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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 10:32 AM
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Default Make me a Believer?

Here's the deal... I've owned a bunch of F-Body cars. All have been an M6.

I will admit, I've been one of those Transmission snobs who says Autos suck. But truth be told, I've never driven in, let alone actually driven a stalled car before. So here's what is happening.

This weekend, I an buying a 1998 Formula Ws6. It's an auto. I guess, I should own one and try it before I knock it.

So, what can I do to make this the best experience it can be? The car has 3.73 gears, Kooks Headers, Y Pipe and Magnaflow exhaust. SLP Lid. And Nitto D/R's.As far as I know, there's a stock converter in there.

I plan on using this car for some drag duty. All my others have been mostly street cars. Whats the suggestions? Stall? Trans brake? I'm honestly not that well versed in the usage of a High stall and a Trans brake.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 10:39 AM
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stall and a good trans cooler, Trans Go HD2 kit would also be a good addition but not required

a good 3600-4000 converter would be good

no trans brake unless you intend to drop big money on the transmission
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 01:31 PM
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^^^agree as above 3600-4000 stall as you already got 3.73 which are the ideal gears for autos. no trans brake with a stock rearend as a transbrake produces the same shock to the rear as an M6,BOOM !
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 01:40 PM
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from what I gather it will also make quick death of the input shaft of the trans
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 03:53 PM
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Thanks guys I appreciate the info. I feel like an idiot having to learn this kind of stuff all over again. But Automatics are just a whole diff world for me.

Guess i have to learn to launch it too...
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 08:07 PM
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Honestly a higher stall converter should be a first mod to a4 cars. It was at least as much or more of a seat of the pants difference than nitrous for me . Made a huge difference at the track too. It pretty much transformed the car. Not just launching better, but the shift extension and getting rid of the dead spot around 30mph.
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Old Jul 25, 2014 | 09:13 PM
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I currently own an m6 and a4 with about all the popular bolt ons on each and a stock a4 car , owned 1 other bolt on a4 car previously.

3600-4000 quality stall with your current bolt ons and you will definitely "get" why people like stalled autos so much.

I don't know how much drag vs. street your car will see and if the street is just playing or need the car to commute etc... but most wish they had gone bigger on stall and all the reputable stall builders offer 1 free re-stall to make sure your happy so maybe go even higher with the stall knowing you can rein it in for free... 4200?
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 03:01 AM
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Yep. U will love a good size stall. My 3800 goes perfect with my ms3 cam. I would do a 3600 minimum size stall. Especially if u plan on camming it.
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 11:42 AM
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Not to thread hijack but I just installed a 3200 yank. what's an ideal launch like this might answer the ops statement about learning to launch with the stall as well.
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by freaky57fast
Not to thread hijack but I just installed a 3200 yank. what's an ideal launch like this might answer the ops statement about learning to launch with the stall as well.
mashing it from idle will "flash" the convertor the most (gets the highest stall out of the convertor) and also transfers weight to the rear more abruptly to help with traction but require sticky tires and a decent working suspension otherwise preloading the car to a set rpm at the tree and flashing it from there is the other way it can be done , usually around1200- 1500 preloaded and mash it from there...
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 12:08 PM
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Anyone who says autos aren't fun don't know jack. Lots of people not in the know think autos are slow, one ride in my car makes believers out of them real quick. Its fun to see the surprise on their face knowing they severely underestimated the car.
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by 01ssreda4
Anyone who says autos aren't fun don't know jack. Lots of people not in the know think autos are slow, one ride in my car makes believers out of them real quick. Its fun to see the surprise on their face knowing they severely underestimated the car.
I know when I first got my car it was a rare sight around town to see. Everyone would tell me how cool it was to see a ws6! then ask if it was a six speed I'd say naw its an auto.... then they would say well at least it looks cool.... people are idiots!
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Old Jul 28, 2014 | 04:20 PM
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i enjoy both hands on the wheel & hang on when i mash the gas pedal. not many people can shift faster than an auto , i beat a viper that missed a shift. (totally missed). get a good billet stall , cooler & shift kit. sfi flexplate, think about a corvette servo. after that the basic suspension mods to put all your power to the ground. now get out there & burn a rubber road to freedom!
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 12:36 AM
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For clarification here's what's done to the car...that I know about. (I bought it from a kids parents. So the exactly work is unknown.)

BMR Strut Tower Brace
BMR adjustable lower Control Arms
BMR adjustable Panhard bar
BMR Subframe connectors
Eibach Pro Kit lowering Springs
C6 ZO6 Rims
Nitto Drag radials.
Eaton 3.73 rears
Kooks Long Tube headers
Kooks Y pipe
Electric Cutout
Magnaflow Catback
SLP air lid
Smooth Bellows
MSD wires



So it def has a good suspension setup. It handles amazingly well.

Now, without pull the tranny and checking, how would I know if this has a stall in it already?
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 06:24 AM
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Watch on tach what it 'flashes' to. My OEM(1800) flashed to 1800,my TCI2800 flashed to 2800,my Yank SS3600 flashes to 3600.
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 06:53 AM
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Being an automatic noob, I don't really know what "flashes" means. Can you shed some light on this?
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 07:59 AM
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Flash means when you stomp the gas from a stop, the engine rpms will flare or free rev up to a certain point before you get the solid hit of power where you take off. With a big converter, leaving from a stop if you mash it, the rpms will jump to the stall speed then hold there while you accelerate. Here, this may help:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/multimedi...uge-shots.html
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 08:45 AM
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If it had a stall and you are unfamiliar with them, I would suspect this thread would be more like "what's wrong with my A4? slipping from a stop?"

At anything over half throttle mine will let the RPMs slip up over 3000rpm. From a dead stop if you mash it, it will jump to 3600 and boil street tires.

Stock stall should be around 1800-2000rpms if you mash it WOT from a stop.
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 02:32 PM
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It's best to video record the 'flashing'. With the OEM 1800,that flash of 1800 at WOT from a stop also occurs at the 1st to 2nd shift and 2nd to 3rd. Recording it eliminates any doubt. I have a video recorder mounted on the cage recording dash rpm,mph,christmas tree lights,and view down the strip. The video of my trannys' forward sprag blowing was interesting.
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Old Jul 29, 2014 | 08:24 PM
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how would you know if it had a stall... well with the gears and bolt ons you mentioned are in place when you stomp on the gas on a 20mph roll if it was stalled it would almost immediately be spinning wildly tripping all over the rev limiter and then again in 2nd gear with 2 black marks behind you for about 500 feet lol

It wouldn't do that stock stall with those mods.
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