My first single turbo build
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Stephens city VA
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
From what i've seen, I'd do the 4l80 and skip the 6l80. Seems like when people start putting real steam to them, those 6l80s don't hang out too long. Again, the tried and true speech. 4l80 is a known reliable transmission, that doesn't require spending an arm, leg, sacrificing your firstborn, in combination with a sorcerers ritual to get it to live. Could even do a full manual and skip all the tuning riff raff.
From what i've seen, I'd do the 4l80 and skip the 6l80. Seems like when people start putting real steam to them, those 6l80s don't hang out too long. Again, the tried and true speech. 4l80 is a known reliable transmission, that doesn't require spending an arm, leg, sacrificing your firstborn, in combination with a sorcerers ritual to get it to live. Could even do a full manual and skip all the tuning riff raff.
heres where I’m at with all this. My most important concern is to keep the car streetsble, function like stock and not tear it up or rig it up or butcher it. Before I’d ever put a turbo 400 or a full manual 4l80, I’d put the car back to mildly modded and sell it and start over with something else. But, I don’t want to do that although that is a consideration. I like this car, it’s a nice car and I don’t want to ruin it. I’d rather let it go and ruin a 5th gen camaro or something. I like the rarity of this car. You hardly see them and when people see it, it always causes someone to come up to me and start talking about it. A camaro, everyone has or has had one. No offense. I’ve had a couple myself. I do like them, but I like to be different. Hence the 6 speed. Also as it is around here, a 4l80 is like gold and you can pick up a 6 speed for cheap. And they are more common to find. I’m still trying to consider my course of action. I have about two weeks to decide anyways. I’ve got other side jobs that need to be completed first anyways. Need the $$ for this shenanigans anyways lol.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
Ok cool, I can dig that. So put a fully automatic 4l80 in it then, I mean, it IS an overdrive transmission. So there should be no issues with driveability. It's not my car or money, but if it were, I'd stay away from that 6l80. You will only see more money and time go down the drain, and frustrations mounting. Not challenging you, just throwing my opinion out there.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
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They can be found in most trucks from the early 90s on. Probably some other vehicles too, but i'm really not too familiar on sourcing them.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 182
Likes: 11
From: North Vanacouver , BC
A 4l80e will handle 800+ without a sweat all day and the driveability is great , just like a stock 4l60 , its easy to tune , don't go fully manual , I don't understand why people recommend that for a daily application. They are cheap and plentiful just have to look in the right places , the older style are usually dirt cheap $100-$300 and the newer style command a little more money. Can always pick up a core for cheap and have it rebuilt by a local trans shop as well for peace of mind .
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
A 4l80e will handle 800+ without a sweat all day and the driveability is great , just like a stock 4l60 , its easy to tune , don't go fully manual , I don't understand why people recommend that for a daily application. They are cheap and plentiful just have to look in the right places , the older style are usually dirt cheap $100-$300 and the newer style command a little more money. Can always pick up a core for cheap and have it rebuilt by a local trans shop as well for peace of mind .
I don't think this GTO is his daily. And the only reason I mentioned full manual is, it's just flat out easier. Transmission does EXACTLY what you tell it WHEN you tell it, no weird electrical gremlins to jack around with, or other issues that come with electronic transmissions.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
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I did a Th400 swap (from T56) in my car a few years ago with rvmb and have yet to regret it. Very much streetable (drive anywhere I want, without buzzing the motor). Cruise along on the freeway at 23-2400 rpm. The 400 isn't nearly as bad as many think it is, now I'm talking about Turbo world here, and not NA. If it was NA were talking about, then yea, it'd be a nightmare, as they require MUCH more gear.
I did a Th400 swap (from T56) in my car a few years ago with rvmb and have yet to regret it. Very much streetable (drive anywhere I want, without buzzing the motor). Cruise along on the freeway at 23-2400 rpm. The 400 isn't nearly as bad as many think it is, now I'm talking about Turbo world here, and not NA. If it was NA were talking about, then yea, it'd be a nightmare, as they require MUCH more gear.
I did some research on this before choosing to stay with a 4l60e. The information is all out there on how to make the 4l80e fully auto in a 2004 gto, but people seem to have a lot of headaches with it. Most seem to prefer full manual when going to a 4l80e. I've had good success in the past with a 4l60e behind a 408 with a 200 shot so I went with a 4l60e again with my current car. I figure I'll stick with the 4l60e as long as I can because I keep my cars daily driveable even if I don't actually drive them daily. I've known people that are smarter than I am that chose to do the manual 4l80e rather than deal with the headaches of making it auto so that tells me it must be a pain.
this.
Ive been doing research on it. Seems it’s much easier said than done. I don’t want to muck my car up either. I found a good late model unit for $400. I’ve really been considering buying it. But......
i knoe the 4l60 will live if I quit being a cheapass and buy the sonnax billet 300m shafts.
Its not my daily. But I do drive it almost every day except when it’s clean and I know it’s gonna rain. If its dirty and it’s gonna rain, I’ll drive it. But even tho it may not be my primary vehicle, it has to be able to be my daily if need be.
this.
Ive been doing research on it. Seems it’s much easier said than done. I don’t want to muck my car up either. I found a good late model unit for $400. I’ve really been considering buying it. But......
i knoe the 4l60 will live if I quit being a cheapass and buy the sonnax billet 300m shafts.
Its not my daily. But I do drive it almost every day except when it’s clean and I know it’s gonna rain. If its dirty and it’s gonna rain, I’ll drive it. But even tho it may not be my primary vehicle, it has to be able to be my daily if need be.
I'd take your time on this one, research and think through what you want to do. Make an honest decision how much power you see yourself wanting a year from now and build the trans/driveline to support that.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
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I know I've harped on you about putting good parts in the driveline. With forced induction making the power is the easy part. At some point you have to make a decision to limit power or put good stuff in it because you don't like constantly fixing/replacing stuff. If you are constantly fixing/replacing stuff you end up spending more than you would have if you just put good stuff in it to begin with.
I'd take your time on this one, research and think through what you want to do. Make an honest decision how much power you see yourself wanting a year from now and build the trans/driveline to support that.
I'd take your time on this one, research and think through what you want to do. Make an honest decision how much power you see yourself wanting a year from now and build the trans/driveline to support that.