Don't ask...
Well, regardless of what tranny, we all agree nothing lasts forever. In my case I have expectations of this tranny lasting me 3-4 years.
Now what about fellows running low 11's high 10s' in a stick, they gotta change their $1,000 clutch every year or 2. It kinda works out.
No question the 4l80 is stronger, but thats a lot of cake for the tranny/conversion. And you're car will probably be slower all things the same.
Any A3 is a track only tranny in my opinion, this day and age.
As time progresses, parts get better, and knowledge increased, etc.
The 4l65 has what extra,a 5 pinion planetary and a hardened output shaft, both of which are things that ususally never fail. It's usually a clutch or a band to fail.
Now what about fellows running low 11's high 10s' in a stick, they gotta change their $1,000 clutch every year or 2. It kinda works out.
No question the 4l80 is stronger, but thats a lot of cake for the tranny/conversion. And you're car will probably be slower all things the same.
Any A3 is a track only tranny in my opinion, this day and age.
As time progresses, parts get better, and knowledge increased, etc.
The 4l65 has what extra,a 5 pinion planetary and a hardened output shaft, both of which are things that ususally never fail. It's usually a clutch or a band to fail.
Well, regardless of what tranny, we all agree nothing lasts forever. In my case I have expectations of this tranny lasting me 3-4 years.
Now what about fellows running low 11's high 10s' in a stick, they gotta change their $1,000 clutch every year or 2. It kinda works out.
No question the 4l80 is stronger, but thats a lot of cake for the tranny/conversion. And you're car will probably be slower all things the same.
Any A3 is a track only tranny in my opinion, this day and age.
As time progresses, parts get better, and knowledge increased, etc.
The 4l65 has what extra,a 5 pinion planetary and a hardened output shaft, both of which are things that ususally never fail. It's usually a clutch or a band to fail.
Now what about fellows running low 11's high 10s' in a stick, they gotta change their $1,000 clutch every year or 2. It kinda works out.
No question the 4l80 is stronger, but thats a lot of cake for the tranny/conversion. And you're car will probably be slower all things the same.
Any A3 is a track only tranny in my opinion, this day and age.
As time progresses, parts get better, and knowledge increased, etc.
The 4l65 has what extra,a 5 pinion planetary and a hardened output shaft, both of which are things that ususally never fail. It's usually a clutch or a band to fail.
Our cars are already at the breaking points of the units and when we start pushing it, making more power then factory, adding high stalls, introducing a whole new level of heat to fluid is what burns it up.
GMHTP had a great artical on what breaks on these trans, but I forget the volume and yr, ill have to research it.
Long story short, the post started with your car on a lift with the trans pan out and asking not to ask..., and we had discussed the cost of your last one, UNexpected as it was with a wedding on the way and I cut yea deal on the rear. Just saying if that was the case, to move up in quality of trans.
At this point there is nothing else I need to comment on, my opinion has been stated, and turns out it wasnt a fragged trans, just one that wasnt working like it was expected to.
I agree totally, however I probably should of mentioned it wasn't a total tranny failure earlier. This was to fix an issue I had been dealing with since day one. It got frustrating when after a few tries it still didn't work/got worse.
Anyways It's all good now, I know that the 4l60 will always be the weak link, but I have confidence this one should last me for quite a while.
I appreciate the rear too, it allowed me to enjoy my car this year for the limited miles I actually drove it. Basically as a bandaid, until I can afford a built unit next year. So that worked out great for me (even though the posi is starting to go on it from that track day). It's still dead quiet though and it keeps me rolling, so i'm happy.
I'm just glad I can tuck the car away again this year without any mechanical issues.
Anyways It's all good now, I know that the 4l60 will always be the weak link, but I have confidence this one should last me for quite a while.
I appreciate the rear too, it allowed me to enjoy my car this year for the limited miles I actually drove it. Basically as a bandaid, until I can afford a built unit next year. So that worked out great for me (even though the posi is starting to go on it from that track day). It's still dead quiet though and it keeps me rolling, so i'm happy.
I'm just glad I can tuck the car away again this year without any mechanical issues.
That lift was a PIA, who knew you had to bleed it 15 times!
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 271
Likes: 2
From: Central, MA
I had to wait how many weeks to do my work??? It's all a conspiracy! I guess I'll just have to buy a domestic car now. 
PS That's why I'm comming over here more and more. I need to do some learnin'. <----- said in a hillbilly voice.
Here is the point I've learned.If you want your 4L60 built,find someone good local that does all the work and warrenties it. In the long run it can save you alot of problems. This year I've had 5 people cantact me with tranny issue's.All of them were mail order tranny's.We had 1 problem with a local built but the tranny shop warrentied it and had him up/running in no time.
I opted for a used/built 4L80 for my truck. No problems and chirps each gear so far.I'm lucky
BTW- GTO was a 2004.
I opted for a used/built 4L80 for my truck. No problems and chirps each gear so far.I'm lucky
BTW- GTO was a 2004.
I agree with Don,I am sure the guys on here can build 4L60e's but it was so much easier to have one done locally by my buddy Jimmy at JG trans...
We did the Vacum mod kit,HD2 kit,,clutchs,3/4 servo,deep pan and 5pin unit..
GM shell was used...
I had 215PSI and over 200 runs on it and its still working well in the car
This was also goin low 11/high 10's for a loooooooooog time.
We did the Vacum mod kit,HD2 kit,,clutchs,3/4 servo,deep pan and 5pin unit..
GM shell was used...
I had 215PSI and over 200 runs on it and its still working well in the car
This was also goin low 11/high 10's for a loooooooooog time.
Last edited by JS; Oct 16, 2007 at 01:32 PM.
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One thing noone's mentioned, car weight. JS your car was pretty lightened if I remember correctly, how much of an impact does the weight have to the tranny life? I'd suspect it's as much a factor as the power.
Example, a 4l60 in a car making 450 rw that weigh's 3700 vs a car making the same power that weigh's 3300. I dunno how much longer it would last in the lighter car, but it's bound to last a good bit longer. I am not suggesting that a lw car is the only way to get a 4l60 to live, but it certainly would make more sense on why you sometimes see people have them stay togeher for a long time vs some people that have constant problems.
Example, a 4l60 in a car making 450 rw that weigh's 3700 vs a car making the same power that weigh's 3300. I dunno how much longer it would last in the lighter car, but it's bound to last a good bit longer. I am not suggesting that a lw car is the only way to get a 4l60 to live, but it certainly would make more sense on why you sometimes see people have them stay togeher for a long time vs some people that have constant problems.
I still think the 4L60E gets a bad rap there are I think 20000 registered users on here and I bet 75 percent are autos and you see a few failures a week. People dont post how great there trans is doing thats just not they way we are. I imagine if you could get everyone on the forum with and auto to list how long its lasted and there milage and power you would find the failures are really a rather small overall percentage, The forums are deceiving that way. You see 5 people with a bad TCI converter for instance in a month and people say ohh there must be something wrong with TCI not realizing that they probably sold a couple hundred in the same time period or more. Or they see 5 failed and say ohh! but they were purchased months aparts and there were literally 100s sold that had no issue at the same time. This much I have learned about the forums not just this one but all of them I go to.
I have seen one company be the best for a few weeks dosent matter whatthey sell then a few parts are wrong or something dosent work right on a couple and then there the bad guys. Until next week anyway, Its really kinda humorous when you think about it. I think every company here does everything that can to make sure there are not problems but really when it comes down to it we are not so different from you guys when your working at home on something , Sometimes the most carefully done thing just dosent go right. So you do your best, fix it and move on.
I have seen one company be the best for a few weeks dosent matter whatthey sell then a few parts are wrong or something dosent work right on a couple and then there the bad guys. Until next week anyway, Its really kinda humorous when you think about it. I think every company here does everything that can to make sure there are not problems but really when it comes down to it we are not so different from you guys when your working at home on something , Sometimes the most carefully done thing just dosent go right. So you do your best, fix it and move on.
__________________
I still think the 4L60E gets a bad rap there are I think 20000 registered users on here and I bet 75 percent are autos and you see a few failures a week. People dont post how great there trans is doing thats just not they way we are. I imagine if you could get everyone on the forum with and auto to list how long its lasted and there milage and power you would find the failures are really a rather small overall percentage, The forums are deceiving that way. You see 5 people with a bad TCI converter for instance in a month and people say ohh there must be something wrong with TCI not realizing that they probably sold a couple hundred in the same time period or more. Or they see 5 failed and say ohh! but they were purchased months aparts and there were literally 100s sold that had no issue at the same time. This much I have learned about the forums not just this one but all of them I go to.
I have seen one company be the best for a few weeks dosent matter whatthey sell then a few parts are wrong or something dosent work right on a couple and then there the bad guys. Until next week anyway, Its really kinda humorous when you think about it. I think every company here does everything that can to make sure there are not problems but really when it comes down to it we are not so different from you guys when your working at home on something , Sometimes the most carefully done thing just dosent go right. So you do your best, fix it and move on.
I have seen one company be the best for a few weeks dosent matter whatthey sell then a few parts are wrong or something dosent work right on a couple and then there the bad guys. Until next week anyway, Its really kinda humorous when you think about it. I think every company here does everything that can to make sure there are not problems but really when it comes down to it we are not so different from you guys when your working at home on something , Sometimes the most carefully done thing just dosent go right. So you do your best, fix it and move on.
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 271
Likes: 2
From: Central, MA
Here is the point I've learned.If you want your 4L60 built,find someone good local that does all the work and warrenties it. In the long run it can save you alot of problems. This year I've had 5 people cantact me with tranny issue's.All of them were mail order tranny's.We had 1 problem with a local built but the tranny shop warrentied it and had him up/running in no time.
I opted for a used/built 4L80 for my truck. No problems and chirps each gear so far.I'm lucky
BTW- GTO was a 2004.
I opted for a used/built 4L80 for my truck. No problems and chirps each gear so far.I'm lucky
BTW- GTO was a 2004.
I agree my car was light and that helps a bunch but I also ran a gauge,always made 2 runs and then let the car cool off..I never did banzai dry burnouts on the street or beat on the car when it was 90 degrees...
If you have common sense,have a reliable builder and keep the trans temps below 200.I really think the 4L60E will go deep into the 10's a yr of hard racing with nothing more than a clutch change...
If you have common sense,have a reliable builder and keep the trans temps below 200.I really think the 4L60E will go deep into the 10's a yr of hard racing with nothing more than a clutch change...
Agree you can sell hundreds of a product thats perfect but in forums you get a couple bad at once and the sky is falling lol
__________________
I'm not concerned. FLT will continue to out sell you in transmissions like they do every month, and then when sales slow down, there is always the repairing & rebuilding of your units. Business is great! 
And yes, not everyone's are perfect, but there are those like FLT and RPM that RARELY have a trans come back due to properly building them and properly testing them in the first place. I have seen the insides of your units and was not impressed. Do you have a warehouse full of 8 year old Korean kids building them? Looked like it to me....
You're right. You have your return process down to a science I'm not concerned. FLT will continue to out sell you in transmissions like they do every month, and then when sales slow down, there is always the repairing & rebuilding of your units. Business is great!
And yes, not everyone's are perfect, but there are those like FLT and RPM that RARELY have a trans come back due to properly building them and properly testing them in the first place. I have seen the insides of your units and was not impressed. Do you have a warehouse full of 8 year old Korean kids building them? Looked like it to me....
I'm not concerned. FLT will continue to out sell you in transmissions like they do every month, and then when sales slow down, there is always the repairing & rebuilding of your units. Business is great! And yes, not everyone's are perfect, but there are those like FLT and RPM that RARELY have a trans come back due to properly building them and properly testing them in the first place. I have seen the insides of your units and was not impressed. Do you have a warehouse full of 8 year old Korean kids building them? Looked like it to me....
__________________
Last edited by performabuilt; Oct 17, 2007 at 01:47 PM.
I was only speaking the truth about your transmissions that I have seen first hand, in person. I wasn't being rude an insluting, but then again sometimes the truth hurts. Relax Frank.
Matt, you made a point about FLT earlier in the thread, and now are carrying on. Since you never were a customer of theirs, stop posting to the thread.
That is my simple rule when threads flame up. If you don't have FIRSThand experience, don't post over and over again.
Good luck the guy with the C5. Trans problems are frusttrating, sometimes they are due to improper install, bad converters, junk in the fluid, and in build error.
I had an FLT 4L60E for a few years that never skipped a beat, one of their first. The trans can be made reliable.
That is my simple rule when threads flame up. If you don't have FIRSThand experience, don't post over and over again.
Good luck the guy with the C5. Trans problems are frusttrating, sometimes they are due to improper install, bad converters, junk in the fluid, and in build error.
I had an FLT 4L60E for a few years that never skipped a beat, one of their first. The trans can be made reliable.
Figured I would mention, I've driven the car to work 2 days this week, 1hr 20 mins one way. Tranny never missed a beat and it appears to have fixed all my shifting issues. I just need to do something about this converter, I need a better one for the track. Then I shouldn't have to worry about tranny issues for a while.