I bought my 2004 A4 w/ 1SB corvette back in the end of 2004 on an impulse (which explains the A4 and not the MN6)....

Fast forward 8 years later and it has been mostly a garage queen with 23k on it. I have come to the point where I would like to start doing some upgrades and convert this over to an MN6.

I know people will say to 'sell this one and buy one, it'll be cheaper, etc...', but I have babied this car from day one and this is not an option.

Someone pointed me towards ECS (I am in Long Island, NY) to actually do the conversion, but I was hoping to find someone in the same situation who already went through this for the input/lessons learned.

If I do proceed with this upgrade, I would do the following at the same time:

- corsa exhaust
- 3:73 or 3:15 gear swap?
- z06 drivetrain/clutch
(already have halltech stinger intake)


Anything else? Anyone care to provide some input? Thanks!

 

If you are going to do it, you will probably want to change the gears. That gear ratio will depend on future plans though. You don't want to put too much more gear into it if you want to supercharge the car in the future. If you don't plan to supercharge, you can go 3.90 or 4.10, otherwise you might just want to go 3.42.

You may want to get some headers and an upgraded tunnel plate too.

You can also look into using The Vette Doctors in Amityville doing the conversion. They are much closer to you than ECS.

 

We do these conversions regularly, feel free to give us a call if you would like to discuss your options.

 

Good point. I can say now I do not plan on adding a supercharger, but catch me tomorrow (or after the upgrade) and my answer may differ

Doug, thanks for the quick reply. I will give you a buzz later!

 

Keep the auto, and just upgrade the gears, and get a good converter. Lots less money than a M6 conversion, and it'll be faster and probably less maintenence with your driving style. Try to drive a modded A4 before you make your final decision. I personally wouldn't have bought an auto, even if I had to wait, but since that's done, don't wreck your car.

 

but this depends on you motive to change it. Do you just prefer to drive a manual or is it you think the car is "not a real corvette" because your friends make fun of you. if its the last one then I would spend less money and time and just beef up your A4 with new gears some other bolts ons and a good tune... you plan on keeping it a long time obviously but your knees hips back ect will not always be the way they are now, so every day that clutch will be a bad decision...

 

While I do get the occasional 'ball breaking' certain friend regarding have an automatic Corvette...my standard response is 'when you get your own, talk to me'

I come from a motorcycle background and have always regretted my A4 purchase since the 1st week I brought it home. I honestly believe, in a subconscious way, that is the reason I don't drive it that much.

 

If you have cash left go over to a&a supercharger. For the power unreal. Joe

 

I've only had a corvette for six months, and have little knowledge about the car. I had to guess at what the initials that describes your car meant, but got the picture as I read farther.

I can offer stick shift driving impressions, perhaps another's perspective might help the decision.

Right now, my car is in the shop, victim of an under designed, make that under specified, pilot bearing. (the thing was probably over engineered, to squeeze the last nickel out of the part)

It seems if you hit the gears with a lot of throttle, a lot of the time, the spacer cage that holds the roller bearings goes south. A bushing will not fail, but wears faster. I just bought this part, and for the load it might carry, it doesn't look like much. But you don't get much product for 15 bucks anyway, which is what it costs. Seems fair. (Pity about the weak spot in the design, but I suppose GM thought, one more won't matter, besides, we lost count a long time ago.)

So I'm in the shop looking at $800 labor, which shows a certain commitment to the stick shift, but I'm getting off track.

My first thought is that you are not going with a conventional path. I've always been told that a car can be repaired one of two ways, stock, or modern. You are going a third way, converting to obsolete.

I have a stick shift, but all modern 2012 cars, if they can afford it, have paddle shifters. ( Hot rodders can buy paddle kits out of magazines. I mention this only to reinforce my point about the two restoration paths. People are already putting paddle shifters into their cars .)

So I'm well over a thousand bucks into repairing my old fashioned stick shift. The saving grave is that it saves a little gas.(a theory which , goes to pot real quick behind the wheel) The bitch is that I don't have a bionic knee. As you get old joints ,etc. I might have to sell the car if I can't do better with the new clutch, my knee hurts after a lot of shifts.

I feel that the stick shift is a throw back deal in today's traffic. And I live in a lot of traffic. Traffic makes driving a drag, so cars are going towards full automatic, as people seek a better driving experience. (and a safer way to talk on the phone).

So, every stop light has expectations if you are doing the shifting. Cars are so competent today, that if you just leisurely shift, you will not meet the expectations of the ever surrounding Suv's that always want to be fast. I don't mind, but keeping up with traffic means you have got to be on it, a little bit. Of course, my car has too many gears (6), so that's not helping much. I like the speeds, but in traffic with that motor, it's just more work than you really need. I skip a few, often.

I bought a car with problems because it was the platform I was willing to invest in for the long term, it had all the stuff I wanted, except the state of repair and an auto trans. It was a stick, which just seemed so cool with that car, so it was an easy decision. i like a stick, they are easier to run as parts get harder to find as the car ages. But it is obsolete in today's traffic.

I mention fun, because it seems you have your reasons for keeping the car. So if you think you want this , have fun. I wouldn't, but I am very much pro-fun. In my eyes it wouldn't make the car special, or better than others, just wrong. Restoring to obsolete, non stock , is probably not a new thing, it's just that I have always been told that this approach was wrong if the car is ever to enter the market place.

P.S. My black 2003 convertible was purchased used with 1998 chrome wheels, not correct, but I'm happy.

 

I was at a repair shop today, (sigh$), and saw an Edelbrock supercharger on display. It was lust at first sight. I can't think of anything I don't need but want more than that thing. The ultimate engine dress up kit, for the hard core.

I'm going to check out that A and A part . Never heard of it, but as long as I am just looking, it can't hurt. Perhaps, when the car gets less use in the future...........

 

Hah,I always tell those manual shift car guys to come on out to the track with me where I promptly educate them in who is quicker.