I have a 1999 formula with 323 gears and A4. I was thrilled with this car the first month but now after a lot of research I realize I have the weakest possible ls1 made. I have the auto HP loss (guessing my dyno stock to be 280ish instead of 300ish), ls1 intake, dead spots in trans (if I gun it between 32 and 45 I'd swear I was in my old V6). So bottom line is I'm not happy and want more.

That brings me to me dilema. I have owned a stick once before and the fun factor of a M6 is very appealing to me. I don't do a lot of highway and I live and work in the burbs (no stop and go traffic jams foe this guy). I have a few questions to help educate me in my decision if I may ask.

1). I am considering the M6 swap. Basically I will post on message boards and even place a few newspaper adds if needed looking for a m6 guy that wants my auto and then we swap all parts. I would drive as far as 8 hours away which will open the market up to anyone in indiana, wisconson, iowa, missouri, ect. (I am just south of chicago). I know this has been done before so my question is if me and M6 guy drive to same mechanic can he swap us even if his car is a z28 or SS? I know you have to swap harnesses and such but I was not sure if there was any reason I would need it to be another pontiac or if a chevy will work also.

Only other question on the M6 swap idea is about gears. I have 323 and no plans to change them. I know the M6 standard is 342. Can I run a T56 on my gears or do we need rear ends swapped too?

2). I may ditch the M6 idea and go the other route and get a torque converter. I plan to make it to the track once a month for fun and 1/4 mile times. So the auto may suit me well with a TC. I was thinking of a 3500 stall with 2.5 str for some street drivability but yet a little track punch. My question here is if I put in a 3500/2.5 TC with trans cooler & shift kit will I be ok on my 10 bolt (with ta cover) and nitto DR's?

Thanks in advance for any info and feel free to post which way you would go givin my car and lack of heavy/hwy driving. BTW this is a daily driver and I have no plans to ever do cam/heads and no N20 planned either.

Thanks

 

Get the converter. I had an M6 and got tired of losing to A4's with big converters and less horsepower. The M6 sucks for drag racing. It is just too inconsistent.
Id go with a Yank 3200-3600. And yes on Nitto's your rearend should live a happy life. Add the Transgo shift kit, a TA rear cover, and have fun.

 

I agree with Fast SS. Keep the A4 and get the stall. Make sure you go with the cooler like you mentioned. I put my 3000 Midwest stall in and drove around for a couple of weeks. Doing ATAP logging. I then put in a small Hayden cooler and have seen about a 20* drop in tranny temps. Weather has even been warmer around here. It should add some life to my tranny.
The stall will wake the car up in that dead area as well.
Good luck in your decission.

 

Keep the A4 for sure and get a converter. I was in the same boat about 3 months ago.

I was about to do the swap but then I really gave it it some thought. Sure the m6 is fun, but you will have to replace the rearend ($2500), get different gears, and may run into problems with the weak T56 (thinking rebuild).

For a lot less, money, you can get a converter, and have a faster and more consistent car. It will also get rid of the deadspots in an a4.

I'm happy I went with a converter but 2.5 STR is a bit too much. I went with 2.5 and it's too much. I can't get traction (especially with f1). I can roast the tires doing 20mph if I punch it. Since you stated you had a low HP f-body, get a converter with a soft launch (low STR) that will be more effiecient top end to make use of your HP.

Good luck

 

Thanks for the input guys. So you think 2.5 str is too much? I was thinking that high to help keep the car "tighter" for daily driving. So what do you think will work better 2.0?

Thanks,

 

I would go with a Yank 3600-I have an a4 and this converter works very well-and yes it helps in dead areas you wont have any!!

 

I say swap! I did the exact same thing around Christmas and I have never been happier. Both of our cars were 2000s and all the work was performed by Nitro Dave's w/ both cars side by side. Sure the 10 bolt has to go, but rebuiding a T56 is childs play compared to rebuilding a 4l60 or paying $2500 for a built 4l60. There's nothing more fun than jamming gears!
-Travis

 

I'm swapping for the launch of a converted A4. If you swap, it requires removing the entire harness, pedal assy (pull steering column), drill big hole in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder, probably a new clutch. It's a serious job, so don't make this switch unless you are REALLY serious about it.

I'd go with the stall...

SC-

 

I was thinking about switching to a M6 but i decided to stay a A4 and a big stall, but if you chose to do a M6, the best way is to find the same car that wants to do the oppisite.

Formula 1 You said you got it done at Nitro Daves. were are you from?

 

I gotta agree w/ FastSS on this one totally!! I have an M6 and i'm just flat out sick of killin clutches and tranny's and all the hydraulics issues! That's why I got a turbo 400 w/ big stall goin in in about a week or two! Definately get the converter!

 

I'd do the converter and a 19,000 GVW B&M 'cooler.

A good sized converter will make the car come alive throughout the power band.

 

Evo98z
Waco,Tx