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Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

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Old Jun 13, 2003 | 12:06 AM
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Default Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

Ok, total newbie to the tranny area. I think my tranny's cooked, and I want to have my 4L60E built. There is a guy in town that can build it. Will a fully built 4L60E hold up to approx. 600rwhp? I plan on doing heads/cam and 8#procharger to my current setup, so am wondering if I should swap tranny altogether, or what I can run so I can do this right the first time, and not have to keep worrying about my tranny blowing. Thanks.
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Old Jun 13, 2003 | 12:24 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

not bloody likely
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Old Jun 13, 2003 | 01:40 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

with your combo that combo level a Stage 3 Speed inc trans for a FLP will be in your future. If you want more protection a built 200-4R or a TH35 or 400 for the ultimate in strength, All depends on how deep your pockets are.
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Old Jun 17, 2003 | 04:49 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

My pockets aren't that deep, but I will buy what I have to. So what route would you guys go at this point? Please post all opinions. I would LIKE to get my 4L60E built up, because I like having OD. What is there to know. Please educate me. What is a turbo 400 tranny or th350? Please post away, and edumacate me. Thanks.
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Old Jun 17, 2003 | 06:38 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

turbo 350/400's were in the old school cars (i.e. 67-81 camaro/firebirds/vettes/chevelles....) they can be built up to handle as much power as you want. i know guys that spray 400 off the line with 11.5 slicks in a 434 and it pulls the wheels on a street car. it will handle whatever you can throw at it, as long as you throw the pocketbook with it.
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Old Jun 17, 2003 | 08:09 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

I'm not sure what the company is that makes it, but if you want to retain the overdrive, there is a company that makes a turbo 400 with an extra overdrive gear. Someone post up a link or something if you got it, my friend just fried his turbo 350 in his nova and is planning on going with this setup.
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Old Jun 17, 2003 | 09:03 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

I beleive Gear Vendors makes an OD for TH400s. Don't have a link though...
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Old Jun 18, 2003 | 08:40 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

www.gearvendors.com , neat stuff
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 12:49 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

so you guys say to ditch the 4L60E and go with a TH400? Am I correct? How much are we talking for this piece? Aren't there 4L60E's out there that can handle 700+rwhp?
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 12:54 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

No, there aren't many 4l60E's that will handle over 500 well for long...

I got a TH400 with my new 372c.i. iron block setup with a 12psi procharger on top of that...

I don't have the gearvendors, I might consider it in the future...
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 01:13 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

do a search you'll see what other people have been doing but I will say this I know of quit a few cars running in the 11's on the stock tranny with a converter.... myself i am getting close to the 11's on the stock tranny with a conver so

never say never....... many variables.. but everyone i know that bought a yank tranny blew it up soon after the install and after a teardown they found most of the parts were stock not much was upgraded so be careful slapping down a grip of money on somthing that ios supposed to be better but may not be

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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 01:16 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

Yea, BradWS6 made an unimaginable amount of passes on his heads/cam stock tranny stock rear setup....

Hes upgraded now that hes done some serious motor mods...and now hes running a TH400..

Raughhammer is in the mid 10's with his built 4L60e....I know of a few people locally running successful with built 4l60e's, some big cube motors...
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:31 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

Sounds like you are a ways away from making 600rwhp.

I made 475rwhp/ 505rwtq with my FLP IV trans and it worked great. I would have had no hesitation to spray it to 600rwhp had I wanted to. You just have to be smart about it. You need to monitor your tranny temps when you are beating on the car. No hotlapping at the track. Once you make 600rwhp I doubt you will have traction most of the time unless you are slicked up. Then you have to keep an eye on things.

I just went T400 but I plan to make 700-800rwhp and I am now going to run a 5000 stall.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 09:49 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

I have been running a Mike Kurtz (Houston) built 4L60E in my '94 since 1998. That translates to over 350 passes and about 20k in street miles. In a low/mid-12 sec car, it has lived a long life and seen a lot of bracket racing.

If you actually get 600 RWHP, I will echo what others posted and say get rid of the 4L60E and install a built Turbo 400. A well-built 4L60E will handle 400 RWHP for a long time, but 600 is a whole different ballgame.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 10:18 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

ok, so how much does a TH400 cost? Where can I buy one? And does it have OD? What are the downsides to the TH400? More power loss? Yes, I will be running slicks. I am looking to reach a 10.5 or better 1/4 someday. Assuming I know nothing about trannies, please tell me what I should look into/consider what there is to know. I am going to drop my current tranny pretty soon. Yes, I am a ways away from 600hp, but If I have to rebuild my tranny now, I want to do it right. Thanks in advanc.e
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 10:27 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

Oh, and anyone who reads this, please check out my mods on page 5 of my web site www.cardomain.com/id/ozorowsky and tell me if I got a bad TC. I bought a PY3600E, with a 2.75 str and will be getting a SC hopefully within the next year or two. Is this a bad verter for mainly a street converter? I will be using this for the track, on occasion, but I mainly street race. Thanks.
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Old Jun 19, 2003 | 11:03 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

two things: As for tranny choice...even with the 8# procharger I doubt you'll see 600rwhp (h/c will bring that kit's boost down to ~4-5#). For the near future, I'd go with a built 4L60E. Hughes built mine, and it has held up great...I'd recommend going local though (I learned that the hard way. Much easier to deal with problems when they pop up. Shipping a tranny aint cheap).

2. Your TC on your web page could use a higher stall (3200-3800). The one you mention above might hit a bit hard for street races. I might pick something with a lower str and higher top end efficiency.
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Old Jun 22, 2003 | 09:57 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

I currently am running a PY3600E verter. So the general concensus is to stick with the 4L60E, but get it built? What does everyone else say? Please fill me in guys. I need to replace my tranny, and want to know exactly what to buy. Thanks.

PS: Should I even begin to consider rebuilding my tranny myself, or just have a transmission shop mess with it? Thanks again.
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Old Jun 22, 2003 | 11:41 AM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

a few site sponsors offer built 4L60E's ...speed inc, flp, tcs.
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Old Jun 22, 2003 | 01:26 PM
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Default Re: Buying a BUilt 4L60E worth it?

I would have a shop build it, that converter is fine for street use, you will need tires to hook up though, thats for sure...

Speed Inc. or FLP is the way to go for 4l60E's...
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