98ZtoA

Im new to the site but hope you guys can help me go fast.
I have a 98 Z with an automatic transmission. The car came from the factory with 2.73 rear. I was wondering if I went to a 3.42 if it would help my 1/4 times a bunch or if there was a better way. If it will help how much will it help?
Thanks
Ross

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

In an auto, the first mod you should do is get a good high stall torque converter. It will really wake the car up. But if you go that route you better invest in some nittos.

98ZtoA

I thought about the TQ but I dont want a real high tq. how high should I go.
what about the gears?

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

Is your car stock? What mods do you have now if any? I have 2.73's in my car too. I have the Yank SS3600 and I can't even tell I have a torque converter in the car until I floor it. And let me tell you, this converter is awesome. After driving the car with the new converter for a day, I already forgot what the stock TC felt like. Very, very streetable in my case. Doesn't feel loose at all to me. Changing your gears won't gain you much at the track. Your better off using your money on other mods. There are plenty of cars on this board that have gone very fast with 2.73 gears. But just as every one else on the board says. Get a converter with a little more stall than you think you can handle. Even though my SS3600 is great, I could have used more stall. If I could do it all over again, I would have gone with a SS4000 or YPT 4000 both from Yank. Oh by the way I have had ZERO problems with my converter.

98ZtoA

So the TC will help me more then the gear swap?
If I get a high stall does that mean the trans kicks in at that rpm like 3600 or 4000?

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

TC will be much better than gears. The power will kick in before 3600 on a 3600 stall. Check out Yank's FAQ's for some more info on feel.

Bowtieman4life

iTrader: (1)

I have seen several guys at the track that did this mod with a 0 to .1 tenth gain. A Vig 3200 with some DR will give you over 1/2 a second in the quarter.

nuzee

iTrader: (2)

I've had 3.42s installed for about a couple of months now. I upgraded from 2.73s. Been to the track once to test it out. Before 3.42s, ET'd 13.2x w/2.0 60s. After 3.42s, couple of 13.0x w/2.0 60s. Our track is slippery. I think I can do better at the slow end w/3.42s. I think I could do very little better than a hi 1.9 w/2.73s.

So, the gear swap netted me a solid 2 tenths improvement, possibly a bit more w/better traction. It gave me most of my gains by the 1/8 mi. On the fast end, pretty much same mphs, 106.x It is a nice gain but small in comparison to a TC.

I like the shift points of the 3.42s much better than the 2.73s. W/2.73s, I would 2-3 shift a couple of hundred feet before the traps. W/3.42s, I 2-3 shift mid track. 3.73 would be the ideal ratio for optimum shift points (go thru the traps in 3rd under peak power).

3.42s are a great STREET gear ratio. Not to tall where 1st gear would be virtually unusable. Not to short where you can't notice anything. Just right. The car feels way lighter and more snappy. I've run hi stall cars in the past and can also appreciate the driveability of tight stalls. To me, nothing wrong with either setup, geared or hi-stalled or both.

Last thing to mention. I miss the 2.73 downshift into 1st when on a moderate roll. I can get that whup w/3.42s but only on a slow roll. Guess I just got to readjust my driving style!

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

Nuzee, believe me, he is going to have more fun and go faster with a good stall torque converter than with gears or any other bolt-on (other than nitrous ) in an A4 for that matter. Eventually I will get a better gear ratio when I change out my rear-end, but I'm not going to waste my money on a mod that at best is worth maybe 1 tenth if any. I like being able to launch easier on my Nittos, and I can barely notice the loosness with my TC. Change gears when your ready to run some real tires. I'm sticking to DR's for now.

Fast Eddie's 02 T/A vert.

I went from 2.73s to 3.42s with an A4 and i love it.I don't have a stall yet,but i can tell you that the gear swap made one hell of a difference.I increased my 1/8 mi. time by 2 tenths.I also didn't like 2.73s on the freeway because i was constantly putting my brakes on because the RPMs weren't high enough to slow the car down...in other words,the car felt loose at 60 or even 70 mph.

I have control of my car now on the freeway,i no longer have to use my brakes to slow a little bit,i just back off the throttle and i slow down,it's very convenient.This is the main reason i didn't like the tall gears,it would have been OK if the speed limit was 80mph. In Seattle your lucky to hit 70mph

XFACTOR

I agree with Graphite-I have the same stall and love it-I also have 3.73's and those two mods alone work great together.I would say to get 3.42's but thats my opinion.Cant beat a great stall and a set of 3.42's or 3.73's.Good luck and let us know the turn out.