I am at a stand still...I want more performance out of my 02 Z28. I can't seem to get anything better than a 13.5 1/4 mile on street tires(Dayton Zr's and my old GSC's)and hope for 12's some day lol... I have a A4 and 2:73 gears. I called today 3 shops in area, 1 a GM mainly performance shop and 2 other transmission shops. Everyone said go with gears 3:42 or better and a TC is not a good idea for a daily driver. Any opinions on this? I want the street manners. but I also like to do the Car Club ET drags about 6 times a year. I don't want to use drag radials and blow my rear. Also, if I do upgrade my gears to 3:73's (I assume I have a series 2 carrier) should I upgrade anything else to make it stronger at the same time.

 

I think since you have an auto your rear will be ok. You could get a TA Girdle though with the stud kit. Because of the 2.73's I would change your gears first. Then get a TC because they make a huge difference in 1/4 mile times. Ask around I have heard many people say that the TC's they run have very good street manners.

 

I'd go with gears, then the TC as suggested above. When I did mine, I did them in reverse order and didn't much care for the higher stall with the 2.73's - and I have a very mild stall!

I barely notice the 2400 and my car is strictly a daily driver, I've never been to the track. I'm considering a 9.5" 2800 to 3000 stall now.

By the way, I got the Strange 3.73 gears made for 2 series carriers. I've read that the solid pinion spacer is the way to go when selecting the install kit to go with the gears.

 

First and foremost get a torque converter. They are the best mod A4's can do hands down. You'll lose a good half a second off your 1/4 mile time and your dead spots in your tranny. For a 2002 you'll want at least a 3000 stall but I recommend 3500. Get this first but you have to have a tranny cooler. Shift kit is also a very wise purchase. Here is what I would get.

TCI SSF3500 (you could step it down to a 3000 but odds are you'll regret it later)
19k-24K tranny cooler
TransGo shift kit
3.42 gears
Tune to delete TM and adjust speedo

That right there with slicks will still be fine on your 10 bolt, be plenty streetable, lose only a few mpg but nothing major and I'm guessing will bring your 13.5 down to a 12.5 give or take.

Good Luck

 

i think gears are a better start for the 1/4 mile upgrade.you have an aoutomatic tranny and those are very forgiving on your rearend.if your gonna go gears at least go 3.73.s.i got 4.10's with dr's by nitto and that through me in the 12's spot in the 1/4 and i got almost no engine mods.there has not been no problems with my rear end and its made a lot of passes.ive asked if my rear end would hold before and everyone said "no way especially with dr's" well goes to show you with my experience the rear end does hold true and true.

 

Well as a counter point I went with 3.42 gears and a good converter with a stock motor/lid and loudmouth and run low 12s.

 

I would go with the gears first. I can speak from expirance on the change from 2.73 to 3.73...


Jason