[V8] Recent V8 seat time - long post

[Tony and Lillie]

Well, "builder", great job. That thing is fantastic!!

I assume the papyrus car you talk about is an auto. I know for a fact in snow my 3.6 Auto will outdo my 4000Q, the 5000TQ I had, and plenty of other cars. I've never driven a 5-speed (torsen center) in the snow, but have heard several owners on the list have not so positive coments. 

I did forget to comment on the 5-speed in one respect. On the gas in a tight turn on dry pavement, it feels similar to an old school 4X4. What I would call "binding" I guess. Not so with the auto.

I'd definately agree on the urgent reving of the 3.6 -vs- the 4.2. If the cams and head porting make that much difference on the 4.2, well, Dave C, are you listening??

My main complaint of the auto is 0-20, where I do a lot of my driving. Not that a 5-speed is much better when driven "normally". But, abuse the clutch a bit, and it really comes to life! Heck, to 40 I can beat the auto 3.6 with the 4000Q in stock form. I dump the 4000 clutch at 4000RPM, but, well.........

Yea, that headliner.......Would have loved to do it up right, but not enough time. We barely got the window and door on the urq.......

Tony Hoffman

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: QSHIPQ at aol.com 
  To: tonyandlillie1 at earthlink.net ; v8 at audifans.com 
  Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 10:19 AM
  Subject: Re: [V8] Recent V8 seat time - long post


  Tony
  As the builder of the modded 5speed you drove, and an owner/tweeker/driver of many v8's, I will put in my random thoughts on the subject.  The 5spd is nice, and it's well balanced to the big chassis.  Much better IMO, than the later C4 S cars.  In stock form, it's a bit doggy down low, and really gives the driving edge to the slushbox in sport mode.  With head work and those big cams (in the 3.6 or the 4.2) these engine wake up in a big way that really give the edge to the manual.  Hands down, either engine with this work has the edge, and can show a lot of other flagships some tail.  However, that's a pretty expensive set of mods.  Worthy?  I'd say so, especially with the 17in wheels and big reds.  Very much the qshipq...

  Going back to comparing the 3.6 to the 4.2...  I've gone back and forth on that one for a while.  It took me several years to come to the conclusion that the 3.6 with the chip, is my favorite.  IMO/E it lacks a bit of low end torque compared to the 4.2, but it revs faster and smoother to redline than the 4.2...  I suspect the cam profile on the 4.2 is what clips it a bit for emissions, but it doesn't have the rev-me-to-redline urging that I always felt in the 3.6.

  The slushbox in sport mode on either car is so well matched, I really doubt a 5spd could take either in a routine race, since bobble-heading with the 5spd can get you a head clip (btdt).  I've run our 3.6's to redline in sport mode without waking up either the front or rear seat.  That's cool!  And I'll insert my 'torsen boy' issue with the 5speed as well.  I put 4 snows on the autobox, and it has a lot more dynamic stability to it when the center locks up.  Opposingly, I ran one of Ingo's Papyrus v8's (er, PPRS#1 I 'think') at CO Motorsports Park almost 10 years ago now, and with just big reds and 17's and suspension, was able to chase down just about every other quattro there, of any chassis.

  What's first prize at the county fair?  I think it depends on what you are looking to do.  I like the gas mileage out of the 3.6, how it revs, and the kickdown with the modified ECU is really well matched.  I like the *torque* hit out of the 4.2, but it feels too flat at high rpm's for me.  And a big difference in gas mileage if you are going after that torque IMO.  For a DD in Chicago traffic = 4.2...  For a road trip with sport mode ability = 3.6...  For a sleeper 5speed in lieu of some other manual shifter - either a 3.6 or 4.2 5/6spd.  But for occasional  foot to the floor, chase down the rabbit, I thoroughly enjoy the 3.6 with the ecu upgrade.  It appears to be exactly half way between the stock 3.6 and the stock 4.2 with all the goodness I find more inherent in the 3.6.

  And Tony, I like the custom headliner you made for Ingo...  Like a surgeon, very nice!  :)

  My .02

  Scott J
  '91 v8 slushbox 





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