PACKETFOCUS

iTrader: (2)

I have a built 4l60 in my 4th gen. nitrous car on drag radial. 3600-3700# full weight street car.

It has been going a bunch of 1.41-1.45 60' passes spraying out of the hole. No problems in first or second gear, but it got 3rd last time out.

Talked to my trans guy, and he is going to try a new drum and make some changes to 3rd. Said we should be able to fix that. (Shifted into 3rd fine, but started to slip a couple times in one pass).

So leaving that hard in a heavy car, am I wasting money with a 4l60? I have to freshen it up every winter and sometimes once during the season now, but Im getting it done cheap because my guy is trying some new stuff to make it last.

Thinking about going to a TH400 and being done.

edwardzracing

iTrader: (59)

YES! That's my opinion at least. It may be cheap to fix, but I'm willing to bet you'd be a lot happier racing and enjoying the car than you would be constantly having to pull it apart to have the transmission fixed. That heavy a car with those type of 60' times and nitrous is like sentencing a 4l60e to the death penalty. It'll live a while, but when the date comes, it's time for execution.

A 400 or a 4l80e if you want to keep the overdrive would definitely be a wise investment if you want to enjoy the car rather than working on it and basically testing new methods to keep a 4l60e alive.

Whatever the case, good luck! Sounds like a fun car.

PACKETFOCUS

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for your input man. He wants to do a new drum that holds more and better 3/4 clutch pack. But thats $500 more dollars, and Im gonna use that money towards a 400 with a trans brake and be done with it.

Yes, its a pain having transmission problems. It was freshened up 50 passes ago and now its hurt again. Think I will have him freshen it up and put it in an old nova I got or something

Troy5061

iTrader: (19)

I found the limits of the 3/4 clutches in my built 4l60 this weekend, didnt even make a full pass with the turbo setup and it shifted 3rd and slipped the crap out it and burnt the clutches up. Good thing the track is only 3 miles away lol, still a long ride in second gear. Im looking into a 400 or 4l80 now too, Sonnax has a new drum to address this issue but its $400+ and im not sure it will hold up either.

edwardzracing

iTrader: (59)

Yeah, playing a guessing game with a 4l60e is exactly why I decided to upgrade to an 80. Are there 60's out there that are handling crazy power? Yes... but I think those guys are into them well over 4G's. I don't have pockets that deep, and to risk having it fail just seems silly when a quality 80 can be had for about the same price or less depending on the power that you're making. Throw in the reliability levels of a transbrake in such builds, and it makes even more sense to do an 80 or 400.

@PACKETFOCUS. How old is the Nova? I'll bet your 60 would do real well in a lighter car so if you don't plan on selling it to help fund the 400, then yeah, I think throwing it into the Nova would be a great idea.

Good luck on getting everything worked out. Keep us posted on what you decide and how it works out. This will be my first year with an 80 and a transbrake... very excited to spend a night of racing with much less worry in the transmission causing me to trailer the car home versus driving it home.

PACKETFOCUS

iTrader: (2)

You can hear it eat 3rd gear. I knew it was gonna go out, but already had a race lined up and I didn't lift


Im with you man.. Im not sure about spending $400-500 more on that drum when I could use that towards a 80 or a 400.

PACKETFOCUS

iTrader: (2)

I got a 66 and a 64 nova. More than likely put it in the 64 since its not cut up. I got a glide for the 66.


I just want a solid trans with a brake on it, so I can drive it to the track, run some 10s and drive it home. Most of the time we run 1/8 mile, but go run some 1/4 mile stuff a couple times a month. I would do the 80 in a heartbeat, but I know its adding more weight to an already heavy car..

edwardzracing

iTrader: (59)

I wonder if you'll miss the overdrive by going to a 400 instead of an 80, but I don't know what kind of street use you do with the car either. Yes, it'll be a bit heavier, but isn't the cure for that just to add another 100 shot?? lol. All kidding aside, at least you'll be more confident in running it full tilt.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

Street driven often- 80...

More track oriented with little street time- 400..

Mystery Bird

iTrader: (7)

I made the switch to the 4l80e and love it so far.

Troy5061

iTrader: (19)

hey that sounds familiar lol. I had a 243 headed 383 last year with a 150 shot running 6s in the 1/8th and I think the nitrous is what killed it, the beginning of this year i put really good aftermarket heads and a fast on it. It would bang off the limiter on the 2-3 shift but it would go in and not slip. The first run with the turbo it sounded just like your video slipping most of the way, after that no 3rd or 4th.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I'd do an 80 if you are gonna do any street driving. I couldn't stand no OD.

mrvedit

The Sonnax Smart Tech input drum not only costs $400, but since it doesn't include an input shaft, that will raise the price further. Separate input shafts are not readily available; I bought a Billet one for $500. So, figure on $1000 for the Sonnax input drum, billet input shaft and blue frictions. The next weak point is the output shaft, so add another $500 for a billet output shaft. I don't yet know how long this combo would last at 700+ HP, but it won't be anywhere as long as even a moderately built 4L80E.
In other words, IMHO, at 700+HP, a 4L80E will be not only MUCH more reliable, but also cheaper even including swapping costs.

Troy5061

iTrader: (19)

^^ exactly, if I fix my 60e, im talking sonnax drum, billet input/output shaft, 5 pinion planetaries and the rest of it has all the upgrades. At that price point it just doesnt make sense, its getting a 400 lol