I should have my 342 swap done this weekend Will I be able to drive the car until I can get it to Andy at A&A for the computer reprogram and tune? Dont plan on getting on it until I have it tuned..

 

How far away is Andy's?


Immediately after my swap, my car was near undrivable without the gear scaling. Would not shift anywhere near right.

Others have done this swap and been able to drive at lower speeds for a short time, before experiencing the inevitable hard shifts and the P 1870 code.

 

Ray, your profile doesn't say if it's an A4 or not. Can't speak to the manual tranny but your A4 should be OK.

Be careful not to "stomp on the pedal" too hard until you get the tuning done. The shift points will be a little out of wack until you can get them programmed by your tuner.

I had my 3.42 and 2800 TC installed a couple of weeks ago and then took a 1000 mile trip. I go to the tuner this week. My 1-2 shift MPH needs to be increased and the tranny line pressure decreased just a bit. Other than that, I think you'll be OK.

BTW, if you're doing anything else to the car (new air intakes, new exhaust, etc.), get all that stuff done before you go to the tuner. It'll save you $$$, increase your performance, and make you happier in the long run than trying to tune after each mod.

Just my $.02 worth.

 

Thank for the info guys I will drive it and see what happens Andy is about a hour and a half from me. Armyvette my car is a A4 auto I also have alot of mods already done so the tuning will be very help full so I will get on the road and see what happens I will keep you posted on the driveability of it.

 

I am having Andy put Z06/3.42 in my A4 hopefully next week! I won't be leaving without some tuning ...... maybe I'll see ya there.

 

you didn't mention what the current rear axle ratio is ... and it's not in your profile either.

I went from the 3.15 to 3.42 retaining the factory TC and drove almost one whole year without any programing changes. But I tend to drive short distances. I believe this was the exception... not the rule.
Then (about 10 months after the 3.42 upgrade) a 2.5 hour drive on the interstate finally popped the P1870 code. But an upgrade from the 2.73 to any other ratio (even the 3.15) will cause problems within the first 50 miles - and even sooner if upgrading with a higher stall TC as well.

 

After a gear swap, you can avoid the P1870 code that brings on the hard shifting by leaving the gear selector in 3rd and not using the OD (4th) gear position unless you are going above 65 mph

 

Thats exactly what happened in my case. I upgraded the torque converter too.

I had not arrived at the shop with the file that James had sent. The guys at the shop were finished and decided to take a test drive without the program. NOT

They called me at work and told me that they were done with all the work, but had gotten only a few blocks in the car before having to turn around and head back to the shop. They said it would be impossible to do a decent test drive without that file. The car was shifting nowhere near right. "The car doesn't know what to do, has no idea when and how to shift." were the shop owner's words

The plan had been for me to pick the car up after work, drive it home and install the file from James in my garage. I already had a ride from work to the shop lined up.

Instead I ended up going home after work, getting my laptop with the downloaded file from James, heading to the shop, and installing the file into the Predator and from the Predator to the car's PCM, right int the shops parking lot.

We then took that test drive. Everything was perfect. The car accelerated like nothing I had ever driven. I was stoked. Headed back to the shop. They had intended to recheck the tranny fluid level and check everything else, tranny cooler, etc for leaks, by putting the car back on the lift after the test drive, but forgot to, as by now they were working on other cars, and the phone was ringing off the hook.. They forgot to top off my tranny, I paid while the owner was still on the phone, he gave me a receipt, I headed home and smoked my 4L60E on the way..


They made good and rebuilt it though

Moral of the story. You won't get far without the programming if they do the TC too. Its anybody's guess just how far you get with just the gears and no programming. If they do a TC too, make damn sure that your tranny is filled with fluid before you leave..

 

I am going from a 273 to a 342 but no TC change I dont race my car just looking for some better performance really the 273 gear is a dog . So I just plan on some local driving to make sure everything is good to go them for a drive from Bakersfield to Ventura about a hour and a half on the hwy. So I hope everything will be O.K. to get there. Thanks for all the info guys.

 

I live 15 minutes from Andy's. Let me know when you are going...would like to come down and watch your dyno and see your gears in action!

 

It will be a littel while I havent finshed the gear swap yet plan to this weekend had to order some seals also wating on my RK Sport hood to arrive. I will shoot you a e-mail when I have a date.

 

What could u expect if u do some street racing and have 3.42 gears in a A4 with a stock TC? What's the main difference in a different TC from stock off the line? More smokin tires or more grab? Just curious.

 

A torque converter's primary job being to transfer torque to the wheels, the more effecient it is at that, the more effective it will be on the street, or the strip. Today's offerings in torque converters include a wide variety of options, each directed at transferring usable torque to the wheels.

As I understand street racing, much of it is done from a roll. The higher stall converters are very effective in transferring torque to the wheels from a roll.

Stall torque ratio plays a role too. Torque converters with higher stall torque ratios typically hit hard off the line, ie from a dead stop.

The stock C5 torque converter offers neither of the above advantages to the same extent as a good aftermarket higher stall TC.

 

Its all personnel prefrence it depends on what you want your car to do for me dont really need a converter wouldnt mide one but thats hows it goes when you are on a budget need funds for the dyno tune more. Good luck with your choice.