??? CAM or GEARS ????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh,Bradenton PA,FL
??? CAM or GEARS ????
After investigating the cost, it seems they are close in $. I have an A6, and don't want a stall converter, so I know the hp gain will be less, but may gain a little "sound" with the cam deal.The gears would be a SOTP gain, but don't seem to add any hp? Help me choose!! 
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,403
From: Bethesda MD
The gears are a "SOTP gain" and a real gain in acceleration. If you are looking for off the line gains, gears + tires will make your car very quick. If you are looking to be a highway racer, gears will help, but I would chose a cam.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 37
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
Gears, hands down. Cheaper, easier, better drivabilty - the acceleration is like taking 500 lbs off the car. A cam alone is not going to give you much HP with doing heads anyway. An A6 with gears must be driven to be believed. If I could do it again, that's what I'd do.
Forget the HP number, you will get MUCH more enjoyment driving it than looking at a dyno sheet.
Forget the HP number, you will get MUCH more enjoyment driving it than looking at a dyno sheet.
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Gears are a great mod! Instant change to the feel of the car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Any real cam increases the need for gears.
Cars get built from the back to the front.
3.42 gears and a fully built diff sets the stage for real power. You may find that a S/C completes the package for you later rather than a cam.
If I had to do it all over again and the A6 was available in 2005 when I bought my car, I would have gotten an A6 with 3.42's, headers, and a S/C. I'm still thinking thats my next vette. I will get the C7 with that set-up.
A street car with 600rwhp on an A6 is a tough act to beat. I wont miss the clutch issues.
OK, so my vote is: 3.42 gears. Dont make the 3.15 gear mistake. Talk to the A6 owners that drove both not the 3.15 guys that say its enough and they base the statement only on what they have never having experienced the 3.42's. When I was in a 3.42 geared A6, I thought it was perfect.
Cars get built from the back to the front.
3.42 gears and a fully built diff sets the stage for real power. You may find that a S/C completes the package for you later rather than a cam.
If I had to do it all over again and the A6 was available in 2005 when I bought my car, I would have gotten an A6 with 3.42's, headers, and a S/C. I'm still thinking thats my next vette. I will get the C7 with that set-up.
A street car with 600rwhp on an A6 is a tough act to beat. I wont miss the clutch issues.
OK, so my vote is: 3.42 gears. Dont make the 3.15 gear mistake. Talk to the A6 owners that drove both not the 3.15 guys that say its enough and they base the statement only on what they have never having experienced the 3.42's. When I was in a 3.42 geared A6, I thought it was perfect.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Any real cam increases the need for gears.
Cars get built from the back to the front.
3.42 gears and a fully built diff sets the stage for real power. You may find that a S/C completes the package for you later rather than a cam.
If I had to do it all over again and the A6 was available in 2005 when I bought my car, I would have gotten an A6 with 3.42's, headers, and a S/C. I'm still thinking thats my next vette. I will get the C7 with that set-up.
A street car with 600rwhp on an A6 is a tough act to beat. I wont miss the clutch issues.
OK, so my vote is: 3.42 gears. Dont make the 3.15 gear mistake. Talk to the A6 owners that drove both not the 3.15 guys that say its enough and they base the statement only on what they have never having experienced the 3.42's. When I was in a 3.42 geared A6, I thought it was perfect.
Cars get built from the back to the front.
3.42 gears and a fully built diff sets the stage for real power. You may find that a S/C completes the package for you later rather than a cam.
If I had to do it all over again and the A6 was available in 2005 when I bought my car, I would have gotten an A6 with 3.42's, headers, and a S/C. I'm still thinking thats my next vette. I will get the C7 with that set-up.
A street car with 600rwhp on an A6 is a tough act to beat. I wont miss the clutch issues.
OK, so my vote is: 3.42 gears. Dont make the 3.15 gear mistake. Talk to the A6 owners that drove both not the 3.15 guys that say its enough and they base the statement only on what they have never having experienced the 3.42's. When I was in a 3.42 geared A6, I thought it was perfect.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,888
Likes: 4,342
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Gears, hands down. Cheaper, easier, better drivabilty - the acceleration is like taking 500 lbs off the car. A cam alone is not going to give you much HP with doing heads anyway. An A6 with gears must be driven to be believed. If I could do it again, that's what I'd do.
Forget the HP number, you will get MUCH more enjoyment driving it than looking at a dyno sheet.
Forget the HP number, you will get MUCH more enjoyment driving it than looking at a dyno sheet.
Seems like gears are getting some positive response. Now for my question, what gears would work best in an A4? 3.90?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
The restrictor plate keeps the top end from getting so overpowered that you exceed the short block's power handling or your tire's from getting overpowered beyond control. Typical centif s/c's low and mid boost levels arent so impessive but the plate allows you to see 7 psi at 3000-3500rpm. This would be coupled to a top end boost near 12-14 and not be safe. The plate can limit you to 10 at peak while having the boost in the midband you want like a Mag.
Doug and Chris did their HW and shut me up from being anti-FI for years. They were patient with me and did their best to answer any questions after the sale and helped with things they didnt have to. Professional to the last.
Once the kit was installed properly, I had zero issues since. Its truely a reliable system unlike 5-7 years ago, with thrown belts and the like. Get this thing and dont mess with cams unless like me you need to find the limits of sanity. I have the S/C, heads/cam, nitrous, gears, and alky on the way. I have awesome traction (MT ET streets 24/7) that makes all wheel drive ricers sad. FI has come a long way.