Which gears for top speed?
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Which gears for top speed?
Interesting question for you all about the top speed of a Corvette. I was reading in another post that a 3.15 geared automatic car will actually have a higher top speed than a 2.73 geared car because it needs more gear to pull at the higher speed. My question is this, assuming you have a stock or at most bolt-on A4 Corvette, which rear-end gear would give you the highest top speed? Would you get even more top speed by going to a 3.42? I know at some point you hit the law of diminishing returns, but I was just curious as I am changing gears. Thanks for the help!
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From: Fort Wayne Indiana
A few years back when I was with LPE as a technician, we installed a 2.73 differential in that red Twin-Turbo C5 Corvette that went 226 MPH which was featured in C&D mag. IIRC... Obviously, it takes a BUNCH of power to achieve it, but it can be done if you have the stones to push it that far, the proper test track to do it on and the bank account to support that type of speed-hungry habit. 
Best Regards,
Phil- DTE
Best Regards,
Phil- DTE
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Thanks for the reply. Considering my car will probably never be modded much more than with bolt-ons, I don't think the 2.73 gears make sense. Wow. 226 mph. That is crazy fast. Basically I drive a lot of highway miles and I like to punch it for the occasional 70 to 100-110 sprint (ideally with no other cars around) and was wondering which gears would be best for me. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
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From: FT Lewis WA
Originally Posted by Josh98RedC5
Thanks for the reply. Considering my car will probably never be modded much more than with bolt-ons, I don't think the 2.73 gears make sense. Wow. 226 mph. That is crazy fast. Basically I drive a lot of highway miles and I like to punch it for the occasional 70 to 100-110 sprint (ideally with no other cars around) and was wondering which gears would be best for me. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
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From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
The 3.42s are the way to go. So far as top speed the way I look at it is how often are you going to do that? With the 3.42s there is still plenty enough top end for me at 130 mine was still pulling. When it was getting dynoed it was getting up into the 130s and that was in 3rd. But what is more important to me is how fast it gets there. I do most of my playing under 80 and it gets any where under 80 very quickly. Now she shifts out of 2nd at 80 instead of 100 and at 80 she puts you back in the seat going into 3rd woohoo. If I had to guess 0-60 around 4.7 - 4.8. Best mod you can do for an A4 with a 2.73. Don't forget an air system and a tune. All that depending on how you do it can be had for $1000-$2500 
Last edited by VLVETTE; Jan 20, 2005 at 12:45 AM.
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Originally Posted by VLVETTE
The 3.42s are the way to go. So far as top speed the way I look at it is how often are you going to do that? With the 3.42s there is still plenty enough top end for me at 130 mine was still pulling. When it was getting dynoed it was getting up into the 130s and that was in 3rd. But what is more important to me is how fast it gets there. I do most of my playing under 80 and it gets any where under 80 very quickly. Now she shifts out of 2nd at 80 instead of 100 and at 80 she puts you back in the seat going into 3rd woohoo. If I had to guess 0-60 around 4.7 - 4.8. Best mod you can do for an A4 with a 2.73. Don't forget an air system and a tune. All that depending on how you do it can be had for $1000-$2500
for short duration bumps in speed.But if your going for a true "top speed" run then a 2.73 will always go faster than a 3.15 you just have to have the power available to make it work and if your talking about going fast around town, then with an A4 I'd have to recommend 3.73 gears, I still get 25+ mpg on long trips and scary fast acceleration.
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But if your going for a true "top speed" run then a 2.73 will always go faster than a 3.15 you just have to have the power available to make it work