will give you plenty of low end power and you'll still have some to play with on the highway for passing or just having fun... plus you'll have a higher speed range.
Thanks for the advice. I have 3.15s now, and I am kind of used to them. I was told that the difference between the 3.15s and the 3.42s was minimal, so my thought was that the 3.73s would be the most enjoyable. Obviously the TC is going to make a big difference as well, but I want to be sure before I go for the $ that I am really going to feel the difference. Does the TC really make that much of a difference?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,933
Likes: 13
From: The Beautiful Inland Empire WA.
JMHO.......but, I think that 3.73's WITH a stall AND being huffed would be overkill.........you simply will not be able to put that power on the ground........I've got the 3.73's with a 3000 RPM stall without a supercharger, and 1st gear is "hang on and be ready to STEER" time. If you plan on staying naturally aspirated, then go for the 3.73's...........long term if you plan on supercharging, I think you'd be happier with lower (numerically) gears.......as a matter of fact there was a thread here that I read yesterday about one of the people here dropping down in gear ratios because of limited traction with a supercharger...........
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
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From: Toms River NJ
JMHO.......but, I think that 3.73's WITH a stall AND being huffed would be overkill.........you simply will not be able to put that power on the ground........I've got the 3.73's with a 3000 RPM stall without a supercharger, and 1st gear is "hang on and be ready to STEER" time. If you plan on staying naturally aspirated, then go for the 3.73's...........long term if you plan on supercharging, I think you'd be happier with lower (numerically) gears.......as a matter of fact there was a thread here that I read yesterday about one of the people here dropping down in gear ratios because of limited traction with a supercharger...........
Last edited by Madddogg; Aug 3, 2007 at 08:32 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 218
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From: Seaside Ca.
A friend of mine has a c5 A4 with 3.15 that is stock. I let him drive my 3.73, Yank SS 3600 stalled car and he said it felt 50 hp stronger than his car....i told him to floor it at 25 mph with tc off...all he could say is wtf and shi!...car started smoking the tires bad....started to go sideways. Yea...it's definitely a big difference. Vararam also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,972
Likes: 20
From: N.Y./F.L
A friend of mine has a c5 A4 with 3.15 that is stock. I let him drive my 3.73, Yank SS 3600 stalled car and he said it felt 50 hp stronger than his car....i told him to floor it at 25 mph with tc off...all he could say is wtf and shi!...car started smoking the tires bad....started to go sideways. Yea...it's definitely a big difference. Vararam also.
373's with a 4000 TC here!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
From: South al
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Toms River NJ
Ya I do .I had a 3.15 stock stall ,changed it out to a 3.42 & a3200 yank ,no comparsion i also went bigger stall 3600 yank after i fried my tranny 2 times , got a flt level with no issues , if i did it over again i would opt with a 3800 stall & a 3:42 gear , i also just bought chris @ Ecs paxton Novi 2k with a Stock bottom end & i Am Using the 3600 yank & 3.42 gears , we decided to also hit this from another angle & thats to put a blower cam in to compensate for the gear,something that comes on strong down low , the car has no problem making the revs up high ,the car should make 550 rwhp relativley easy, if u wanna send me a pm holler me Have a good day
Maybe a 3600 and a 3.42 will give me what I'm looking for.
Thanks for the info
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,507
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From: Wilmington Ca.
Thanks for the advice. I have 3.15s now, and I am kind of used to them. I was told that the difference between the 3.15s and the 3.42s was minimal, so my thought was that the 3.73s would be the most enjoyable. Obviously the TC is going to make a big difference as well, but I want to be sure before I go for the $ that I am really going to feel the difference. Does the TC really make that much of a difference?
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
RPM Level V + SS3600 + DTE Stage 5 3.90 + forged 402ci + ECS Paxton = 
My only regret is I am out of RPMs at 160mph. Otherwise, I absolutely love my combo.
My only regret is I am out of RPMs at 160mph. Otherwise, I absolutely love my combo.
CHICAGO CREW !
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 17,591
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From: We are living in a Bazzaro World everything is upside down half ass backwards !
CI 4-5-6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08 & '12
I'm with EG I have 3:90s and 2800 stall no regreats ..... still getting great MPG on the highway it spins about 3000 rpm at 80 mph
