Internal mods or rear end & gears?

[Will]

Ok heres the deal... i have complete exhaust and intake and ignition. I have 3.08 rear end so my question is should i get lsd and 3.42 or get a cam and heads next. I know i should most likely get the rear end setup but my last motor slung a rod at 4000 rpm with 68,000 miles on it so i am kinda scared to get on it alot so thats why i thought i might beef up the inside first. What should i do?

[RallyRed 98]

gears.

if you want to "beef up the inside" that would mean going to forged internals... and there's no guarantee that motor wouldn't grenade as well. give the L36 a chance!

[BLLDOGG]

get the rear end worked up. you have to support future mods

[saved1]

Continue with the motor, get the power first, then the best way to use it.

[98Camaro3.8]

Do the rear end first.

Heads and Cam aren't going to "beef up" the engine at all. That would involve a new bottom end. If anything, a new cam would cause the valvetrain to wear out faster than stock.

[saved1]

I would still put my money in the motor. How times have you ever heard of a rear end blowing up?LOL

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by saved1:
I would still put my money in the motor. How times have you ever heard of a rear end blowing up?LOL

He's not getting gears and LSD to keep it from blowing up. Gears will give much better acceleration, and LSD will give him traction.

[BLLDOGG]

i dont care how powerful your motor is. if you cant get it to the ground. you dont have ****

[Will]

thanks for the input guys i think i will go with gears and lsd. I use my car alot on the highway and i currently have the 3.08 ad get about 32 as a good highway average. How much will the gears affect my highway gas mileage?

[BLLDOGG]

not that much. i have 3:42 and i get around that.

[mjparme]

I went from 3.08 to 3.42's and I saw no difference in my highway mileage. If there is any it wouldn't be anymore than 1 mpg.

I would suggest going gears/lsd first as well. Power does you no good unless you can put it to the ground.

If you have an automatic make sure you factor in the price of PCM reprogramming for shift points and speedo. After my 3.08->3.42 my 99 A4 was HORRIBLY SLOW until I got reprogrammed for the new gears (I went the Wester's route).

[saved1]

That is what traction bars and a posi rear end are for, its' no big deal to keep on the ground. But that is just my priority. I guess I just like hp and the ability to increase it [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Will]

Ok this is gonna be my last comment. My car is a 96 3.8 a4. When at wide open throttle it shifts from 1st to 2nd at about 5900 rpm give or take 100. Is this about normal?