z28mccrory

iTrader: (7)

Hey guys, i just joined this board but have been reading it for quite a long time. Im having some problems with my transmission situation and was wondering if i could get some advise from some of you guys who have been there and had the same kind of problems. Im spending a couple hours each day trying to find additional information about which tranny i should get. I would love to use a 4L60E because i dont want to turn this into a race car and i like driving it every day. If i did a TH400 i would not have to worry about my tranny ever breaking on me. I have been told by many people that the 4l60E is junk and is a waste of money to try and build, but i have also heard that if you want to shell out around 2k for a stage 3 with vacume modulation it will hold many many 10 second passes. My car will have a TEA H/C/I package and be 11's on motor, 10's on spray. A local builder said he would build me a TH400 with a transbrake for $800, but i dont think its a lockup tranny. What does everyone think, should i shell out $2000 or so for a vacume modulated 4l60 that the company claims will hold nearly 1000hp/tq and has a 6 month warranty, or should i spend $1000 for a TH400 along with probably another 1000 it would take to buy and new driveshaft and converter. My end goal for the vehicle, that being something that could easily be drove anywhere, points at the 4l60 for sure, but i dont want to just waste my money on something that will never really be able to hold what im throwing at it and i will always have to worry about breaking. Recently the option of the 200R4 was suggested to me and i know next to nothing about those tranny's. I want everdrive very bad, but i want a tranny that im not going to have to worry about getting me home when i drive to the track. If necessary, i wouldnt mind getting the tranny freshened up every year with new bands and clutches. My current tranny wont shift into 3rd under WOT and have been told that it would just be a matter of time before a built 4l60 would do the same thing. Help me out here guys, how many of you 10 second H/C/I/spray guys are running 4l60's, and are they as fragile as everyone puts them out to be.

BLKWS6

i could be wrong, but the 200r4 seems the way to go. still has or you can get an OD for it. Need to give Trevor @ Texas Speed a call. i think they are gonna have a complete swap for that tranny. they are a sponsor and he's great to deal with.

JeffT

iTrader: (22)

check out this site for 200r4 info: http://www.ptsnctb.com/

The 200r4 has better gear ratios than the 4l60 plus it has overdrive that the th400 doesn't. It should be lighter than either of the other two as well.

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

The TH 400 is pretty hard core. no overdrive and no lock-up unless you get extras and the cost gets high.

A built 4L60e can handle a H&C package pretty easy. As you start to spray more frequently and use bigger shots, the durability starts to go down hill. For an occasional 100 shot, I would stay with the 4L60e unless you want full manual shifts. For regular 200 shot usage, it is not an option unless a good tranny shop is near by.

There are a guys who post about pretty good success with built 200r4/700r4. Not a bad choice if you want the easy of launch that a high stall converter provides combined with manual shifts so you don't worry about low line pressure and not being in your desired gear.

Jpr5690

iTrader: (13)

ehat you all think needs to be replaced in a stock 4l60e to make it reliable for a 100-150 shot (weekly usage)and lock up converter and how much should it cost ?

SSValet

I used to run a TH200-4R, after getting tired of going thru clutches in my T-56.
It was a very good option for me to switch over to due to the fact that it was a mechanical tranny and the switch would be a little easier than the 4L60E.
I could get around 65 passes at the track and some decent street runs in between every soft parts checkup.
Two times in the season we had to go thru it, both times were for the 2-3 clutch packs.
I was around 400 on the motor thru a completely wrong converter(H/C), and around 500 or so on the spray.
That tranny had every quality part you could get for the 200, plus it was my daily driver.
Now, with my new motor almost ready, I am trying out one of the Racing Transmissions by Combination Motorsports.
I will be using the 4l60E Stage 3.
I was going to run the Th400, but my car is now a feathery 3000-3100 lbs. and I don't see the need for the 400 yet.
Possibly for next year with an increase in the nitrous this motor will see, but not this year.
I've seen firsthand what Combo's Stage 3 has to live thru in one of their full weight Impalas.
It does awesome and they are a sponsor.
The only thing I would question on your part is your buddy's price for building the 400.
Is that his labor charge or labor and parts included.
If it's the latter, I would invest alot more into the internals of that tranny.
Good luck on your choice, if you call Combo, ask for Seth, he's the ugly one who likes toast.