Headers or gears
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Elizabethtown Pa.
Headers or gears
I have a 2001 A4 vert. She is perty much stock. Upgrads are K&N cia , Billy boat prts, and a mail tune by ECS. Presently the gears are 2:73 s if I have them changed I will go with 3:42 s . Cost about 1400.00 . How much will the gear change affect mpg ? Or have long tub headers with high flow cats installed. The headers should not affect mpg , I don't think. Cost 2100.00 . I'm looking for the car to perform better than it dose now. Which is a better bang for my dollor.
Doug O
Doug O
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,803
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From: Hillsboro OR
Headers will add ~30 rwhp but remenber, hp is only the potential to do work. They may improve gas mileage 1 - 2 mpg.
Gears are increasing the mechanical gain. this directly relates to more being work done. Something your butt immediately feels. You will loose maybe 1 - 2 mpg with the 3:42's
I have done both mods at different times. I definitely noticed the gears more in my butt dyno.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 259
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From: sylva North Carolina
Technically, yes and no.
Headers will add ~30 rwhp but remenber, hp is only the potential to do work. They may improve gas mileage 1 - 2 mpg.
Gears are increasing the mechanical gain. this directly relates to more being work done. Something your butt immediately feels. You will loose maybe 1 - 2 mpg with the 3:42's
I have done both mods at different times. I definitely noticed the gears more in my butt dyno.
Headers will add ~30 rwhp but remenber, hp is only the potential to do work. They may improve gas mileage 1 - 2 mpg.
Gears are increasing the mechanical gain. this directly relates to more being work done. Something your butt immediately feels. You will loose maybe 1 - 2 mpg with the 3:42's
I have done both mods at different times. I definitely noticed the gears more in my butt dyno.
good stuff.. that will be the next thing for me.. i have a 98 what gears are stock?
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Do it right the first time. While your car is apart also install a high stall converter to go along with your 3.42 or 3.73 gears. Excluding NOS a high stall conveter gives the biggest bang for the buck on an A4. The Yank SS3200 or SS3600 are great choices and have excellent street manners.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 259
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From: sylva North Carolina
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
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From: Chicago Illinois
I just brought a used set of SLP headers with pipes, high flow cats, all the way to the catback for 450.00 . I will do the install myself. I am not sure I would do gear install myself. For me, headers are THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK and they will sound great too. What do you guys think?
Last edited by robert123; Oct 6, 2011 at 10:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: sylva North Carolina
I just brought a used set of SLP headers with pipes, high flow cats, all the way to the catback for 450.00 . I will do the install myself. I am not sure I would do gear install myself. For me, headers are THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK and they will sound great too. What do you guys think?
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 415
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From: Ft. Wayne In
If you're paying someone to do the work, having the gears,converter, & exhaust done all at once will probably save you enough on labor, to cover most of (if not all) the cost of a tune. Some shops will discount the parts if you do multiple mods all at once. The exhaust will have to be partially disassembled to do gears anyway.
Last edited by Thickraybans; Oct 7, 2011 at 09:06 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 72
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From: Elizabethtown Pa.
Thanks everyone for the info. I think I could live with loosing 1 to 2 mpg if the car has quicker pick up. Out of curosity what is the big deal with a stall converter. Other than headers I do not plan to do to much else.
Doug O
Doug O
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I am not sure I will explain it correctly but it basically lets the engine spin a bit more before becoming fully engaged. The car will launch harder and be more responsive on down shifts.