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Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 02:28 PM
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Default Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

I'm thinking of making the Cannibal an A4. This car IS my daily driver so streetability is a MUST! It'll see maybe 20 track visist/year.

What type of tranny should I get for this sucker, I would never want to have to upgrade it again so lets say enough for 600 RWHP?
Should I keep the 4.10s, if not, which gears?
What size stall, 3500, 3800?


Any and all info appreciated.
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 03:36 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

put a built 200-4R tranny in it. They'll hold 800hp no problem, you can put a trans brake on it and they have overdrive <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 03:38 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

You could probably get a away with a built 4L60E tranny from FLP or something if you didn't take it to the track that much. Otherwise a good alternative would be a 200-4R tranny, they are much stronger and have a 4th overdrive gear; I think someone on here is using a 200-4R with their MTI 422 and it's holding up fine. As far as a convertor you'll see the most track gains with a Yank 4400-4600 stall. If you daily drive the car I would keep it in the 3500-3800 range and swap out the rear gears for 3.73s. Just my .02
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 04:03 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

Welcome to the darkside. I swapped out almost two years ago and have never looked back. As for tranny choice, a 4L60E will hold for a while. If you count on a rebuild every other year, it will take a while to get to the price of swapping in a 200-R4. Stall, I'd keep between 3 and 4k. As for gears, make sure you don't run out of gear for your goals in the quarter. 3.42s might be a better choice. Just my .02
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 04:10 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

Why would I have to rebuild the 4l60s so much? I would only be at the strip very very little.
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 04:20 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

Because they break. heh. I just broke mine again after the first rebuild. I'm giving up on the 4L60E, and going with a TH350 or a TH400. I will most likely go with the built TH350, because it will be cheaper, and should hold up to my mods fairly well.
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 04:26 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

How reliable are the TH350 if they are rarely used at the track? Can you get them to fxn like a stock tranny would in terms of streetability?
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 07:08 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

I have questions...

-Why dont you like the T56?
-Why does your sig say WS6 formula, I thought it was just a regular formula w/ a dif hood?
-Why does the sig list 427 CI, I thought it was 434?


Just curious. Thanks
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 08:14 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by alexWS6:
<strong> I have questions...

-Why dont you like the T56?
-Why does your sig say WS6 formula, I thought it was just a regular formula w/ a dif hood?
-Why does the sig list 427 CI, I thought it was 434?


Just curious. Thanks </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I do like the T56 but it's grinding some in 4th and I'll have to pull the tranny to rebuild it. Always wanted an A4 so now would be an opportune time.
It is a regular Formula with a WS6 hood. I just like the ring to the name, "WS6 Formula". Besides, if you had no knowledge of the prior history of the car, could you tell? Doesn't matter anyway.
MTI isn't doing 434 CID motors anymore. They were an experimental motor. The sleeves are too thing to retain reliability. Seeing that this is my daily driver, reliability is a must, hence a 427 was the most obvious choice <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
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Old Mar 13, 2003 | 09:13 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

I think putting an 4l60E of any caliber in that car and expecting it to last is laughable. I also think the claims of the 200r4 being able to take 800hp for an extended period of time are exaggerated too. If you want something to meet your needs i think you will need a th350 ot th400 with a gear vendor$$ overdrive unit. Just one person's opinion. I run a th350 myself.

"I would never want to have to upgrade it again "

That statement may as well be saying "I don't want a 4l60E" lol
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 08:10 AM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

Levi

Agree with 4mulaJoe, don't waste your money on an expensive 4l60 tranny that won't last. I don't care what anyone tells you, it won't with that motor.

If you really want an auto, talk with Tom or Mike Brown. They both just installed TH400 trannys that are near bullet-proof, and much less than a 4l60e build-up. No overdrive, but if you keep the rear gear reasonable, you can live without overdrive.

www.rosslertrans.com
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 11:58 AM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

My FLP level IV worked pretty darn well and had a ton of passes on it before it was inspected and freshened since it was apart.

I'd go 3800-4000 stall and no more, and keep the 4.10's... Car will be a mean muvva at any speed and the lower stall won't burn up the tranny with a lot of high speed driving.
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 01:08 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CANNIBAL:
<strong>is the TH400 streetable? I want it to drive/shift near what a stock 4l60E would. I drive on long highway trips sometimes and I don't want to get 5 mpg and be at 3500 rpm at 75 MPH cruising down the highway. Is this avoidable with the TH400 setup properly? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It would be fine around town with some higher gears. If you keep the 4.10s and go with a TH400, you'll hate it on the highway. You MIGHT could handle it with 3.23s on the highway. Even then I doubt you'll be happy judging by how little the car will be raced. Go with a built 2004R and keep the 4.10s. It won't be too much worse than a 4L60E and 3.73s.
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 01:35 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

Levi, how soon are you wanting to do this? If you want to wait then I will trade ya when I get back to Kentucky. I have a 4l60e with trango shift kit and a vig 3600. Havent had any problems out of it and it is still in storage (car hasnt seen much use lol) I have been wanting to go to six speed setup and get away from the A4, just a thought but if ya are interested then shoot me a pm or something.
Mike
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 01:43 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

You could always go with the TH400 or TH350 and a Gear Vendor Overdrive unit.

I am going to be installing my TH400 with the GVOD next week (hopefully). I am just waiting on the Gear Vendor unit to arrive.

That way to can still cruise on the freeway and have the reliability of a TH400 or TH350.

Scott
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 01:57 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

4L80-E

You'd be the first with an LS1, from this site anyway. Perfectly drivable, one foot, manual shifts (or use T-Com to program it), strong as hell, etc.
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 02:27 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Reckless:
<strong> Levi

Agree with 4mulaJoe, don't waste your money on an expensive 4l60 tranny that won't last. I don't care what anyone tells you, it won't with that motor.

If you really want an auto, talk with Tom or Mike Brown. They both just installed TH400 trannys that are near bullet-proof, and much less than a 4l60e build-up. No overdrive, but if you keep the rear gear reasonable, you can live without overdrive.

www.rosslertrans.com </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reckless, do you really think the 4l60E is that bad? I mean the car will see maybe, maybe 20 passes/year with 15 of those being on ET streets. All the rest of the time is street and higway driving. I baby the car. I never beat on it until operating temperature is reached and even then I rarely hammer the car. The car has only seen redline once. I usually shift a good deal before even getting close to redline.

Those you that break your built 4l60Es, what are you pushing through the motor power wise, FI, nitrous, N/A? How often are you at the track? Do you use ET streets, BFGs, street tires? I'm trying to gauge ya'lls level of abuse in respect to what my uses of the car are. Everyone has a different version of "abuse" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Scott, how much is a Gear Overdrive Unit?

Ryan, how much is a built 4l80E and other parts needed for the swap? Thanks
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 03:02 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

<---- 475rwhp, 505rwtq, 422ci iron block, 4800 stall, 4.11's, 28" slicks, and 1.48-1.51 60 ft times, shifting at 6600.

I had about 50-50 passes on mine. The first build had about 200-250 passes on it.

With 4.11's and 4L60E I would do 3000 rpms at 80mph locked. With T400 that would be about 4500 rpms to do 65mph. You can't drive T400 and 4.11's on the highway you will do 4500 most of the time and get no gas mileage.

Loose converters build heat just don't get huge with the converter size.
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 03:08 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

GVOD is almost 2g's on top of the 3 speed. And then you would need Vig's lockup conversion and converter to get it tight.

A totally built manual valvebody 4L80 is about 2800 bucks complete. But I'm sure there's cheaper ways to get there. their valvebody is muy expensive, but TransGo has a manual vb for like $200. I'd be willing to guess that outside of the core itself, the rebuild costs would be VERY similar to the 4L60. I had a thread in this forum a while back.
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Old Mar 14, 2003 | 03:13 PM
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Default Re: Thinking of making the Cannibal an A4 ;)

PSJ, did you have any highway miles on it? If so, how many miles did you have?

I'm thinking:
FLP IV 4L60E
Tranny Cooler
Tranny Temp Gauge
3.73
and a 3800 stall

What would you predict the life expectancy of this in terms of mileage based on my usage above? Thanks

<small>[ March 14, 2003, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: CANNIBAL ]</small>
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