Stock 4L60E strength?
Stock 4L60E strength? Im asking this because I had a well known tuner out here in so cal tell me that he would not tune my car because my engine is "built" but my trans is not. My engine is hardly built (H/C/I 355 with a stock bottom end) and my trans is stock with a level 2 TransGo shift kit and a Yank SS3600. It has never given me problems in the 3 years ive owned it, regular maintenance has been done on it. My car will see a handful of track passes, there arent many in so cal, but will primarily be on the street/highway. Will I be ok?
My 4l60e holds 451hp to the tire running 10.69 at best with a 1.47 60'
Its all in how you build the transmission. You do not want it to shift to hard but at the same time you want a fast and firm shift.
There are several weak points in the 4l60e but there are also many different ways to fix those.
the stock shell likes to break....beast shell is the fix.
with high rpms the pump looses pressure at 6,000rpm plus....stiff pump slide spring and boost valve fixes this.
the stock sprag is a single cage unit, aftermarket borg warner dual cage is stronger
the factory 6 clutch 3-4 pack is the weak link at higher hp levels. ....there is a z-pack(that I run) but also there is a 8 clutch red alto pack that alot of people prefer as well.
transgo shift kit is good
There are also other mods you can do to these trans but the above are the main thinkgs you need for 380-400rwhp
Its all in how you build the transmission. You do not want it to shift to hard but at the same time you want a fast and firm shift.
There are several weak points in the 4l60e but there are also many different ways to fix those.
the stock shell likes to break....beast shell is the fix.
with high rpms the pump looses pressure at 6,000rpm plus....stiff pump slide spring and boost valve fixes this.
the stock sprag is a single cage unit, aftermarket borg warner dual cage is stronger
the factory 6 clutch 3-4 pack is the weak link at higher hp levels. ....there is a z-pack(that I run) but also there is a 8 clutch red alto pack that alot of people prefer as well.
transgo shift kit is good
There are also other mods you can do to these trans but the above are the main thinkgs you need for 380-400rwhp
I got 167k mi. out of mine before my engine went with more than a few passes at Fontana (1/4) and Irwindale(1/8), torque protection was removed from my PCM at 8k mi. and I only run Amsoil synthetic fluid. Stock GM rates it at 380ftlbs, just put a good trans cooler in tandom with the radiator cooler and remember its stock.
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Im asking this because I had a well known tuner out here in so cal tell me that he would not tune my car because my engine is "built" but my trans is not. My engine is hardly built (H/C/I 355 with a stock bottom end) and my trans is stock with a level 2 TransGo shift kit and a Yank SS3600. It has never given me problems in the 3 years ive owned it, regular maintenance has been done on it. My car will see a handful of track passes, there arent many in so cal, but will primarily be on the street/highway. Will I be ok?
I have almost 500 RWTQ and my friend who works at a Dodge dealership as a tranny tech has rebuilt mine twice. First time it last 3 years, second time is now going on 4 years abd its still performing fine. I beat the crap out of it every single day. 4L60E is a good tranny if its built properly.
My friend charges me $150 labor and all new heavy duty parts both times cost me ~$350. Done deal.
What kind of jerk-off tuner would refuse to tune a car because you don't have a built tranny???? Go somewhere else.
.
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I have almost 500 RWTQ and my friend who works at a Dodge dealership as a tranny tech has rebuilt mine twice. First time it last 3 years, second time is now going on 4 years abd its still performing fine. I beat the crap out of it every single day. 4L60E is a good tranny if its built properly.
What kind of jerk-off tuner would refuse to tune a car because you don't have a built tranny???? Go somewhere else.
.
I have almost 500 RWTQ and my friend who works at a Dodge dealership as a tranny tech has rebuilt mine twice. First time it last 3 years, second time is now going on 4 years abd its still performing fine. I beat the crap out of it every single day. 4L60E is a good tranny if its built properly.
What kind of jerk-off tuner would refuse to tune a car because you don't have a built tranny???? Go somewhere else.
.
I imagine the tuner is afraid the trans may fail during the tune. I would simply tell him to give you a peice of paper to sign saying you will not hold him responsible if the trans fails. That should get him going again. You see so many people try and blame things so they dont have to pay that you have to be real carefull when doing work.
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My 4l60e holds 451hp to the tire running 10.69 at best with a 1.47 60'
Its all in how you build the transmission. You do not want it to shift to hard but at the same time you want a fast and firm shift.
There are several weak points in the 4l60e but there are also many different ways to fix those.
the stock shell likes to break....beast shell is the fix.
with high rpms the pump looses pressure at 6,000rpm plus....stiff pump slide spring and boost valve fixes this.
the stock sprag is a single cage unit, aftermarket borg warner dual cage is stronger
the factory 6 clutch 3-4 pack is the weak link at higher hp levels. ....there is a z-pack(that I run) but also there is a 8 clutch red alto pack that alot of people prefer as well.
transgo shift kit is good
There are also other mods you can do to these trans but the above are the main thinkgs you need for 380-400rwhp
Its all in how you build the transmission. You do not want it to shift to hard but at the same time you want a fast and firm shift.
There are several weak points in the 4l60e but there are also many different ways to fix those.
the stock shell likes to break....beast shell is the fix.
with high rpms the pump looses pressure at 6,000rpm plus....stiff pump slide spring and boost valve fixes this.
the stock sprag is a single cage unit, aftermarket borg warner dual cage is stronger
the factory 6 clutch 3-4 pack is the weak link at higher hp levels. ....there is a z-pack(that I run) but also there is a 8 clutch red alto pack that alot of people prefer as well.
transgo shift kit is good
There are also other mods you can do to these trans but the above are the main thinkgs you need for 380-400rwhp
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,032
Likes: 661
I imagine the tuner is afraid the trans may fail during the tune. I would simply tell him to give you a peice of paper to sign saying you will not hold him responsible if the trans fails. That should get him going again. You see so many people try and blame things so they dont have to pay that you have to be real carefull when doing work.
Mine tranny is stock and i made one run with a s/c TA from a 1st gear roll and ever since then it has been getting worse and worse up until we started tuning it and going WOT on the dyno. No anything over 50% throttle wont allow it to shift from 1st or 2nd. I made 398/375 on a dynojet with the slipping auto. So i imagine im closer to 450whp.
Also upgrade the planetary gearsets to 5 pinion units. Didn't see that in your list. There's also a badass band that we put in mine, along with the whole laundry list of upgrades. Some came out of the TCI catalog, others are SUV transmission parts.
Ill post review next week. 
12 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Richmond,VA
my 4l60 overdrive went out at around 70K miles, after tune and a couple minor mods, get a good transmission cooler because heat is the #1 killer of transmissions, silverz28camaro has some good advice about what to do, Far as the tune I dont know why he told you he wont tune it, he must not like money. Have you heard of Frost, he does tunes and he knows what hes doing and will not turn you down, he can do a mail order tune since ur in CA
