With your mods you should be running way better than 13.18.

I ran a best of 13.14 with 2.73s a mild tune, Corsas and a Blackwing on runflats. With your set up and a set of drag radials you should never see 13s again. Your car is modded near identical to my own but without the headers. Surely my headers didn't add 6/10s.

Get a set of drag radials and a line lock for the track and you should be in the 12.8s / 12.7s easily.

If I were you I'd hold off on the heads and cam and get some tires, a line lock and some practice/experience first. Then I'd get a good set of headers and a good tune before going into my engine. You are on the verge of mid twelves as the car sits.

 

I agree with your suggestions. I'm not a real drag racer, but I do need the drag radials. I may actually add headers, a tune and an intake this week. Not sure if I need the H/C yet. Just something I really want though.

 

WELL I TOOK THE PLUNGE...now a lot of people are gonna say im stupid and a whole lot of stuff...

but after months of reading I decided to just order the LS6 conversion kit from Summit racing ....

The kit comes with EVERYTHING I need for the install and cost me 1,960 after tax and shipping to Hawaii....

I know I could have gotten a lot more power with other heads and cams....

But the it has a Z06 engine factor just kept ringing in my head...

Im guessing that since Z06's dyno 350-360 with this H/C...

I should dyno 330-340 rwhp in my bone stock a4 w/ 2.73's...

Ill loose about 10 Hp through my more rescrictive exhaust and intake...

And another 10 for my car being an automatic...

So 335 is probaly wha she'll do..

Im at 299 rwhp right now so a jump of 35 rwhp.....the reliability......the price.....and the "my a4 coup has a Z06 engine and can take the top off factor" all made my decision for me.....

Im running 13.5 right now and hope to be around 12.9 after the install and tuning...

 

How much for the install and programming on top of the $1,960.00?

 

1200...

So I guess that brings up the price to around 3,100 total...

But Ill have to wait and see if theres any hidden cost...

I know that for 3 grand I could have gotten an awesome H/C package that makes 385 at the wheels and then had it installed for 800 or so...

But I just wasnt ready to make that kind of commitment that is involved with that kind of power....


Theres a part of me that says that I could have gotten a Patriot Head and cam kit for a little more $ and dyno 350-370 instead of 330-340...

But Ive just read to many horrible stories of a4's not handling the power...

Also for 3 gand...i could have gotten an Vararam......x pipe......stigers....no cats.....And probaly a decent set of headers....

I could have PROBALY gotten all that and had it installed for 3 grand and dynoed the same or higher than the LS6 conversion....

But that just wouldnt be the same for me...

Id just be another bolt on LS1..

Just like the 20 Z28's I see at the track when ever I go...

My car would be xactly the same...Only much better looking...more expensive and 300 pounds less weight....But still th same bolt on LS1...Even though the LS1 in the C5 looks much nicer than the LS1 in the camaro..

But I think you know what Im getting at.....


the LS1 is awesome....350 HP!!!!!!

But im tired of always reading how awesome the Z06 is....

How it's only 3-5 tenths behind the Viper.....How it's still quicker than the C6...

In the world of 405 and 400 and soon to be 500 HP vettes..

My 350 LS1 just wasnt cutting it for me....

But 405 will be good for quite a while...

When the C5 came out in 97..

350 Hp was the number that ment you had somthing exotic quick..

Now that number can be had in an GTO.....

400 is the new standard in my eyes...

Im not dissing any ones ride....

A 400 rwhp LS1 is far bettr than a 380 rwhp LS6......

But Im just a magazine junkie who thinks the LS6 is the greatest thing since sliced cheese....

 

A few observations, and of course its your car and your money, so you get what you want. I only write this so that if someone newto modding their car sees it they can make a good decision too.

With those 2.73s the only thing your car will have in common with a Z06 will be the engine. You still have a gear problem if you have 2.73s.

You could have also gone with one of the Thunder Racing LS1 Cam Swap Package w/ Dual Valve Springs for around a grand and had it installed. And had about $1500.00 left over to get gears or beef up your transmission if you wanted. When you get done with extras you'll be at $3300+ to get to 12.9.

The Z06 may be all that, but it is way more than its LS6 engine which makes it so.

You may be able to tell people that your car has a "Z06 engine in it". But all that will do is make it even more embarrasing when it does not perform like, nor anywhere near a real Z06. Since by extension, when people hear that "oh its got a Z06 engine in it" they will expect Z06 nbrs. And when you put up a 12.9 or a 13.0, and get beat by a modded Camaro or a Mustang or an EVO or some other ricer ........well at least you'll be happy and thats all that matters

 

I agree with you totaly...

My car is not a Z06..

But the engine will be close to one...

I know I can easily change my gears....And drop a good 3 tenths..Especialy after the LS6 conversion...

But Im realy partial to the 2.73's...

I dont think anyone will be lughing a me...

My 13.5 that I have ran numerous times is a very respectable time at my track...

Z06's dont do bette than 12.6 here...

And There usuly in the 12.8-13.1 range....

My 13.5 has been more than enough to fend off any stock camaros...stock SRT-4's...stock Evos....Stock WRX sti's....

The SRT-4's are in the mid 14 range...

The quickest stock evo from the guys I talked to...BIG EvO group of like 10 cars that come to the track once a month...Is a 13.7..

Th quickest stock STI from the very similar STI group that parks across from the Evos is a 13.6.....

So If Im running a best of 13.0 on what I still consider factory stock..

Ill be addng evn more fuel to the fire..


To me Im just puting in the Corvette engine I should have goten from the factory but couldnt because they dont offer it in the automatic version....

My wife cant drive a stick.....

I realize that Im paying 3 grand for somthing thats probaly only gonna drop me a half second through the 1/4 mile...BuIm also paying for the name..

Im thinking that frm a resale point of view ...5-7 years rom now when I pln to sell the car..

I should be abl to get an extra 1-2 grand for it vrs if it was still the LS1...

Lots of people I will try to sell to hve no idea what an TR224 and headers are or what they do...

Theres lots of people who want a Vette and no nonthing about dragg racing or engines...

But that same person will probaly no that the Z06 is the top line C5 engine..

ATLEASTE THATS WHAT IM HOPING...

Im hoping tere ill be some one else 5 years from now who wants theZ06 but cant drive a stick or there wife cant drive a stick.....

An auto with the LS6 engine and a removable roof would be very appealing to that person.....


Im pretty sure that after I do it and go to the track and run a 13.0..Ill be happy....

But Ill always wonder what if I just would of grown some ***** and went with a 400 wrhp H/C....

But if I did go that route and somthing broke...Id alway wonder why I didnt go with a trust worthy LS6 conversion...





As far as the Z06 hving alot of things that also make it quicker...

Ill loose a good 2-3 tnths just from my2.73 vrs 3.42 gearing alone....

Ill loose a good 1-2 tenths for having the more rescrictive intake and exhaust....

Ill loose another good tenth for my run crap tires vrs theF1's...

Other than those time robbers it's pretty equal....

So I'll be loosing 4-6 tenths of the performance of the Z06....

The average Z06 on a 60 degee night CAN pull a 12.4

The average a4 2.73 on a 60 degree night CAN pull a 13.4

After the LS6 conversion due to all the time robbers of my a4 LS1...Ill only pull a 12.9-13.1...
Hey ATLEASTE IM BEING REALISTIC....

But of course I planning to do an Vararam....Borla Exhaust with X pipe..And th typical 19 inch black Z06 rims with tires that will defiently grabb better than the run craps...

 

Please let me know when you plan to do one of these 110 mph - 160 mph races (or any race) on the freeway so I can have all of my friends and loved ones safely far away from you. Your car shouldn't see over 100 mph on any freeway, ever. Go to the track, PLEASE!

 

yup

if you wanna stay mild staret with the above

 

Laron,

Your HP gains won't be worth the expense!! Cancel and buy aftermarket...

Sorry..

 

Guys.

I know that for 3 grand I could have easly done a H/C job or just a cam that would let me dyno 10-50 rwhp more than the 340 rwhp Im gonna get from the LS6 conversion...

But going from 299 to 340 rwhp will be more than enough for me..

The Z06 dynos around 355 on average....

The worst I hink I could possibly dyno would be 335 rwhp....

Thats taking away 20 rwhp for the automatic and different air intake and exhaust..

The different air intake and exhaust is only good for an adittional 5-10 rwhp most...

Then the A4 will lose an additional 3 % through the drive train over the mn6...

Where talking another 10 rwhp tops..

My car might dyno 335 or 345...

Even te 335 rwhp would b an additional 36 rwhp improvement...

Nonthing short of a well tunes LG headers would give me similar results...

I know that 35-45 rwhp is a very small improvement in th world of H/C...

But I wanted to have the extra power and never have a second thought about the car not being able to handle it...


The a4 is rated at only 360 tourque compared to the mn6's 375 for a reason....

It cant handle the power as easly..

Now Im gonna be shoving 400 pounds of tourqe down her...

40 over stock...

Im actualy slightly worried about that...


For everyone of you who has 380 rwhp on your a4 and says you hav no problems..

Theres another guy with only 355 rwhp who blew his transmission...drive train ect...

Some peope say with the 2.73's Id never have an problem...

Some say that 360 rwhp on the a4 is just to much...

Some say computer tuning will fix any potential problems with big HP..

Some dont tust in the computer tuning to fix it...


IN THE END.....It was just really hard to get a good awnswer on how much power would be SAFE on my stock drivetrain a4....

On the other hand I knew the LS6 was a better performe tha the LS1 by a fair amount.....

I know that it wont have any problems that lots of peope report on after market heads and cams....

The price was alotcheaper than other H/C kits..

18,000 for everything including sealsand head bolts ect.. ect...

Fo

 

Sorry, I have erased my comments because there was no need to say what I was thinking about this thread!

Good luck.

 

Well, I'll add my .02 here.

You keep saying that the Z06/LS6 is all that, but do you realize that the M12 Transmission is considered to give it a boost equivalent to 50RWHP over a standard MN6 C5? The extra 60hp from the LS6 is only 1/2 the results you're seeing at the track. The Z06 gearing in 1-3 is roughly equivalent to a 3.90 rear end.

You seem to be trying to convince yourself that 3k for 30rwhp is a good deal, but it just isn't. The LS6 engine is not that much more powerful than an LS1. Simply put, just using the 02 cam from an LS6 (widely available at $100) with matched springs will give you most of the gains that are to be had. Of course, the LS6 intake will help somewhat as well.

For what you're looking to do, you're really much better off to go with some well planned bolt ons and/or a set of 3.15/3.42 gears. I really don't know what you've got against a gear swap, it's the simplest way to get a faster car under 100mph. And over 100mph, you are not going to notice it being any slower.

If yo're worried about putting more power on it b/c of a weak transmission, maybe you should address that problem and think about a built transmission. I just sold one for $1500 that was built to handle 530rwhp. While that was a heck of a deal, if you keep your eyes open, you may find similar.

If you're dead set on keeping the gears, and keeping the trans. stock as well...you'll easily achieve more hp with headers, intake, and a tune. If that's not enough, add the LS6 Cam. The LS6 heads in stock, unported form, are just not going to be very beneficial to you (5-10rwhp? vs. $1500 cost for parts/install). And while you'd like to think it'll make your car more valuable, it probably won't. Z06's are falling in price...and AT swaps can be done in them...

It sounds like you have your mind made up, so best of luck...but just don't come back complaining that it didn't give you the power you'd hoped for, because you've been warned by people that have already been there and done that.

For what it's worth, I upgraded pace #2 to LS6 specs, with the exception of going to LPE Ported heads. I also had the typical intake/exhaust/headers/x-pipe/etc on it.

If you're looking to save money, maybe look into a used magnuson. It should be okay with your transmission, but will give you 100rwhp extra in the 3k range used (plus install). It's not a very aggressive s/c, but will give you some additional performance.

 

You are adding about 40 rwhp which usually is good for about 4 tenths. But take in consideration that the Z06 motor makes less torque at lower RPM so with the A4 and (2.73) your off the line performance is going to be worse. Not trying to discourage you but it is the facts. When GM made the Z06 motor that is why they changed the gearing the the trans to make up for the low RPM torque. Without the Torqe you car will be a dog off the line, unless you add gear or stall. I have an 04 A4 vert, and have held of from that mod for those reasons. I have long tube, Vararam and 3.42 with pirelli tires and some tuning done and have run a best of 12.60's

 

I also think you are making a BIG mistake. That tight 1600 stall stock converter and 2.73 gears are going to hinder your performance. A good hi stall T/C and gears are a MUST on an A4 if you want good performance. You will get much better performance without going into your engine if you just add a mild hi stall converter and 3.42s. While it is true you will have more HP than a stock C5 LS1. A C5 with just gears and a T/C will beat you in the 1/4 mile inspite of your added HP as long as you are running the stock T/C and 2.73s.


Just because you have not added 80+ RWHP is no reason to believe your stock tranny will hold up. With the stock tranny it's the luck of the draw.

 

You should listen Laron. Like most everyone says, it's a waste of time, money and effort.

Will **** you off when you spend all that money and have the slowest H/C car around.

Go aftermarket....

In addition.... A decent convertor is an absolute must!!

JMHO

 

Have '00 coupe,A4 with corsa indys, blackwing, 3.42 gears and hardened shaft. Kooks 1 3/4" headers are in the garage and waiting to go on. Had the 2.73's - on the highway it was still a dog. Torque power under the curve is important on the street or strip. You want the car to pull strong throughout the power curve. As you accelerate down the strip and through the traps it is the same sensation as "getting on it" on the street. If it is a dog through the traps it will be a dog on the street. With the 3.42's I have 304rwhp and it pulls so much better than when I had the 2.73's. A local guy has stock coupe with 3.73's and the Yank SS3600tqc. Driving around, it is not much "looser" than my stock tqc because of the str of 2.4. On the highway I went from 50 mph to 90 mph in the blink of an eye!! It pulled so well. I will add this mod after I dyno with headers. At present my strip time (w/ BFG's -17") is 12.81/110 mph. With the stock 18" GSD3's at 20psi (on a cold Michigan day) time is: 12.94/110mph -60' is still only 2.1. So the gears on the highway are important. Mine are not so steep as to make it a "pro stock" drag car but really deliver the torque and power. Good luck. I have the plans to add the 5.3liter heads with 224/224 lsa 114 - the old man's cam!!!

 

Why not just drop in a complete LS2?

 

Now there's an idea...the LS2...if you're going to do it, that'll keep it modern for a few years to come...I'm guessing you'd be looking at 6k, of which you could resell your LS1 for 2k. A little more money, but it'd be fun

 

Don't know about the 2.73's, but I would think that by adding longtubes, in conjunction with the Z06 upgrades, the low end torque would climb back above what a stock LS1 puts out. You would then have the low end, middle range and high end. The valve train and cam improvements would mean that shift points could also move up which would mean the car would drop back into a higher power range than before following a shift. Significantly more power, great reliability, great engine running characteristics, no codes, cooling or detonation issues...sounds like a winner to me. Of course, it all depends what you are shooting for. There is more power to be had for the same money, but you never get something for nothing. There are always tradeoffs.
Ed