WS6 Chewbaca...Don’t you think that it’s possible that you just got a dud tranny from the factory? Look how many guys are running 12s (and even some 11s) on stock trannys, and how many more are running 11s or better on build 4L60Es. If they were all worthless crap trannys then I doubt there would even be a market in rebuilding them because everyone would go directly to a turbo 400 or 4L80E. My car sees only two throttle positions, idle and WOT. I don’t have a ton of track passes on my tranny, but I probably have done over a 1000+ WOT 1-2 shifts and maybe half that of WOT 2-3 shifts on the street/expressway. My tranny is still doing fine with the mods I have now that put the car in the 12.6s (at almost 3800lbs with driver). I run full time on drag radials and I get traction quite often and the tranny is still holding up. I think the key is keeping temps down. When I get over 200 I take it easy, and once I hit 210 I stop altogether and just cruise till it cools off.

I’m having the tranny built so that I don’t have to worry about it, since I’m adding about 40 more rwhp in the spring. I don’t think I need anything more than a built 4L60E to hold 350/360rwhp, as long as I still keep temps down under 210.

 

WS6 Chew - I'm not at all sticking up for these trannies. Although mine has held up with low 11's, I agree with you the TH400 with OD is a much better setup. I'm just not willing to spend 4-5K on it.

BTW, does the OD add-on allow for TC lockup as well? With a loose converter and steep gears, the highway rpms would be crazy without it.

 

RPM WS6,

I don't know exactly why some are holding and others are falling apart. I just know that with my setup I almost "have it all" and I can trans brake and nitrous 6 nights a week and not have to worry my tranny. I really hope everyones built 4l60e's work out. I decided not to risk it. Time will tell.

 

[quote]Originally posted by WS6 Chewbaca:
<strong>RPM WS6,

I don't know exactly why some are holding and others are falling apart. I just know that with my setup I almost "have it all" and I can trans brake and nitrous 6 nights a week and not have to worry my tranny. I really hope everyones built 4l60e's work out. I decided not to risk it. Time will tell.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree, you do “have it all” when it comes to your tranny. That’s a cool setup and I wish I could afford it, but I can’t <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> (at least not now). So I’m going to have to try my luck with a $1800 4L60E that should hold at my power levels.

Again, don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have your setup, but price is and issue for me right now. Who did your trans anyway? It really does sound like a cool setup <img src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" border="0">

 

ONYXSS,

Yeah I hear that about the $. I just decided that 4 - 5k for a sure thing is better then 2k on a maybe... No the OD unit dose not give me lockup. I think that Chuck from FLP is working on a lockup TH400 and PI is supposed to make the converter for it.

 

[quote] I agree, you do “have it all” when it comes to your tranny. That’s a cool setup and I wish I could afford it, but I can’t (at least not now). So I’m going to have to try my luck with a $1800 4L60E that should hold at my power levels.

Again, don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have your setup, but price is and issue for me right now. Who did your trans anyway? It really does sound like a cool setup
<hr></blockquote>

Thanks <img src="gr_tounge.gif" border="0"> but I still don't have lockup. So I almost "have it all" <img src="gr_tounge.gif" border="0"> I just hope that these builders are not trying to take advantage of this dilemma that the whole community is in. I would LOVE to see a breakdown of why a built 4l60e cost so much.

 

[quote]Originally posted by WS6 Chewbaca:
<strong>I would LOVE to see a breakdown of why a built 4l60e cost so much.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Here is the list of everything the 4L60E that I’m planing on will be built with:

Replace all clutches with Raybestos Blue racing clutches
Install Raybestos Hi Static low/rev
Install Hi energy band
Replace all steels with Kolene Steels
Replace all bushings
Replace all seals and gaskets
Replace Sun gear shell with HD harden drum shell
Replace stator with 4340 steel shaft
Install Billet servo
Install HD low roller sprag
Install HD Mechanical Diode sprag 3-4 v/s roller clutch
Mill both pump halves flat.
Replace pump rings with billet rings
Replace pump vanes with harden kolene vanes
Install Hi psi regulator valve
Machine case and convert from electronic line to modulated
Set all internal clearances to min specs.
Recalibrate VB for positive shifts.

This will cost me $1600, plus $200 for R&R.

 

Thats good info.

 

[quote]Originally posted by RPM WS6:
<strong>

Here is the list of everything the 4L60E that I’m planing on will be built with:

Replace all clutches with Raybestos Blue racing clutches
Install Raybestos Hi Static low/rev
Install Hi energy band
Replace all steels with Kolene Steels
Replace all bushings
Replace all seals and gaskets
Replace Sun gear shell with HD harden drum shell
Replace stator with 4340 steel shaft
Install Billet servo
Install HD low roller sprag
Install HD Mechanical Diode sprag 3-4 v/s roller clutch
Mill both pump halves flat.
Replace pump rings with billet rings
Replace pump vanes with harden kolene vanes
Install Hi psi regulator valve
Machine case and convert from electronic line to modulated
Set all internal clearances to min specs.
Recalibrate VB for positive shifts.

This will cost me $1600, plus $200 for R&R.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hey RPM ! What a pal, you did all the work for me. I was planning on having the guys that did my converter install do a medium level tranny build on mine and your list will be extremely helpful. Does your cost include labor and if so how many hours and at what rate. My Performance Tranny shop is around $50/hr. I was looking at keeping the price at about $1000 - are there any parts on your list that I can leave out that would also save considerable labor and yet maintain a good strong tranny ?

Thanks,
- Mitch

 

Hi Mitch! <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

This is the list that was sent to me by the shop doing the R&R. As far as leaving anything out, this is just how the tranny comes so I don’t know if that’s possible. I guess if you’re having a shop do everything piece by piece than anything is possible. The shop building it is out of state, and my R&R shop wants $200 to put it in (plus $1600 for the tranny its self). I don’t know of anyone using this tranny yet because it’s fairly new and I’ll probably be one of the first. It’s a place in Louisville that’s building it. My installer says he’s been using their 2004Rs for his Grand National customers for a while now, and they are excellent. They are now trying to get into the 4L60E business too, and this is what they’re going to do to the tranny. As far as what I was told this trans won’t be available till mid January, and I’ll be getting mine in March, so we’ll see next year how it holds up for me. I trust my installer a great deal, and I know he wouldn’t steer me wrong. So I’m going to give it a shot.

Edit: But to answer your price question, $1600 is just the price I was given. I don’t know how many hours of labor it is, or what their rate is.

Take care, and good luck with your car Mitch! <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: RPM WS6 ]</p>

 

[quote]Originally posted by RPM WS6:
<strong>

Here is the list of everything the 4L60E that I’m planing on will be built with:

Replace all clutches with Raybestos Blue racing clutches
Install Raybestos Hi Static low/rev
Install Hi energy band
Replace all steels with Kolene Steels
Replace all bushings
Replace all seals and gaskets
Replace Sun gear shell with HD harden drum shell
Replace stator with 4340 steel shaft
Install Billet servo
Install HD low roller sprag
Install HD Mechanical Diode sprag 3-4 v/s roller clutch
Mill both pump halves flat.
Replace pump rings with billet rings
Replace pump vanes with harden kolene vanes
Install Hi psi regulator valve
Machine case and convert from electronic line to modulated
Set all internal clearances to min specs.
Recalibrate VB for positive shifts.

This will cost me $1600, plus $200 for R&R.</strong><hr></blockquote>

WOW ! Is that a package from someone ?
FLP is bulding me a Level IV 4l60E & I wonder if they would beef up the parts the same way you mentioned.

EDIT: Just saw your post above. Thanks for the info anyway.

[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: xxxhp ]</p>

 

xxxhp...I was told by the installer that this is comparable to a FLP Level IV 4L60E, so I would imagine that your FLP trans will have very similar parts to it as what I’ve listed above. Yes, this is their tranny “package”.

 

Can you get a t-brake with a built 4l60e?

 

[quote]Originally posted by WS6 Chewbaca:
<strong>Can you get a t-brake with a built 4l60e?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yank offers their ProYank series 4L60E with an optional transbrake for $400 more.

 

eeww, sounds like glass breaking... 4L60E with a brake <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]eeww, sounds like glass breaking... 4L60E with a brake <hr></blockquote>

WILWAXU,

I'm confused. They can handle alot of power "supposedly" but they will not hold a t-brake? Why can they handle one and not the other?

 

I can’t honestly say that I know anyone using a t-brake on a 4L60E, so I can’t defend nor criticize them.

 

I have asked Chuck from FLP about a 4L60E Transbrake and he always tells me that he will try it in his car first. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

Hey RPM,

thanks for the great info ! It sounds like your new tranny will be more than strong enough for your goals. If you don't mind I'll take your parts list with me when I talk to my tranny shop and see what they recommend for my price range.

Good luck and I don't need to tell you ... but keep us posted on how the tranny works out.

- Mitch

 

Is a 4L80E built any better? Will it even fit? Just curious...