With Headers a little out of my fund range right now, Ive decided to maybe go with gears for now. Right now I have the 3:23's. What options do I have and what is the best company to use. I hear GM's gears are the best but Im assuming, the most expensive along with that. Thanks.

 

Motive 3.73

Those are what im gonna buy when im not poor

 

yeah for all around good numbers 3.73's should do ya right. Avoid auburn gears.. I trashed mine when I had my LT1..

 

If you want new gears I agree with knowklew. Motive 3.73's are gonna be your best bet. I also have the 3.23's but I don't want any worse MPG on the highway then I have now. I think the 3.23's are a great gear for our cars if you compliment them with a nice 3500 stall torque converter.

I'm not trying to talk you out of gears but you should at least consider keeping them (or just picking up a set of used 3.42's off one of the numerous M6 guys selling them) and getting a torque converter for the extra zing you want in your acceleration.

Just don't get 4.10's. Too many A4 guys have regretted doing those (not all but most) because they are too much gear on the highway.

Good Luck

 

Definately know what you want, first. If you still want good MPG and not pulilng 2500+ RPMs on the highway, stay with your 3.23s and get a nice stall. Heck, like mentioned already, you can even get away with 3.42s.

Now, as far as 3.73s, they'll really waken your car up. My buddy put a pair in his LT1 and it's a night and day difference. He wants to go with a stall now, but I keep tellin him he won't notice as big of a gain now as he's thinkin.

Me personally, I'm going to keep my 3.23s and get a monster stall, maybe a Vig 3600. I'd like to see someone with 3.73s keep up then

 

Keep the 323s and just get a Stall converter, 323s is a great gear once you have a converter in your car. Your gas milage will not change either.

 

Don't go above 3.42s with an auto unless you drive on DRs regularly.Traction will be an issue with 3.73s or 4.10s.You can find a set of used 3.42 for $50 easy.

 

Going to 342s would be a waste from 323s no gain, maybe if you go 373s you may gain 1 to 1 1/2 tenths in the 1/4 mile. dont expect a huge gain from a gear swap its a big misconception. the right torque converter and 323s could net you 7 tenths in the 1/4 mile.


If you are looking for the best money spent to make your car faster and SOTP feeling and all out fun factor, The super streetfighter converter by TCI would compliment your car great. may cost you just about the same as a gear swap.

 

I have had 3.73's in my 2001 A4 for over a year now, and with the stock TC, there will be no traction problems. I do alot of freeway driving, and have only lost 20 miles PER TANK.

Use this sight, and plug in the numbers, it will help you out alot:

http://www.f-body.org/gears/

Go for the gears.

SteveC

 

I think this is so funny headers are out of your fund range but you can spend 190 for gears plus possible an install kit and you really should get gears installed by a professional so your looking at like 500-600 all together but headers are too expensive? Changing from 3.23's to something higher in an auto at this point is nearly pointless and will gain you little if any. You dont have a cam that you need the motor to spin high for so just keep the gears...get either a TC or pacesetter LT's either can be done by anyone with some mechanical knowledge and both will net you more than gears will at this point...with traction a TC can net you 6 tenths or more in the 1/4 mile and headers are proven to gain 20-30 hp on otherwise unmodded cars...I know TSP has a sale on tci converters this month for like $480 and headers from there are around the same...dont get gears...yet.

lata
Bill

 

GM 3.73's man. They hold up good

 

I know I'm not one of the LS1 guys but don't let someone talk you out of gettin' a nice set of gears. GM Motive 3.73's and a 2800-3000 TC would be your best bet. LS1 cars are known for not being as torquey as LT1's. But gears and a TC will definitely solve that problem. A TC is hands down the best bolt on mod for an A4. 3.73's will respond better to a nice stall as compared to a set of 3.23-42's. I wouldn't worry about gas mileage either. I only lost about 20 miles to a tank going from 2.73's to 3.73's. I shaved 7 tenths off my 1/4 time with a B&M 2400 and Strange 3.73's. Not bad for a small converter. I do agree with some of the posts prior to mine about buying a TC first. Just don't forget about the gears. The combination of the two will not disappoint you. Good luck.

 

if you go for a TC at least go with a 3500 stall...lt1's are different as their tq band is a bit lower...when i had my fairly stock car dynoed it made peak tq at 4000rpms and flatlined till like 4800 so on a stock car id say a 4000 stall is ideal but some say it will be hard to get used to on a daily driven car...for a converter and install its gonna run around 700 but youd gain 6-8 tenths compared to if you did gears its like 500 but you might gain a tenth.

lata
Bill

 

I wouldnt mess w/ the 323's..there good, be patient and save for the headers

 

If you like your freeway fun Then I'd say get 3.42:1, because any higher and you won't have much uummpphh on the freeway. But if it is more for the track, then go with 3.73:1