Originally Posted by Alberto

I went up to Function Tuned today to swap top the 3.3 FD. Let me start by saying thanks Dave and Juan it took about 1.5 hours to do it, very straight forward. Drop the rear section of the APS TD exhaust, loosen the axle bolts on both sides and its 3 bolts that hold the pumpkin up.

I was worried with the slight reduction (about 6%) in TQ multiplication my car would feel "slow"...I know 500+whp cant feel slow but Ive read mixed reviews from forum members, some like it, others feel like the car struggles some up top. Last thing I wanted was for my car to feel like it was ******* out at the top of 4th or 5th. So my impressions....

Today was the warmest day we have had the past 2 weeks, when I took the car out it was around 50-55 degrees, on the way up to FT traction was horrible in 1-3rd gears, so on the highway Id have to start at about 60mph in 4th not to spin. First drive----> I hit it from 2nd gear, and I was highly surprised, it spun but not in the viscious way it usually does (like it does in 1st gear), the car still moved forward instead of going completely sideways, almost like a 70% spin/30% traction-MUCH better here. I can now ease into 2nd with no issues-just peddle it a little. In 3rd now, I have no traction issues, immediately the car rockets forward from a 60mph up to 100mph(stock in 3rd is 88mph) when I grab 4th. I love 4th now as it pulls nasty as hell to 130mph (stock is 112mph). Overall I highly like/recommend this mod, the car doesnt even feel 1% slower to me, even up top in 3rd, 4th or 5th. Even at 45mph in 3rd (thats 25mph under the new redline in 2nd) the car takes off as if the gearing werent longer at all. I highly recommend this to anybody with 500+whp the gearing feels like it should be for our power levels, Im on decent tires-KDW 2's, not even summer compounds, and Im at -2.0 degrees rear camber and my traction now feels like it did before in 80+degree heat. I think in summer time with better compound tires the car will hook from 2nd gear with no issues. 3rd gear highway blasts are just nasty-traction was still good later in the night with temps in the low 40's.

Thanks again Function Tuned for the diff/swap anybody in MD/VA hit them up for anything you need----- www.myspace.com/functiontuned


One quick pic...

Originally Posted by Alberto

Wanted to update something I felt was important. I have been PM'd several times regarding the cruise control working. I drove the car today for the first time in nearly 1 month. Driving 55-60mph setting the CC in 6th gear it would work for maybe 3-5 seconds then it would turn off. I have heard of this happening but dont know why it would? In 5th gear it worked fine and maintained speed in a normal fashion. I could care less as I never use CC even on the drive back from Forged I never used it. Just aheads up for anybody....

Originally Posted by meatbag

Do you have the Fcon? I thought using the Fcon Vpro killed cruise control anyways.

Originally Posted by GurgenPB

I had the same issue when I put on 3.5fdr on my 5At (BEFORE i converted the car to 6mt). My cruise control would not work at anything over 3100 rpm., so that's jsut under 80mph in 5th gear on the 5AT.

There are cars that do NOt haVE THIS ISSUE. I know that the '04.5 5at sedans do not. I am fairly convinced that the later cars have a wider tolerance programmed into them, specifcaly the abs/VDC computer that controls cruise control.