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Second Thoughts On Buyin a Built 4L60E

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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 11:42 AM
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Default Second Thoughts On Buyin a Built 4L60E

So i've be doin some reading...seems like these 4l60's just don't last under a good amount of power...im in the process of buying a performabuilt level 2. i don't want to spent that much money on a transmission that i will have to rebuilt every year. So has anyone in here had a 4l60e last a while on about 400 rwhp??
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 11:54 AM
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I would actually disagree with that assessment for a simple reason
1-People tend to only post when they have a trans failure no one sets around saying how long there 60e last. I would say for every failure post about a failure there are 100s that don't fail.

Forums can be deceiving for this reason human nature. Now is it true that if you beat on the 60e it will fail sooner than if your stock well of course. This would be true of any trans. There are of course options above the 60e the 4l80e would be one but it in and of itself is a rather expensive swap and its quite heavy.

But at 400rwhp the 60e should be just fine we have and others have cars running 1-2 years and more DD and track in the high nines and low tens consistently and those times take a bit more than 400 rwhp I am sure.
Just what I have noted FYI
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 12:34 PM
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well thanks for the assurance. :-)
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Old Oct 22, 2008 | 12:37 PM
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i agree, most people dont post when their **** works.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 12:30 AM
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As long as it's put together right with good parts, 400 rwhp shouldn't be a problem for a 60e.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 12:39 AM
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400hp you should be more than fine with a lvl 2. there are people making alot more hp than that using that trans. If you dont feel safe, get a lvl 3 lol.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 01:09 AM
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lets just say I have 36,000 street miles on mine about 500 trackpasses and 300 with over 400hp shifting at 6900 and prolly 50 with nitrous.

it holds up pretty good. switching to a 400 though. stronger and dont have to worry about automatic shiftpoints etc.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 01:21 AM
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I am on my 2nd season on my built 60E. Last season was low 11's, this season mid to high 10's. I haven't had any issues. I am going to freshen it up this winter and get the converter gone through and go with a higher stall speed. This is just preventative maintenance. I'll replace a few more parts other than the clutches. I should be running mid-high 9's next season.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 07:03 AM
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400 rwhp for one of these units is not a problem if it is built properly. I have units in the mid 9.xx that go all season that make 800+rwhp if that tells you anything. One of which put up a 9.2X this year. Big power cars and ones that race hard all year every year, it just makes sense to have them freshened up. It is the nature of the beast. I do recommend buying the best you can get.

BTW Frank I have never seen a post with one of your units in the 9's. The only one I have ever seen close is changing to a TH400. Back it up or stop pushing it!

Seriously at 650rwhp you are asking a lot of these transmissions. It is not a matter on if it is going to break as to when. There are a lot of things that go into making these things last a couple few seasons. A smart driver is one of the main ones in my opinion and the obvious is a quality unit. Keep that in mind guys. Vince
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 08:35 AM
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Went 10.24 @ 137 last night with an RPM 60e. Works great.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Vince @ FLT

BTW Frank I have never seen a post with one of your units in the 9's. The only one I have ever seen close is changing to a TH400. Back it up or stop pushing it!

Vince
Well Vince we do have people who claim high nines with the 60e however i dot generally make a point of talking about it since unlike the 10:14 car you mention they have never furnished me with as you say proof other than there word , The point was it can be done. As for the 10.14 car the trans that was in it is now in his brothers car and going strong it was not changed due to any issue it had but rather because he plans to go alot faster than the 10.14 and has changed the car to a primarily strip car and its no longer a daily driver.lol and of course he wanted the RMVB and Transbrake

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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 11:22 AM
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oh and mine is stock btw also!
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by performabuilt
Well Vince we do have people who claim high nines with the 60e however i dot generally make a point of talking about it since unlike the 10:14 car you mention they have never furnished me with as you say proof other than there word , The point was it can be done. As for the 10.14 car the trans that was in it is now in his brothers car and going strong it was not changed due to any issue it had but rather because he plans to go alot faster than the 10.14 and has changed the car to a primarily strip car and its no longer a daily driver.lol and of course he wanted the RMVB and Transbrake

Frank
That pass was only on one kit. The car had two kits on it. so im sure it would have ran 9's easily.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 06:05 PM
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I have a FLT Level IV and run the ET in my sig. I drive it to and from the track which is an average of 230 miles (depending on track) without a problem. I've put about 8K miles and 25-30 track runs. I can't complain, it's been flawless since day one.
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 07:36 PM
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Good advice here....you will not be disapointed. We bracket race 10 & 11 sec cars w/built 4L60E's and abuse the hell out of them with very few issues. Buy one from Performabuilt, RPM, FLT, RevX, or many others (sorry if I missed any of you) and you will be satisfied how tuff they are w/only 400 hp.

Originally Posted by performabuilt
I would actually disagree with that assessment for a simple reason
1-People tend to only post when they have a trans failure no one sets around saying how long there 60e last. I would say for every failure post about a failure there are 100s that don't fail.

Forums can be deceiving for this reason human nature. Now is it true that if you beat on the 60e it will fail sooner than if your stock well of course. This would be true of any trans. There are of course options above the 60e the 4l80e would be one but it in and of itself is a rather expensive swap and its quite heavy.

But at 400rwhp the 60e should be just fine we have and others have cars running 1-2 years and more DD and track in the high nines and low tens consistently and those times take a bit more than 400 rwhp I am sure.
Just what I have noted FYI
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 09:51 PM
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i have a FLT 4l60e lvl4 in a 407 rwhp 98 z28 & ran a 11.08 @ 121 with a 1.48 60' & i know it would hit a 10.9x with slicks on it.......& there are many running faster!
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Old Oct 23, 2008 | 10:45 PM
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i have a stage 2 performabuilt in my impala and i am 100% satified with it. and ill have performabuilt build me a th400 when i do the tt ls1 swap on it.
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Old Oct 24, 2008 | 05:32 AM
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I believe the building of these transmissions has come a long way in a short time. I am a long time hater of the 60E. I have a Rossler TH400 in my race car and a stock 60E in my other 94 Z. I plan on giving either Performabuilt or FLT a try when the tame one needs a new trans and perhaps they can change my attitude towards the 60E.
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Old Oct 24, 2008 | 07:43 AM
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Originally Posted by revtime
I believe the building of these transmissions has come a long way in a short time. I am a long time hater of the 60E. I have a Rossler TH400 in my race car and a stock 60E in my other 94 Z. I plan on giving either Performabuilt or FLT a try when the tame one needs a new trans and perhaps they can change my attitude towards the 60E.
Rossler is one of the Kings when it comes to TH400's!
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Old Oct 24, 2008 | 09:26 AM
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<--- FLT LVL 5 with Circle D triple disc went 10.16 in a fat GTO.
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