"Pushing" the powerband down
 

Recently i have been looking for a converter around 3800-
but for many reasons, i dont want a converter than big or to shift at 68-6900rpms. I would much rater shift at 6500 and get a 3300 stall or so.

I am thinking of getting 1.5RR exhuast or 1.7rr for the intake.
I am wondering if the 1.5rr will just suffocate the car earlier or actualy push the poweband down some. Will the 1.7rr give me more bottom end grunt or just keep it pulling up top?

I would hate to waste 400 useable RPMS :)- but even worse-
shifting early in a high powerband would shift me below my powerband in the next gear (rpms too low)
If i had 6speed gearing, it would be as much of an issue, but with the A4 and the big lapse in the 1-2 gears-
this is creating a potential problem.

shifting at 6500 in 1st will put me at roughly 3500rpms in 2nd-
a bit too low for my liking.

Any suggestions to get me some more bottom end grunt and push that band down a bit. I dont mind short shifting a little bit- but 500rpms is a waste :metal:

(got juice? :p)