Upgrades?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 4
From: GA
Upgrades?
Noob question but I don't know!
I purchased my 2004 Corvette last month and I am of course anxious to make modifications already. I have read other threads about what bolt-on mods are first choice no brainers but my problem is...I don't know what upgrades have already been made!!!!
The only two I know for sure that it has are the Mid America Motorworks Quad Exhaust and a VaraRam VR-B2 intake.
How do I find out if it has been tuned, gears, stall converters, etc...
I purchased my 2004 Corvette last month and I am of course anxious to make modifications already. I have read other threads about what bolt-on mods are first choice no brainers but my problem is...I don't know what upgrades have already been made!!!!
The only two I know for sure that it has are the Mid America Motorworks Quad Exhaust and a VaraRam VR-B2 intake.
How do I find out if it has been tuned, gears, stall converters, etc...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
There is a formula that you can use to figure out the rear end gear ratio by driving a certain speed in a certain gear and looking at your rpms, unfortuantly I dont know it but Im sure someone will post it. I would doubt that it has been tuned being that visually it just has those two modifications.
Im assuming that its an auto being that you asked about a stall so that leaves a short throw out of the question, I would personally go with headers as they provide a nice bump in power and sound pretty good too.
Im assuming that its an auto being that you asked about a stall so that leaves a short throw out of the question, I would personally go with headers as they provide a nice bump in power and sound pretty good too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
If you want to know for sure if you have a tune you can have someone hook up hp tuners or efi live to see if it varies any from a stock tune. Also depending on what you plan to do with the car a handheld tuner may not be worth the cost.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Put your car in 3rd gear and drive at 75 mph, if your tach is at 2730 rpm you have 2.73 gears. If it's at 3150 rpm you have 3.15 gears. 3.42 or 3.73 will give you 3420 & 3730 RPM. If you can floor your car without power braking it from a standstill and get little or no wheel spin you have the stock converter with 2.73 or 3.15 gears. IMHO do gears and converter first assuming you have 2.73 or 3.15 gears. A hi stall T/C gives the biggest bang for the buck on an A4 excluding NOS. The Yank SS3200 or SS3600 are excellent choices. I have also heard good things about circle D converters.
Last edited by mitchell c; Jan 15, 2012 at 11:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 4
From: GA
Mitchell, awesome tech advice...I guess that's what m6 was referring to...I will give that formula a run first thing tomorrow...I would try it tonight but I don't wanna push the "professional courtesy" between all of our agencies...lol
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 4
From: GA
ok well after a few rainy days in GA, i finally got a chance to make my run...2.73 it is! and no stall...so i guess i know what my upgrades will be...thanks!
oh no, another question...other than simply changing the tires, what else is needed to to a RF delete?
oh no, another question...other than simply changing the tires, what else is needed to to a RF delete?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
I got bone stock A4 with 3.15 gears and I can smoke'em all the way through first gear no problems. No power brake hold, TC off, A4 in 3rd gear, and it lights right up. But I do have the GY run flats. Their almost gone (yeah!), so maybe stickier tires won't do that. I would say intake, tune and exhaust first. 
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
See if you can find a take out 3.42 rear. Don't go too big on the stall if you haven't driven a car with one. Some people don't like a loose convertor. Gears, stall and LT's will make it a different car. You may find out how far you can push that professional courtesy.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 465
Likes: 4
From: GA
thanks all for this advice...i just got finished taking my wife to bible study and then out to dinner. i am loving this car and almost feel weird for wanting to change things!
unfortunately, i have another question...LT's???
unfortunately, i have another question...LT's???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
LT's = Long tube headers, they will make you love your car even more. LG ARH and Kooks are probably the top 3 installed. Personally It was between LG and ARH for me and ended up going with LG due to them having the longest available primaries.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
Bear in mind that the bigger the gears (numerically bigger) the more like stock a high stall converter will feel. Go with the Yank SS series converters they have excellent street manners. I have had 3 different hi stall T/Cs. Don't go too small it can get expensive swapping converters if you want to go bigger after you swap your converter.