I'm interested in purchasing and installing the following items onto my A4 2005 Coupe. The choice of items is based on research only thus I'm a bit reluctant to place any orders before getting opinions here and there due to my lack of prior experience... The only mod currently on the vehicle is a Borla Stinger Cat-back & a Borla X-Pipe. The items I'm planning on ordering are: -

1. LG Pro LongTube Headers @ 1 3/4" (No Cats).
2. Helltech Stinger CAI + Induction Option.
3. Underdrive Pulley (Still don't know which one to go for)
4. G5X3 Camshaft (Intake/Exhaust duration specs still a mystery to me but I'm sure I want a Lope of 114).
5. Vigilante 2800 Stall converter.
6. 160 Degree Thermostat.

I'm also planning on carrying out stage 2 of modding in about a year's time. Still not sure whether to go for the AFR 225CC heads or a ProCharger S/C kit (For some reason it depends on whether I'm getting engaged or not, don't ask why!). I currently use the car as a daily driver. I don't mind compromising comfort/ride quality for performance but what I'm avoiding are mechanical problems. Since I live in the middle-east, tuning might be a bit of a problem. Will a tune via a Diablo Predator be sufficient after the installation of the component listed above..!?

What sort of performance results/improvements should I expect after the installation of those items?

Any recommendations on CAM specs? I'm not looking for the highest HP gain, but more along the lines of a strong HP power curve along the mid to high RPM range (~2,000-2,500 RPM Up to 6,500). I'm hoping the LongTubes will greatly enhance the low-end torque of the vehicle. I'm only 24 thus loudness will not bother me at all..

I've also been considering changing my gear ratio while still keeping my stock differential but I'm still confused whether to get the 3.42 or the 3.73 (Remember that it's an Auto)! What would you recommend?

I assure you that any other comments will be greatly appreciated....

Oh yeah... I wasn't born a millionaire and I'm not one yet so it would be nice to know how much a package like this would cost me... I was thinking of spending around $3,500 on at this stage of modding but I'm sure I'll end up spending more as most of you did, which I do not mind at this precise moment... It's just nice to keep things in prespective whenever you can!

Many thanks in advance,

 

You are near your budget if you ware planning on doing all the work yourself. I will comment on the Cam specs but you sound like you have a good plan. I would consider a Fast Intake while doing heads for stage 2. With any modification you will run into mechanical problems more than likely. You are planning on adding some major hp to your car. The diablo tune is not the best I suggest a dyno tune for the car. If you need more advice pm me but you are well over your budget if you are getting these parts installed at a shop.

 

Thank you for your comments fredgpowell. I'm not in favor of installing a FAST L.S.X Intake Manifold currently cuz I'm not very fond of the idea of having to modify the firewall but that doesn't mean that I'll not consider going for it in the future. I'm currently happy with the LS2 stock intake's 90mm throttle but I do understand that the gains from the FAST L.S.X intake manifold increase accordingly with further modifications to the vehicle.

In regard to the tuning issue, there is only one shop in the country that does that (It's a very small country by the way, smaller than your smallest state). The dyno is new and the tuner is far from what you guys in the US would refer to as an expert. I'm considering shipping the car to Kuwait when I get the parts installed for a dyno tune if a Diablo Tune won't do the job.

The $3,500 bidget I'm allocating is only allocated towards the purchase of the items listed in my initial post. Labor will be carried out by a friend of mine that has been modifying all sorts of american muscle cars even before I was born so I believe my car will be in good hands.. I still don't understand why he'd prefer the 3.42 gears over the 3.73. I'm leaning more towards the 3.73s.. Any downside to those that would make the 3.42s a more preferable option !?

What are your comments on the CAM...!?

 

A lot of people prefer the 3.42 in the A4 (vs the 3.73) because first gear in the A4 is so low that you get diminishing returns (poor traction, and an almost immediate 1-2 shift) from the 3.73. But I'm only relaying what I've read. I'm an MN6 man myself so I don't have any first hand knowledge. Is the car primarily for street performance or the drag strip?

If I were you, if you don't get any responses here about your axle ratio, I would ask over on the C5 tech section. The gearing (transmission and axle) on the A4 C6 is identical to the A4 C5, the vehicle weight is the same, and the TQ curves are close enough. The only difference would be that the LS2 has a bit more TQ, which would push me toward the 3.42.

 

Thanx NFS..

 

I have a similar rig, so I can tell you exactly what I got in performance....

My C6 is a Z51 A4 Coupe, VIN 176, built as a Pilot car during the 2004 model year.

It is the lowest VIN that anyone that I have talked to has ever seen on the street. I am sure there are more out there lower, but not many.

I had Borla Sport and Cross-pipe installed by WCC in Mar of 05.

I had a Halltech Stinger (without the lower intake) and a custom tune (HP Tune) done by Charly at A & A Performance Corvettes.

Here's where I sit.....

364 RWHP, 361 TQ

See more details and the Dyno graph posted on this tune by Charley at
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1303060

 

The main item I need help with is the CAM. The headers & CAI are there to increase the airflow and allow the engine to breathe more and better.. The pulley is for the extra horses I could take out of accessories and use to put rubber on the road and the stall convertor is to shift the drivability of the vehicle into a higher RPM band (where the power will hopefully be)...

I am no mechanic and have no prior modding experience! This plan isn't following anyone else's actions & is based on research and speculation.. Oh and I really, really hate screw-ups..!

 

I recommend the 3.42's also, since previously having them in my 03 Vette. I had ridden in a 3.73 auto, and it buzzed quite a bit, and made a big drop in the gas mileage. In my club guys with the 3.73,s averaged 15mpg, and the guys with the 3.42s ran about 17 on average. So the loss for most 3.42 users was about 1.5mpg, where the 3.73 guys lost 3.5mpg. Also yes the first gear made laying down power in 1st very difficult. Also on the track the average guy running 3.42s lost about .3 seconds off the quarter, but the 3.73 guys did not notice much better, still around .3 to .4 off of the quarter.

The 3.42s gave about the best all around performance gain with good gas mileage and smooth running.

 

I do take my car to the track every now and then but due to the nature and tight schedule of my job, I end up participating in no more than 3 events a year. A 3.73 would be better on the drag strip cuz the stronger accelaration is properly exploited with the use of slicks but I wouldn't wanna compromise street racing performance for the 5 to 10 runs I carry out on the drag strip every year. I personally am more into 1 ~ 1.5 km races where high gear mid~top end performance is what makes the difference between winning and losing...

... I think I'll go for the 3.42s... Thanx for your input everyone!

 

Mr. xtacy 187 you are worried about tuning your car ? well here in Dubai i know some places that they can Tune for you the car + they also have dyno's .

If you need anything just let me know and you are welcome to your second country (Dubai, UAE) , i can take you to some places i know and you will see your self even installing the cam and everything you need regarding your car .


Thanks & Regards..

 

Thank you very much mrsaud. I actually might consider dyno tuning my vehicle there. I'm a big fan of Dubai (I end up going there 3~4 times a year). Installation of parts is not my problem! I can do it all here in Bahrain. The only problem is tuning! If it's not much of a hassle, please try to get me as much info about dyno tuning in the UAE for C6s.

 

Mr. xtacy 187 i am sure about the places that i know here in Dubai, that can tune for you your C6 , and i have alot of friends who have already tuned there cars here .

And we can meet and take you to there places and you can see the dyno and everything, i have c6 A6 with Dynatech Headers and i will install my cam shaft this week , and iam tuning it next week here .