Sorry if this has been covered i did the search and didn't turn up anything so anyway....

I just wanted to know what the stock gears on a M6 and a A4 98-00 LS1 should be? were there optional gears? How can i tell what rear end ratio the car has? I'm going to be buying an LS1 very soon so this is a big factor for me. I really want an M6 but most cars i see are A4's which I would settle for except if they have some grandpa-gears...

 

342 on all 6spds stock

 

2.73 & 3.23 for automatics.
There are websites you can get the RPO codes to I.D. the build list of the car.

 

For A4's:

GU2 - 2.73
GU5 - 3.23

http://63.74.78.200/nolan/rpo_codes1.txt

 

GU6 - 3.42

SteveC

 

Which will only be found on the M6 cars. On the window sticker, the 3.42 gearset is listed as a "Performance Axle"

Oh, and for what it's worth ... the A4 tranny will be much more consistant at the track. And if you firm the shifts (shift kit, programmer, etc) it's a real kick to drive (pun intended) Sometimes I miss my A4 Z28.

 

thx exactly what i was looking for....now another question....does the 2.73 make a big difference in the quarter mile vs the 3.23?

Also How much of an advantage does a (well driven) M6 have over an A4? (Very Big, Big, Medium, Small, no difference). I realize teh A4 will be easier to get off teh line but that doesn't do you much good if the M6 can catch and pass the A4. Anyway thx again

-Conrad

 

as far as the ratio differance, its small on the quarter mile. i noticed a bigger differance on the top end with no speed limiter (and twin turbo helped) 2.73 give me 10-14mph more ( had 3.23, blew my rear, got the 2.73 from a friend) now as far as m6 vs a4. as always the biggest variable is the driver. same driver, good shifting, slight advantage to the m6. if they miss a shift, its all over.

 

3:23's are the way to go . Most 273 cars are kinda slugs off the line compared to a 3:23 car .

 

well driven m6's can beat autos up to a point (case in hand, because m6's have less drivetrain loss)
when it starts gettin to like 10 second and below cars, most (not all) tend to go autos just because it will consistently be faster

 

I find it to be the opposite..
10 sec line is where people start going for manuals.. usually the powerglide and the such since you are talking serious power at this point.. so people at this point dont often stick with an auto since it would have to be super strong to take the abuse..
11 sec and up I see more autos and their consistancy really is good.. I used to have an auto but after breaking 6 of them in 3 years i went for a manual! hehe

 

i see what you're saying
i'm talking about beefed up, strong as a rock autos
but yea, generally, if you're not going to go beef up the auto, i'd go manual too

 

you can beef up the a4 for $450- 600 to handle some serious hp. i learned the hard way and it cost 3x that amount at first. 503 rwhp + stock rear + stock a4= bruised ego, empty wallet, embarrassing tow-truck haul.