What to do to make a 60E survive 500+HP
It needs a full rebuild with the best band and 3-4 clutches you can get. It needs a HD double-cage sprag, hardended input shaft and drum, hardened reaction shell, better planetary gearsets (5-pinion instead of 4) and a TransGo shift kit set up to shift it only barely more firmly.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Restricted User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by James B.
It needs a full rebuild with the best band and 3-4 clutches you can get. It needs a HD double-cage sprag, hardended input shaft and drum, hardened reaction shell, better planetary gearsets (5-pinion instead of 4) and a TransGo shift kit set up to shift it only barely more firmly.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Kyle
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 1
From: burbank ca
the truth
Originally Posted by James B.
It needs a full rebuild with the best band and 3-4 clutches you can get. It needs a HD double-cage sprag, hardended input shaft and drum, hardened reaction shell, better planetary gearsets (5-pinion instead of 4) and a TransGo shift kit set up to shift it only barely more firmly.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Even if you spent every possible cent on it you can getting the very best available replacements for every part, it will still not last long. These are not performance transmissions. This trans has evolved decades old. Not saying old is bad (TH400 case-in-point) but this trans was designed (as a 700R4) originally for fuel economy, not performance. There is not enough friction surface to move high power with a long service life expectancy.
I now that doesn't help, but I swear to you it is the truth.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
IMO, a Hughes is strong as hell. I bought mine from Jim Pace but I am not quite 500hp in my Impala SS. But my Neighbor has one behind his LT1/392 stroker, 55 Chevy and he is over 650hp with a 125 shot and races it twice a month and drives it hard on the street. Just my opinion, though. His has been in for 2 yrs now
Originally Posted by SDB
it takes $$$$....I know that a Rossle 4L60E will handle 500 hp all day long and will not break. In fact it will hold quite a bit more...but be prepared to shell out $3000+ all said and done.
Originally Posted by SDB
it takes $$$$....I know that a Rossle 4L60E will handle 500 hp all day long and will not break. In fact it will hold quite a bit more...but be prepared to shell out $3000+ all said and done.
For $600 ($3600) more you could buy a Built TH-400 with a US Gear Overdrive.
Kyle
Originally Posted by NA$TY-TA
For $600 ($3600) more you could buy a Built TH-400 with a US Gear Overdrive.
Kyle
Kyle
rossler 4L60Es have held to 8 secs on 427TT vettes, nines will be no problem. you might have to get it refreshed more often, but you still have OD and lock-up. and for what its worth, rossler's 4l60e are about $2500.why not just get a 4L80E?
Originally Posted by Phoenix57
speed inc has one, the maximum evil, that can supposively handle like 800 for like 2500.
There is a local guy down here, actually in Pompano, who did my tranny (which has never broken with over 600ft/lbs torque for over at least 6 mo's)
He has done a lot of 4l60's for local fbods and vettes. He works at a chevy dealer and he is the 'driveline' specialist.
Anyway, I know of 2 guys (personal friends) that dyno'd over 650RWTQ and 1 ran 10's and the other a best of 11.2 and both ran the **** out of their cars (bottle/week).
I know for sure that both of them ran their cars for over a year like this with no probs, but since then I havent spoken to either.
What was done to the trannies?
Shift Kit
Raybestos Kevlar Band
Servos
Thats it!!
When I had him build my tranny I had him do some extras like the beast sun shell, all clutches, and upgraded pump, and a few other things recommended by 4l60-e.com.
Mine has yet to break but we will see when I take it into the 10's very soon. I will report back on it.
He has done a lot of 4l60's for local fbods and vettes. He works at a chevy dealer and he is the 'driveline' specialist.
Anyway, I know of 2 guys (personal friends) that dyno'd over 650RWTQ and 1 ran 10's and the other a best of 11.2 and both ran the **** out of their cars (bottle/week).
I know for sure that both of them ran their cars for over a year like this with no probs, but since then I havent spoken to either.
What was done to the trannies?
Shift Kit
Raybestos Kevlar Band
Servos
Thats it!!
When I had him build my tranny I had him do some extras like the beast sun shell, all clutches, and upgraded pump, and a few other things recommended by 4l60-e.com.
Mine has yet to break but we will see when I take it into the 10's very soon. I will report back on it.
IMO, there is a line in the 450 to 475 range that once crossed, the 4L60E isn't gonna cut it - no matter who builds it. Yeh, there might be a few out there that charge a fortune and get a few passes out of one in the 10's or high 9's - but I have yet to hear of anyone who has one lasting a whole season of serious racing! I put 130 to 150 passes on my car a year and I don't want to have to rebuild it every year, let alone more than once a year!
My tranny was built by a local builder who did several for guys in the area F-Body club - all of them have lasted for a long time in the mid to low 11's. But as soon as they go mid 10's or better, they are goners in a short time!
I wanna put mine on the jug, so I'm gonna go TH400 cause I don't drive my car long distances anymore. But if you want overdrive - I would look into a 4L80E.
My tranny was built by a local builder who did several for guys in the area F-Body club - all of them have lasted for a long time in the mid to low 11's. But as soon as they go mid 10's or better, they are goners in a short time!
I wanna put mine on the jug, so I'm gonna go TH400 cause I don't drive my car long distances anymore. But if you want overdrive - I would look into a 4L80E.
Restricted User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Rick Abare (east coast) has one of my units (4L60E) finishing its 2nd season (full time racing) with times in the 10.20 - 10.40 ET range at 130 - 132+mph in a 1996 Firebird weighing in at 3250 pounds w/o driver. 60 foot times are in the 1.28 - 1.34 ET range, and that is with 9" radial slicks and a 1,800 rpm launch, and shifting at apx. 7,100 rpm.