4L80e vs. 4L60e
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
4L80e vs. 4L60e I am planning a LSx engine swap into my Caprice and I have been told that a 4L60e is the way to go.. but I want to ask you guys...
Would the 4L60e be just as good as the 4L80e?
I am worried about modifying the trans hull for the 4L80e and I know the 4L60e will fit no problem because I already have a 1993 4l60 (700R4 non-electronic).
I am looking at a 5.3 or a 6.0 and shooting for 400hp & 500ft/lbs tq at the wheels.
The Caprice is a big vehicle and I want the trans. to be stout underneath it. Most everyone tells me that a built 4L60e will be fine... but would a stock 4L80e handle it better?
Sorry for all the questions.. but I read a lot of posts and they didn't really clear anything up for me!
Thanks to all who reply!
JB
Would the 4L60e be just as good as the 4L80e?
I am worried about modifying the trans hull for the 4L80e and I know the 4L60e will fit no problem because I already have a 1993 4l60 (700R4 non-electronic).
I am looking at a 5.3 or a 6.0 and shooting for 400hp & 500ft/lbs tq at the wheels.
The Caprice is a big vehicle and I want the trans. to be stout underneath it. Most everyone tells me that a built 4L60e will be fine... but would a stock 4L80e handle it better?
Sorry for all the questions.. but I read a lot of posts and they didn't really clear anything up for me!
Thanks to all who reply!
JB
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 529
From: Ann Arbor, MI
IMHO (and I am no expert), a well-built 4l60E should be fine for your 400hp/500 ft/lbs needs assuming this is mostly a street car. On a car with street tires, the weak link is generally the tires - they will break free before the trans breaks internally. Another area where a 4L60e might have trouble is extended WOT in 3rd or 4th gear, but since this corresponds to WOT at 100+ mph it would only occur on a track (or the German autobahn).
However, if you think you are going to turbo/super charge your LSx, you should go with a well-built 4L80E.
IMO, if you are going to build the 4L60E yourself, or have a local shop build it with performance upgrades, start with a 2002 or later unit as GM upgraded them substantially that year to handle the new LS2 engine. A 4L65E is an even better option as it has the GM 5-gear planetaries and a few other hardened parts.
Better yet, call one of the site sponsors for their advice.
However, if you think you are going to turbo/super charge your LSx, you should go with a well-built 4L80E.
IMO, if you are going to build the 4L60E yourself, or have a local shop build it with performance upgrades, start with a 2002 or later unit as GM upgraded them substantially that year to handle the new LS2 engine. A 4L65E is an even better option as it has the GM 5-gear planetaries and a few other hardened parts.
Better yet, call one of the site sponsors for their advice.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Yeah... see this is what I am talking about... I see Impala SS guys blowing through the 4L60e's pretty consistently...
It would just seem to me that the 4L80e is more equipped to handle around 450rwhp without modification whereas the 4L60e needs to be built to handle it.
I can see the street vs. strip idea being valid as well. A built 4L60e would be fine if its only seeing light street driven duty... because the guys that I see breaking the 4L60e are usually at the strip a lot.
It would just seem to me that the 4L80e is more equipped to handle around 450rwhp without modification whereas the 4L60e needs to be built to handle it.
I can see the street vs. strip idea being valid as well. A built 4L60e would be fine if its only seeing light street driven duty... because the guys that I see breaking the 4L60e are usually at the strip a lot.
True that, I guess my definition of "truly stock" 4L80E has been a little off lately since I've been paying attention to a few different builders out there with "stock-ish" rebuild kits that are substantially better than a "stock from the junkyard" 4L80E.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
You guys set your standards high.. I like that... the issue I am having is that the correct recipe for my Caprice sounds like a 6.0 and a 4L80E... and the problem is that I can hear my wallet cry every time I come to this forum.. LOL...
Thanks for the advice guys!
JB
Yeah... you guys are totally right... I PROBABLY knew this before I wrote this thread...
You guys set your standards high.. I like that... the issue I am having is that the correct recipe for my Caprice sounds like a 6.0 and a 4L80E... and the problem is that I can hear my wallet cry every time I come to this forum.. LOL...
Thanks for the advice guys!
JB
You guys set your standards high.. I like that... the issue I am having is that the correct recipe for my Caprice sounds like a 6.0 and a 4L80E... and the problem is that I can hear my wallet cry every time I come to this forum.. LOL...
Thanks for the advice guys!
JB
Jeez man.....don't even consider going with a 60E........even if you found a decent junk yard 4L80E for $500, toss in a shift kit.....it will outlast 5 4L60E's and be 10 times stronger and more reliable.
Built 4L60E's are $2,000+.....complete rip off.
My 4 4L60E rebuilds in 9+ years with my 427ci have lasted between 3-4 years....but they start to decline way before the rebuilds happen. Shifting issues, wierd stuff and just not all there and crisp. A decent junk yard 80E will perform strong and stay that way for a very long time.
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Built 4L60E's are $2,000+.....complete rip off.
My 4 4L60E rebuilds in 9+ years with my 427ci have lasted between 3-4 years....but they start to decline way before the rebuilds happen. Shifting issues, wierd stuff and just not all there and crisp. A decent junk yard 80E will perform strong and stay that way for a very long time.
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