p0rtmonkey

I'm wondering if upgrading from my 3.15's to a 3.42 in my car would be a wise choice. I just got the Vigilante 3200 torque converter and the transgo shift kit and I was wondering if it would be worth the money to buy a 3.42? Can anyone tell a difference in these setups?

gary brown

Patrick - I originally went from the stock 3.15's to 3.42's. Combined with a very modest ProTorque 2400 converter, this knocked off .3-.4 tenths on my e.t.

If I had to do it over again, I would have gone right to my current setup: 3.73's and ProThruster 4200 from YANK. This would have saved me a considerable amount of money.

Having said that, the upgrade to 3.42's should be good for about one and a half tenths at the track. Nothing to sneeze at and VERY streetable combination with the 3200 stall you currently have. But, the 3.73's and 4200 are also very streetable. Just takes the right tuner to make it all work.

You might also want to consider getting a tranny cooler as well. It's very cheap insurance - fifty bucks plus labor.

Let us know what you decide and how it works!

And welcome to Modaholics Anonymous! :lol:

p0rtmonkey

Gary

Thanks for the quick reply :)

I'm thinking about doing the gear upgrade. Isn't a 3.73 running about 2000 bucks right now? I could probably find a slightly used 3.42 on the for sale section for approx 600 - 700 bucks. I haven't installed the TC / shift kit yet. I've been debating if I should go ahead and buy the gear and get them installed at the same time and save some cash, or just settle with the 3.15 and the TC/ shift kit and buy a vararam or maybe some long tube headers.

I'm treading on mod money right now for my Modaholics Anonymous club :lol: The big mods will have to wait until I finish college :D :D :D
I'm doing pretty good though.... every penny I make right now is going into my car!! NOW I CALL THAT COMMITMENT! :D :D :D :D :D
My parents keep saying the word 'saving'.... What's that mean?!?!? :lol: :lol:




[Modified by p0rtmonkey, 7:04 AM 10/13/2002]

Mitch C

Without question install the converter and gears together and save on labor. I currently have the same setup that Gary had, a PT2400 and 3.42s, and I am switching to an ST3500 and 3.73s. If you want to go with 3.73s contact forum member "Crashed 94" he had a few 3.73 ring and pinion sets for sale. You can get the ring and pinion installed in your current 3.15 carrier and save some money. However the Vig. 3200 and 3.42s would also be a terrific combo IMHO.

98 A4
Powerloaded
Donaldson Blackwing
PT2400
3.42 Gears





[Modified by Mitch C, 6:02 AM 10/13/2002]

Untouchable00

Oh, man you are gonna love it. Without a doubt do it. I have never looked back since. I would say, install the gears and TC first and then the TransGo afterward. I say this for two reasons. 1) To make sure the gears and TC are funtcioning properly (some places will say that it was the TransGo that messed everything up) and 2) To enjoy the mods one by one and to realize the difference the TransGo makes. That way you can report back to us here and more Vette guys will go with the TransGo.

Good luck.

Dave00C5

Just do it and enjoy! I can't wait to get mine back with the 3.42's and magnuson. :cheers:

2000^C5

Every little bit helps. :cheers:

SvenOdin

Get the gears. The vast majority on the forum with A4 swear by the 3.42 and SY3500 combo.

I'm picking up my 3.42 gears today from a fellow forum member who recently upgraded to the 3.73.

Like you, my mod money is a little tight right now, so I'll compromise with the 3.42 gears instead of the 3.73. The 3.73 costs almost $2k and I'm picking up the 3.42 with 9k miles for under $500. With the difference in cost, I'll be able to do the FLP headers :D

:cheers:

Mean Green

I originally snagged a set of 3.42 gears and a SY3500.....have since sold the converter, looking for a bigger one and will probably get a set of 3.73s as well :D........good advice :D

p0rtmonkey

Thanks guys for all your help. I'll probably end up waiting and getting the 3.42 to go along with the Vig 3200. I think that might be a pretty good setup.

Untouchable00: I'll probably get that done. I'm not too familiar with the shift kit. I bought the shift kit and Vig 3200 new from a guy on the forum. He was selling them together. To install the shift kit would they have to drop the transmission out like they do with the gears and torque converter? I'm probably going to do them all together so I can save on labor cost. If getting the transgo installed doesn't involve that much work, i'll do the TC / gear... then wait a week and put the shift kit in to see what a difference it makes :cheers:

Would I need to buy a hypertech to reprogram my computer for the new gear? I think they might make one for a 2001 but i'm not sure, i'll have to look into it.


[Modified by p0rtmonkey, 7:23 PM 10/13/2002]

MY1Fast99C5

My car goes in the shop tomorrow to do a similar mod. I went with a 2800 and the 3.42's. I would liked to have gone bigger on the stall but was talked out of it.I was told that the stall will flash to 3k when nailed off the line.

Kinda funny I wanted to go bigger on my valves for my heads but was talked out of it and the car runs so good. Dont let the low rwhp numbers fool you I have good torque down low and the hp never drops off up top.

And of course the track time will be demolished here real soon. :yesnod:

NJVetteGuy

You should be really happy with this mod....My best ET with 2.73s and a -1500 DA was 12.99, now with just 3.42s and a PT2400 I went 12.51 @ 109 with a +2900 DA. I dropped almost 3 tenths in my 60-foot alone :yesnod: :cheers:

p0rtmonkey

I can't wait to get everything installed. I have been reading and I need to buy a hypertech or ls1edit or that new Diablo Programmer. I'm really considering buying the 3.42s for the car. Also i've been reading about the shift kit into detail and everyone is saying torque management needs to be disabled for my car to run well.

I'm wanting to get the hypertech for my car but i'm not sure if they make one for a 2001. I've been looking all over and can't find one. I guess this leaves me with ls1 edit.

NJVetteGuy

I would say definitely go with the 3.42s. There is no Hypertech for '01 yet, but a local tuner should be able to get you reprogrammed under $200 (it's less than that up here but we have a few competing tuners). I wouldn't buy LS1Edit just for a gear swap, unless you have more mods planned in the future :cheers:

p0rtmonkey

Hopefully I plan to have some more mods here in the near/not so distant future :D I'm new to Modoholics Ananymous!!!! :lol:

I'd like to get a reprogram, but no local tuners :( so i'm thinking i should just buy something that will be worthwhile down the road. :cheers:

NJVetteGuy

Then pick up edit, maybe YOU will be the new local tuner :yesnod: :cheers:

p0rtmonkey

haha, i see a new business venture... now where is my book corvette 101 :lol: :lol: