Okay well i just bought a 1996 a4 z28, it is very very very stock. As in the stock air filter to the stock tips. Was wondering where should i start, i have a good 2000 to spend. can reach up to 3000 if its well spent. thanks -danny

 

get it dynod first.. .then take it from there.

 

Good tune up, cold air intake, cat-back, headers, gears, and a good [ecm] tune. That's my opinion

 

cai - $200
headers - $500-700
catback - $300-500
www.madz28.com ecm tune - $200
torque converter - $500??
lower control arms - $100
misc small stuff - $100

that's $1900-2300 give or take depending on what you buy. this is assuming you install stuff yourself.

rwhp should be around 290-300 and the track times should be solid mid to low 13s with traction.

now depending on what it comes with, tires will make a big difference. if the tires are good you can hold off...otherwise...get those.

also it could come with crappy 2.73 gears, upgrading to 3.42s or 3.73s will really wake the car up especially with the converter.

 

Good list.

I wouldn't waste the money on dynoing it unless you are really curious as to what it makes now.

 

It would be nice to know where the car is at before you start... $65-70 bucks....

 

how can i tell what stock gears i t has?

 

Stall, headers, nitrous

 

First, you need to define what your final goals for the car are going to be. For example... are you going to stick with the basic bolt-on's and stop there, down the road do plan on making it a street/strip terror or auto-cross G-machine. Final rwhp goals (as in a few years from now, not this year) 350rwhp 400rwhp 500rwhp 600+???

When you get the answers to above questions, then you can make some smart choices as to what you need to buy on the first round of mods. Other wise you may end up (like myself) pouring money into parts that will need to be replaced down the road in order to meet your final goals. For example... It's a total waste to buy Shorty Headers this year, only to replace them next year to support a higher horsepower.

Unless you have money to burn, you need to buy the right parts the first time around.

My absolutely worthless opinion...

 

I would recommend doing maintenance first before getting into the mods.
Cooling system flush and refill.
Fluid change and new filter in the trans.
Mobil 1 75w90 gear oil in the rear end and limited slip additive from the dealer.
New fuel filter.
Inspect all belts and hoses, intake ducting, brakes, etc.

Then do the free mods.
Next get a CAI you can buy a used one for cheap. Then go for a cutout!! I would also recommend getting a stall makes a whole lot of a difference. Then headers, y pipe and a tune. If you have 2.73 gears I would swap gears to a 3.42 or 3.73 gear, and add a new diff cover. Finally you can get into valvetrain mods like 1.6 Roller Rockers and a cam. O also don't forget to add a tranny cooler in there, might end up saving you some good cash. I didnt add a cooler till it was too late and busted my tranny.