When does the stock 4L60E become inadequate??
05-11-2007, 10:58 PM
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When does the stock 4L60E become inadequate?? My car is only a bolt on car right now, but im thinking of dropping a higher stall converter in it before doing any head/cam work. i will probably do the heads and cam anyway later on, but im new to autos so i just wanna see what the converter will do by itself on the stock motor. aside from the converter, on a head/cam car, or just a cam only car, when does the stock auto tranny become inadequate? I dont wanna have to worry about my tranny not being able to handle the power. Is the 4L60E pretty stout or does it get vulnerable when u start modding the car?
05-12-2007, 12:39 AM
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with a properly built and cooled 4l60e, 10.50's could be run all day, for a long time. some will argue you can go faster, which i will not deny, others will say goto a th400, or it can't handle it. just like a clutch combo, it all comes down to how much you want to pay initially ... and what the goals are the car. if head/cam package that is all the car will see ... 4l60e all day long imo.
05-12-2007, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by titter
if head/cam package that is all the car will see ... 4l60e all day long imo.
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05-12-2007, 09:08 PM
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My stock tranny has held up (so far) with a 150 shot. Currently running around 11.50's or 11.60's. Spraying it through shifts,etc. I'll start saving my money very soon though 
05-12-2007, 09:45 PM
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Its really a crapshoot. Some have success with the stock unit others not so much. The stock unit was never meant to handle over 350hp. Anything over that and its anybodies guess.
But i will say that the weight of the car and how well the trans is maintained play major rolls in a units longevity.
But i will say that the weight of the car and how well the trans is maintained play major rolls in a units longevity.
05-12-2007, 11:21 PM
#11
Not to hijack the thread, but what awd truck was that? We turboed my friend's escalade, and built the trans because the stocker was slipping under power. However, the transfer case broke, leading to breaking the trans output shaft. BTW, this was with a yank 3000 stall. We are currently trying to figure out what to replace these parts with, because this is with a little ls6 cam at only 6lbs of boost. I can only imagine what parts are going to grenade when we up the fuel system and boost.
05-13-2007, 01:35 AM
#12
Well they can take alot built , but its a balancing act, clutches must engage firm but not to hard. You have to have shifts firm enough to avoid slipping but not so hard as to break stuff , As for what parts look at our site.
On the matter of how much can the stock trans handle thats hard to say some do 500 rwhp and work fine others cant get past 400 , Personally I think it has more to do with how its driven. But realistically its simple the trans must handle the power you make It should be veiwed like any performance upgrade. If you are unwilling to spend the money on a trans to take the power, Then dont spend the money on cams etc to make the power. Like and old mechanic told me when I was younger . Power = money now how fast do you want to go, But for all practical purpose the stock 4L60E is taxed near it limit. That is one of the reasons for torque management to start with. Though after the upgrades it may last a bit if your easy on it.They will shorten its life.
On the matter of how much can the stock trans handle thats hard to say some do 500 rwhp and work fine others cant get past 400 , Personally I think it has more to do with how its driven. But realistically its simple the trans must handle the power you make It should be veiwed like any performance upgrade. If you are unwilling to spend the money on a trans to take the power, Then dont spend the money on cams etc to make the power. Like and old mechanic told me when I was younger . Power = money now how fast do you want to go, But for all practical purpose the stock 4L60E is taxed near it limit. That is one of the reasons for torque management to start with. Though after the upgrades it may last a bit if your easy on it.They will shorten its life.
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05-13-2007, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by gametech
Not to hijack the thread, but what awd truck was that? We turboed my friend's escalade, and built the trans because the stocker was slipping under power. However, the transfer case broke, leading to breaking the trans output shaft. BTW, this was with a yank 3000 stall. We are currently trying to figure out what to replace these parts with, because this is with a little ls6 cam at only 6lbs of boost. I can only imagine what parts are going to grenade when we up the fuel system and boost.
05-13-2007, 04:48 PM
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ok fellas, i appreciate all the input, but the title of the thread specifies the "stock" 4L60E transmission. Im quite sure a built tranny is gonna hold a good amoutn of power. all im concerned with is the stock 4L60E's durability
05-14-2007, 05:53 PM
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so approximately how much would i be looking at to build maybe a stage 1 or 2 out of my stock tranny? of course i would be either having someone rebuild mine or buy a new one already built. ive done plenty of head/cam swaps, so im comfortable going into a motor, but i know nothing about a tranny. i know we have some really good tranny builders who are sponsors here. i was just wondering about what i would be looking at paying for a stout little tranny for my street car.....??? thanks in advance