automatics (blech)

[Maciej]

Ok, so I know the smartest thing to do would be to get a standard instead of racing my A4 Z28, but it's not the most financially suitable idea. So I'm stuck with the A4.
My question is this: how does an aftermarket stall converter affect a car, from a performance perspective, in Solo 1 and 2? The car has (will have) minimal power mods for this summer, just exhaust and intake stuff. The car isn't an all out race effort but rather my daily (and only) transportation, so keep that in mind. Pros and cons for road race/solo 1?

Thanks in advance

Maciej

PS - test ;)

[Shaman]

I dunno. Eric J. schooled my chunky butt a couple of times this year in his auto Corvette. :)

Or is that :(

heh

[Dave Barker]

Actually Steve it was Timo who had the automatic . Bruce Pratte did run well in a '98 (?) LS1 Camaro with an A4 tranny .

[Shaman]

I thought Eric's was the auto. Yeah, it was... remember, it was spilling oil, etc?

[tigeraid]

Automatics aren't all that bad, heheh... what I do suggest is to leave your stock converter. Raising your stall speed is purely for launching reasons - while higher stall torque converters DO affect how you rev under speed, and in some cases even corner exit revs, IMO they're really not worth the trouble and in many cases, can even HURT corner exit speeds.

I'm goin road racing with an automatic too, for the simple reason that I can't afford the time/money to retrofit clutch, flywheel, clutch linkage, crossmember and driveshaft into my '72... so instead, I just installed a full manual/automatic valvebody in my Turbo 350, so now I have full control of up and down shifts, sequentially. I had a 3300 stall (previous owners drag raced the piss out of this car), but I'm swapping a stock 2000 stall back in it, since I could care less about standing start performance.

So ya, I say save the money, and worry about a shift kit and a better torque arm, as far as road racing drivetrain ;).

[Shaman]

Good advice. Particularly the torque arm. A good torque arm replacement is a must for f-body road racing, IMHO. Especially one that is adjustable.

Not sure if this would throw Matches into SS class, with Big Dog Barker, Battlin' Barry Searle and Mighty Bill Mason.

[Maciej]

Ok, thanks for the advice guys, I thought I'd read something to that effect a while ago. I guess I can save the money and spend it elsewhere. I already have a torque arm, just have to adjust the thing at the track some time.
Shaman, by the time the weather gets better I'm hoping to have almost the whole suspension (save the front control arms) worked out and installed. I was looking at the ARE k-member but two things are making me worry: that it's called a "drag race k-member" (will it stand up to cornering?) and the price ;) Even then it's really tempting since Nick said they'd work something out if I decide to install headers at the same time. I think I might end up in ASP at this rate ;)

Thanks again

Maciej

[Shaman]

I'm not sure that's a cornering piece. But I'll be chatting with him shortly and will find out.

And you're welcome in ASP. :)