I had a th350 with 3.73s it was not bad on the highway. 3000-3300 highway speeds

 

Dont I need a conversion plate for the trans to mount up to the block?>

 

Nope. TH350 and TH400 bolt right up.

I have 2.73s in the 10 bolt I threw in the car after I broke my 3.73 geared 10 bolt. I hate them. They suck. I am used to the 3.73s and the 2.73s just don't get the car moving the way the 3.73s did.

Its MUCH better for highway cruising but stoplight to stoplight just aint the same.
My new 12 bolt has 4.10s and with a 28 inch tire should act just like my 3.73 setup did.

If you have LOTS of horsepower then the a 2.73 or 3.08 would be great.
In my opinion you will have more fun in a 350 horsepower car with a steeper gear.

 

true because generally anybody running enough horsepower to need a 350 or 400 is gonna have enough power to pull through the gears. however, im sure there is some performance loss

 

Yeah what I was reading were higher horsepower cars. I kinda didn't realize the original poster has a somewhat stock setup.

 

If you're gonna go out and do a A3 swap, then the car shouldn't be a DD anyways... otherwise you're either a) very rich for gas $$ or b) gonna be broke fast. Just run a big gear and A3 if it's a weekend or track only car. Get a built A4 4L60E or 4L80E if you're worried about the gas mileage in a street car.
Getting an A3 and having concerns about gas mileage is like eating three Big Mac's every day for lunch and having weight concerns.

 

I dont care about gas, I care about highway rpm speeds etc

 

yea thats what i would worry about. i see it as if you double operating rpms, you cut engine life in half. you also put more where on the tranny, alt, and anything else turning with the motor. but i dont see you having much trouble. many guys run 410's or 456's with a3 and have for years, so dont worry to much

 

Thanks Lt1Falcon, nice car also.....


My freind just pulled out his good 3.42 rear end, ill prob just swap him then...

 

thanks man, most people on here dont give me the light of day cus i have a ford, even tho it is nicer than half the cars on here (not trying brag)

i cant help i got the body for free

 

whoa whoa whoa, first off there is nothing wrong with replacing a ford motor for a chevy motor, ford shouldve done it from the factory, second it is a very nice car

 

I almost did a falcon........when I was 16 me and my dad found a mint one badass cars

 

There ya go, that ought to work out good.

 

lol thanks guys


maybe i have more support than i thought

 

I get the local trans builder to get me a Th350 with 9" tailshaft put a 2.75 1st gear in it and I pick it up for $330, cheap huh? have not busted one yet and he has alot of quick cars running them, dont ask me how they are that cheap, I just go get them.

Then with the 9" tailshaft you can run the stock DS. you will need an A4 X-member and modify it slightly, just adding some material on it so the mount is in the right place.
Another consideration you have to think about is the Torq Arm, I get aftermarket ones mounted to the chassis and you do not need to worry about putting it on the trans but if you are set on using a stock or stock style TA then buy the B&M Changeover kit listed for the 3rd gens ($100ish). it comes with everything you need plus the part to make the A4 Xmember work.
Then get a good TC. after that decide how you are going to get the speedo hooked up. some options are to use dakota digital parts or run it off the OBDII ABS side.

You will also want to pick up a Madman dipstick tube, the lokar is too low/close to the headers to be fun.
As for rear gear it depends on what you want to use the car for.

Dont forget the new shifter needed and wiring that is easy.

 

The trans im buying is a short tail?

 

The 9" tail is the long one ain't it?

 

The only way to know what tailshaft you have is to go measure it or to ask the person you are getting it from how long the shaft is.

 

its the sort one

 

You need a 9".