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Which Tranny Would You Choose?

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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 04:37 AM
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Default Which Tranny Would You Choose?

I plan on swapping from a M6 to an auto tranny soon, but I'm not too sure on which one to go with. Which is the strongest? Which can take a beating better in the longrun? Advice/input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 07:13 AM
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It depends on how you are going to use the car, and if you want to keep the overdrive.
The only strong one you can buy from a junkyard and put in stock would be a th400 or 4L80E, you can pick up some low mileage 4L80E's pretty easy but they are expensive, and they don't just bolt in.
TH400's are quite common too but it's going on 15 years or so since they were put in vehicles so you'd have to buy one and get it checked or rebuilt.
A th350 is another option if you're not running a ton of power and don't want overdrive.
Theres also a 2004R, these are pretty weak in stock form and hard to find but are light and can be built to handle more than the 4L60E.
You don't give much to work with in your question. You could just buy a built 4L60E and put it in with factory parts (no special crossmember, driveshaft, etc.) Again it depends on the power you plan to have vs what you want to spend.

Cheapest might be a junkyard th400, most practical might be a 4L60E built buy one of the sponsors.
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 02:00 PM
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Contact Redneck Performance in Abilene. Really great guys.

Last edited by Ragtop 99; Oct 21, 2005 at 11:49 AM. Reason: non-sponsor contact info
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 02:32 PM
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Call Chuck at FLP Transmissions @ (630)350-7776
You can check his Tranny's out @ www.FLP2WIN.com
I've been having a Stage 4 for sometime. I just sent it
off to get upgraded to the Stage 5. On the website he
lists all the upgrades to the tranny's.

Best of luck!



Here's the exact link
https://www.flp2win.com/store/produc...36dc2b2e3e05e1
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 05:34 PM
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Yea, it's hard to say unless we know what you're planning on using it for? You going to be taking long trips and need od? How much $$ you planning on spending? What kinda power are you running? Are you planning on a lot of power in the future? I personally am wanting to go with a TH400 because they can definately take a beating but some of the others listed in here are nice too. The 400 isn't a direct bolt-in but it's the one I'm leaning toward. If you're not planning on that much power then a 4L60E would be just fine but if you're planning on bigger hp numbers in the near future then I'd go heavier now to save trouble in the future.
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 06:03 PM
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Yeah Im going heavy numbers in the future. I though 4L60E could hold around 6-700ish rwhp?
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 1320Kid
Yeah Im going heavy numbers in the future. I though 4L60E could hold around 6-700ish rwhp?
Personally I don't see the point of running 700 hp and needing od for the highway. So...do you want od?
And how much do you want to spend? You're not going to be one of these guys who builds a $10,000 engine and plans on using a $600 transmission are you?
You can get a th400 out of a junkyard and built it for cheap to easily handle 700 hp.
If you want a 4L60E to handle it you're going to end up having a sponsor build you one for a few thousand.
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Old Oct 16, 2005 | 07:50 PM
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Yeah I thought the TH400 were a little more durable. I think its going to be what I lean towards. Now its not bolt right up? What needs to change/be done?
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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by 1320Kid
Yeah I thought the TH400 were a little more durable. I think its going to be what I lean towards. Now its not bolt right up? What needs to change/be done?

A th-400 would be the best choice for high hp. Only drawback is no overdrive. I personaly reccomend a th-400 with full reverse manual valve body and trans brake. You don't have to worry about shiftpoints and extra vaccum plumbing since you shift it yourself. They can be built to handle 1200 hp. The th-400 bolts up directly to the ls1 block without buying any extra parts. It only uses 5 bolts though.
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Old Oct 17, 2005 | 01:26 PM
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Cool thanks man.
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Old Oct 20, 2005 | 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by slow14U
A th-400 would be the best choice for high hp. Only drawback is no overdrive. I personaly reccomend a th-400 with full reverse manual valve body and trans brake. You don't have to worry about shiftpoints and extra vaccum plumbing since you shift it yourself. They can be built to handle 1200 hp. The th-400 bolts up directly to the ls1 block without buying any extra parts. It only uses 5 bolts though.
You need to make sure you get the proper offset flywheel and a conv. The conv's do not interchange between the 4l60 and the TH400. You will also need to mod the crossmember just a hair and possibly a new drive shaft. To get your speedo working right, I believe, you have to get an adapter for it.
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Old Oct 20, 2005 | 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by ThaLS1KidII
You need to make sure you get the proper offset flywheel and a conv. The conv's do not interchange between the 4l60 and the TH400. You will also need to mod the crossmember just a hair and possibly a new drive shaft. To get your speedo working right, I believe, you have to get an adapter for it.

Use a 4l60e flexplate, perferably the TCI SFI approved one. Then be sure to tell who ever you are buying the converter from that its going to go on a LS1 and they should be able to machine the snought so it mounts up perfect with out having to use a spacer.
Dont forget a new tranny dipstick also......


Kyle
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Old Oct 21, 2005 | 11:34 PM
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4l80e can be built pretty tough, 700hp should be no problem for one andi even think the can fit a trans brake in one, but you did not post money or if you want od. a well built 4l80e will be atleast 3k probably. if no od is need then a th-400 would be an easy pick.
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Old Nov 6, 2005 | 10:27 PM
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i have an 4l80 in mine right now. so far i love it!! i have manual valve body with a lock up button.. spent 700.00 in hard parts. and 400 for labor. 1000 on the converter. i already had picked up a used 4l80, all done. and fitting it in a f-body is no different then fitting a 400 in an f-body.. the 4l80 has one draw back. it is heavy.. this weds i am heading to the track and see what i lost or picked up over a 6speed.
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