1gt2nv

iTrader: (5)

I plan on going to Speed Inc this spring for some 3.73's installed. Will they really wake the car up? Worth the money? I have 2.73's now. A4. I'll also have a LS6 intake and underdrive pulley then.

FASTEDDIE Z

iTrader: (4)

It definitely help out my car . When I went to the track ,I was going through the traps in 2nd and just shifting into D.The engine gets to its power range a lot quicker . Its a lot snappier around town and more fun to drive now too I have to get back to the track in a couple of weeks and see exactly how much better it will do .

cambirdracing

iTrader: (4)

In a nutshell- YES

1gt2nv

iTrader: (5)

I don't know a ton about gears. Just wanted to make sure they are worth it. I went from 3.29's to 3.69's in my gp and it really didn't feel any quicker. Ran out of gear really fast when the turbo spooled though. But I did have a 3k stall in there.

FASTEDDIE Z

iTrader: (4)

Yeah , thats not much of a difference . The LS1 is a different animal . It doesnt make its power til @ 4000rpm then it really wakes up . 273's suck unless your on the hwy all the time . If you had 323's or 343's I wouldnt do it .I would do a converter 1st. but you do have 273's Unless you can find a stock M6 rear (342's) for cheap $200-300 range . Then use the other cash for the converter

nickp

iTrader: (2)

I went from 2.73's to 3.73's in my lt1 & picked up 2 tenths in my 60' and 3 tenths consistantly in the 1/4. I would guess the gains would be even better in an ls car because they really like to rev compared to mine. Expect slot more bottom end. Have fun!

nickp

iTrader: (2)

^^^meant to say alot more bottom end.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

Do a converter first.

gears give a nice SOTP feeling but in autos they don't do nearly as much as in manuals ET wise.

nickp

iTrader: (2)

That drastic of a gear change will help as much as a convertor will. Besides it will be cheaper & you won't have to add a tranny cooler. 2.73's with a loose convertor will create lots of heat in your tranny and greatly reduce it's life.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

No it will not, not even close. If you can show me ONE instance where a gear change picked up over five tenths and 2-3 mph I will retract that.

And running in summer time @ 90 degrees and then doing a gear change and going back to the track in the winter time when it is 45 degrees does not count.

A gear swap will net you gains of MAX 3 tenths and 2 mph, that is being very generous.

A decent converter will net you a MINIMUM of 5 tenths and 2 mph.

This has been proven time and time again.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I agree with Lemons on this one. Converter>gears. Period.

nickp

iTrader: (2)

I proved it on my own car buddy. & I do race it regularly. I picked up 4 tenths with the convertor and lost 1 mph thru the traps. My friend put a convertor in his z28 & picked up 3 tenths with 2.73 gears & lost 1 mph. He also burned up his trans a couple months later because it's a dd. Thats all the proof i need. Besides a convertor is $700 & a gear is $200.

nickp

iTrader: (2)

Gears first then convertor.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

O, nice man.. I'm going to assume you have the DA from the passes before the gears and after... Right?
If you only lost 4 tenths with a converter and lost 1 mph, you have a shitty converter, period. Converter should easily knock off 5/10s and gain 2-3mph.

I ran a 4400 VIG converter on 323s for almost 6 months with 100k+ miles on my last car driving it EVERY day around 60 miles a day, never had one single hiccup. Sold it after 16k miles and never had one problem along with the current owner putting around 3k on it and not having any problems.

Why would you spread information like this that has been proven OVER AND OVER by people who have proof to back it up besides (my buddy and me)? This is false information and not helping anyone out. There have been MANY MANY back to back tests while taking DA into consideration that show that gears on an A4 are only good for 2 tenths max and 1 mph, and that is the "lucky" ones. Most people don't see anything but a SOTP gain.

A converter will pick you up 4+ tenths in the 60' and over half a second (7-9/10ths with a nice converter and a tune) as 2-3 mph. How could you possibly say that gears are better?

The FIRST mod on an A4 should be a nice converter. The only mods I would do first are a lid and free mods. EVERY single other mod would wait until I got a converter.

nickp

iTrader: (2)

he's not talking about 3.23's genius. I have first hand knowlege of dealing with 2.73's and that's what I'm sharing. Besides the op asked about gears, which my 1st reply pertained to. It was not a torque convertor question. It's people like you that get these threads off track.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I think on a bolt on/cam only car, a good 4000 converter with sticky tires to hook it will knock way more then .5 off. Im thinking it could knock up to a full second off on most cars. Not hard to see how you could knock .5 off just your short times which equates to more at the big end.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

No ****, you don't think I have any experience with 2.73s either? Just because you saw an increase in you and your buddies car, which is very obvious you did not equate DA into the entire thing, doesn't mean anything. If you can show me proof, I will retract everything I have said, but you can't and I can so I won't.

I have not got this thread off topic at all, it is EXACTLY on topic.

The op-
He asked if it was worth the money. Is it? Yes, but his money would be much more well spent on putting it towards a converter since the gains would be minimal to none with gears and great with a converter.

It is people like you that spread false information and make claims that have zero proof/facts to back it up other than what happened on your car when you didn't even factor in DA corrections.

nickp

iTrader: (2)

^^^

Mr.Slow

Is the reason behind not cutting much E/T from gears on an A4 in the 1/4 mile because it could be shifting into 3rd earlier, slowing down the momentum of the car, while when it had stock gears, it'd still be in 2nd a bit longer?

I notice in a track situation where you are doing a standing 1/4 mile, the converter is a better bet, but maybe the gears would prove more valuable in other situations than it does from a standstill to a 1/4 mile. Such as the inevitable street romps from different speeds and perhaps runs past the trap speed your car does in the 1/4 mile. I'm not trying to say on the street it'd be better than a converter. I'm sure it wouldn't. But I bet for him gears would be an inexpensive, worthwhile investment.

JScamaro

iTrader: (6)

I am upgrading to 3.73 gears soon as well. I would definitely get a good converter first though then get gears later down the line once you get a cam (or if).

A 3600-4000 converter will transform your car into a beast. Better launches, get into the power band quicker, higher shift extension. Gears will do the same as well but a converter is more effective in getting you down the line quicker.

I can't think of any other mod that had a greater impact on performance for an A4 than a quality aftermarket converter.