Hi guys i have been a member in this forum since August but i haven't really got a chance to start using it till now. So let me start with what i've learned and correct me if i'm wrong: My car (1998 Trans Am auto) comes stock with the 4l60E which is a 4 speed auto and the stock stall speed is about 1800. My first question is what is the diference between a torque converter and a stall converter, is it just the different names? From what i understand they are the same thing, they just have different lock-up clutch speeds. Next i would like to know what are manual valve bodies and what is a trans brake? I also heard from my budy who is a transmission technician that the 4l60E is just a newer updated version of the 700R4... is this true and what are the differences between them??? I would also like any opinion on what to do when i plan on upgrading my transmission. My car is a daily driver and my current mods are Pacesetter LT's, TSP True Duals(no cats), and a K&N AIr Filter. The future mods i have in mind are wider wheels (either C6 or Torque Thust wheels) so i can run wider tires(either 285's or 295's in the rear, 245's in front); ATI Procharger(most likely D1SC) at no more than 8psi and whatever other upgrades are requried by the procharger to keep my motor alive. After these mods i am probably still going to be driving my car daily so i want a tranny with O/D and from what i understand i will have to stick with either the 4l60E or the 4l80E. Is there any alterantive to this. I also heard about the TH2004R and i was interested in what this tranny is all about. Sorry if this is too much guys, i just like to know what things are and how they work and i also want to make sure that i am doing things right when modifying my car. thanks in advance for any and help or suggestions....

 

Stall converter and torque converter are the same thing, different names. If you really want to wake the car up, put a tc in it. I'd say around 3600 if you want to keep driveability. I have a 4000 in mine, that I use as a DD, but some people will say that's too high of a stall to drive on the street....I don't think so. Dropped from 13.5s to 12.5s by just adding the TC and set of MT ET streets. Someone else will answer the rest of your questions. Good luck and have fun.

 

Alright, thanks for the reply 01ramair, what do you mean by DD? Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

DD=daily driver

 

Manual Valve Body = you shift the tranny thru the gears
Trans Brake = holds the tranny in 1st and reverse via a switch mounted in the car. When you release the switch reverse is disengaged and you launch from the line. Don't completely understand how transbrake internally works.
Rossler now has a transbrake for 4l60e, 4l65e and 4l80e trannies available.

 

Ok, so if a manual valve body allows you to shift manually with an automatic then does this mean i have a manual valve body on my 4l60E? i can shift manually through all the gears using the gear selector...

 

No, you can manually shift the stock tranny, it's just not recommended. With a manual valve body, there is no "automatic" shifting. You have to manually shift into each gear.

 

Oh, alright i understand it now... does it do any harm to the stock tranny by shifting manually?

 

Some people will say it does, some say it doesn't. I try not to do it, but I've had 2 6spds before this car (auto) so it's a hard habit for me to break. The computer can shift the gears faster than we can, and I hit the rev limiter on occasion while manually shifting, so I try to just leave it in OD or D around town.

 

Ok, so i have a few more questions... how many "speeds" does the 4l60E actually have? i thought that they had 4 but when i count all the shifts there is five speeds... after the shift into drive i notice that it shifts one more time. Also what is this TH2004R tranny that i have heard about?

 

There are 4 gears, you feel 5 because you also feel the torque converter lock up in OD. The 200R4 is an older auto tranny.