Martingale00

Hey guys, I'm new to LS1's and I'm picking up a '00 Formula A4 on monday so help me with some newbie questions here, please. The guy doesn't know if the car is a 2.73 or 3.23 car, but since it has cloth seats and base wheels I will assume it's a 2.73 car until I get it. If I was to swap in 3.23's or 3.42's what would the total cost be including the gears, labor, speedo correction, fluds...basically every single thing?? Also, would 3.42's be too much for a daily driver? Thanks for your help guys.

zdawg28

iTrader: (2)

Like you said, base formula you're going to have 2 73's, I think you would like the 3.42's for street purpose. Don't know how much a complete install would be im kinda curious myself, i plan on running 4.10's but i have a M6.

Mean Machine

i have a 2000 ws6 m6, and got my gears installed today.i got the superior/gm 4.10's plus install kit from tbyrne for about $275. 2 quarts of synthetic gear oil and posi additive = $21. install was very expensive. i paid $350, which was about $75 more than most, but the place does about 4-5 gear installs a week, plus they guaranteed their work. i already had a used hpp3 that i bought for $230 to take care of the speedo. i know i could have got it done for less, but i'm lazy and wanted it done soon. so far the only whine is from my wallet, i'm gonna take it easy for several hundred miles before i wail on it.

<small>[ November 13, 2002, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: MEAN MACHINE ]</small>

Martingale00

Okay, christ, so it'll be a little under $1k for a gear swap? That's what I thought due to the $300 or so for the speedo correction. Do all Formulas have 2.73's? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> I really wanted a TA with 3.23's, but this seemed like a great deal...what do you guys think: '00 Formula with 27k miles. It has an extended 60k warranty. When I called the guy he said it had always been garage kept and he had papers from when he changed the oil every 2k miles!! He said he wants to keep the car but he needs a new truck for work or something. He wants $16k, plus it will cost me a plane ticket and about 700 miles worth of gas driving it back home. I thought that was a great deal considering the condition I think this car is in. Anyhow, that also leads me to this question: if I did gears in a car would a dealer/shop catch them and void the warranty? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

jaywoo

The gear package I bought from Thunder Racing was $534.90 with everything. Strange 3.73s. I paid a local shop another $250.00 for the install, so that's a total of $784.90. Not too bad, I guess.

Martingale00

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jaywoo:
<strong>The gear package I bought from Thunder Racing was $534.90 with everything. Strange 3.73s. I paid a local shop another $250.00 for the install, so that's a total of $784.90. Not too bad, I guess.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What did you do about the speedo correction? Did the $534 have something to cover that?

Cole

I bought the AMS gear swap package which includes everything except speedometer correction for 239.00 (gears, installation kit, fluids, etc)

99.00 for a T/A girdle + stud kit

30.00 for a new bearing that had to be cut off when they installed the new gears (?wTF!!?)

140.00 in labor for installation at the local transmission/drivetrain specialists

500.00 out the door - 100 of which I didn't really need (the girdle) but wanted for peace of mind...

AMS gear swap package is a great deal, and it should never cost more than 200.00 in labor (3-4 hour job if the guy has one arm and has a sandwich in his hand...)

Shop around, call the local shops and definitely buy your parts from a sponser ---------->>>>>

Good luck - gear swaps make an amazing difference, I feel like I gained 40 hp from 0 to 100mph..

Best $$$ to difference mod I have done so far by far!

Jack

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Martingale00

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by NO-Ten83:
<strong>I bought the AMS gear swap package which includes everything except speedometer correction for 239.00 (gears, installation kit, fluids, etc)

99.00 for a T/A girdle + stud kit

30.00 for a new bearing that had to be cut off when they installed the new gears (?wTF!!?)

140.00 in labor for installation at the local transmission/drivetrain specialists

500.00 out the door - 100 of which I didn't really need (the girdle) but wanted for peace of mind...

AMS gear swap package is a great deal, and it should never cost more than 200.00 in labor (3-4 hour job if the guy has one arm and has a sandwich in his hand...)

Shop around, call the local shops and definitely buy your parts from a sponser ---------->>>>>

Good luck - gear swaps make an amazing difference, I feel like I gained 40 hp from 0 to 100mph..

Best $$$ to difference mod I have done so far by far!

Jack

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sweet man, what gears did you go with and was it an A4 car? What about warranty issues? Thanks..

ZR2877

Call Speed Inc------------------------> one of the sponsors they have a reasonably priced speedo calibrator.

XFiveLiter

Well, since no one said it yet, I will. Get a torque converter first. You will see better gains at the track than a gear swap. And you can keep your excellent highway gas milage.

I know 2.73s are not a "performance gear", but you can change them when you get really serious.

If I had to do it over again I would get a complete 3.42 rearend from an M6. My richmond 3.73s whine like crazy after the first trip to the track using ET Streets (they were quiet after install).

TomQ

i paid 240 for labor and thier fluid, i had all my parts

AZ28driver

Two words..Call Jason 410-551-9172 at F-Body Central. Click on this link for my experience with him. https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...;f=12;t=000698

jaywoo

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Martingale00:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jaywoo:
<strong>The gear package I bought from Thunder Racing was $534.90 with everything. Strange 3.73s. I paid a local shop another $250.00 for the install, so that's a total of $784.90. Not too bad, I guess.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What did you do about the speedo correction? Did the $534 have something to cover that?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have LS-1 Edit, nothing more then a little adjustment with that.

SteveC

I just had my gears changed in my 2001 Z28 A4 from 3.23 to 3.73 in late September, and just completed the 500 mile break in.

I purchased the gears from the pro shop that installed them, had them cryogenically treated, had a race grade pinion flange with new pinion seal (did not need carrier bearings car has only 6,000 total miles)with installation labor,and installing the SLP speedo recalibrater, the cost was $695.

I would highly recommend that you purchase the gears from the shop that will install them, that way if there is exsessive whine, the burden is on them to correct it. If you supply your own gears, and they whine, most likely the burden will be on you.

JMHO

SteveC <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ November 16, 2002, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: SteveC ]</small>

Z06PSI

iTrader: (33)

Bought new gears 150.00 4.10's
New posi 99.95 SLP
Install Kit 45.00
Girdle Kit 125.00 TA


Installation 175.00

Total around 600.00

zdawg28

iTrader: (2)

anyone know how much MTI would charge for a clutch&gears to get installed plus the price for part, and about how long will they have the car in the shop?

sited12

Yeah its not really mentioned in here that if you have 2.73 gears then you need a new carrier for it. So that is why the cost is 800 for the whole thing and less for others. I was quoted just under 800 bucks from a guy i know for 4.56s installed with the best of everything. Richmond gears. Best carrier we could find and new everything.

PewterEllis1

Dude, I don't want to insult your intelligence, but you are new to LS1's. So. I'm telling you, a high stall torque converter is a 100x better mod than gears. Ask anyone. A converter alone can easily drop 1/2 second on the track at the least. You may not even want gears afterwards. Shop around. I bought my Vig 3200 used for $500. Install was $300. For $800 I have a mid 12 second car.

SteveC

PewterEllis1;

That's it? just get a higher stall converter, and "Dude Surfs Up?", what about the rest of the story?

1. Did you install an aftermarket transmission cooler? If not, how do you compensate for increased transmission temperature?

2. Did you install a "Trans-Go" or other aftermarket transmission valve body, or kit, to compensate for the increased line pressure to the transmission?

KOWABONGA DUDE, tell it straight, or don't tell it at all.

SteveC <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ November 17, 2002, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: SteveC ]</small>

Formula 1

iTrader: (5)

Trans Am's and Formula's are the same when you are talking about gear sizes. They both come with either 273's or 323's. I have a 2000 Formula also and it had 323's with Z rated Goodyear GSC's when I bought it. I would call the guy up and ask him to look on the inside of the drivers side door and the factory sticker will tell you the size tire and speed rating that it came with from the factory. If it says 245/50/16 Z rated you have a 323 rear end. Also, have him look at the shifter does it say 1,2,3,D (323's) OR 2,3,D (273's)I changed my gears from 323's to 373's a month ago,added ET streets, and only changed my ET by .2 (13.65/13.49). I added a 3200 stall and ran last night and shaved my ET another .7 (13.49/12.73). In my opinion the stall gives you more bang for your buck, but it takes all those little things to make a big difference!