4L60E questions
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
4L60E questions Hey everyone so I have a few questions about the 4L60E in my 2005 GTO. So I would like to turbo it one day I’m thinking a lower boost setup cause it’s still gonna be driven 2-3 times a week. My main question is would the 4L60E hold up to a turbo setup at all? Or does it need a transmission upgrade? Any info is appreciated!
It's already broken just because you thought about adding a turbo lol.
In all seriousness, when they're stock it's a roll of the dice, but they can be built to live behind a decent amount of power for not a ton of money.
A friend of mine had his built to handle about 600whp with 2.73 rear gear and even with that steep gear it held up really well.
He ended up selling it to another turbo f-body guy who is still running it to this day.
I'd pull it and have it upgraded because if you break it, you may have to replace the whole thing.
In all seriousness, when they're stock it's a roll of the dice, but they can be built to live behind a decent amount of power for not a ton of money.
A friend of mine had his built to handle about 600whp with 2.73 rear gear and even with that steep gear it held up really well.
He ended up selling it to another turbo f-body guy who is still running it to this day.
I'd pull it and have it upgraded because if you break it, you may have to replace the whole thing.
For me, the only sentence that was correct in the above post, was the first one that said it's already broke. 😂
Everyone will have their opinion based on their experience. My experience wasn't good, ever.
A 4l60, "MAY" be able to hold that kind of power if built properly, but in my experience, how long will it live? If you want to spend money on something that is going to be a item that needs serviced every year or two, then a 60 is the way to go.
If you physically look at the clutches in a 60 vs the 80, well that will tell you all you need to know. Building them is about the same money. The converters, about the same money. It's really just a matter of spending money and planning. I hate spending money on the same thing over and over, and I did a 60 3x before I bought and built a 80. The 80 has been together ever since. Just my opinion based on my experience.
Everyone will have their opinion based on their experience. My experience wasn't good, ever.
A 4l60, "MAY" be able to hold that kind of power if built properly, but in my experience, how long will it live? If you want to spend money on something that is going to be a item that needs serviced every year or two, then a 60 is the way to go.
If you physically look at the clutches in a 60 vs the 80, well that will tell you all you need to know. Building them is about the same money. The converters, about the same money. It's really just a matter of spending money and planning. I hate spending money on the same thing over and over, and I did a 60 3x before I bought and built a 80. The 80 has been together ever since. Just my opinion based on my experience.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 371
Likes: 18
From: switzerland
it depends on what you do with it. my stock 4l60e is just fine after several years of centri-boost (16 psi max). however iv never done a kickdown under full power or a 1-2 shift (no traction anyway).
Rpm built 4l60e and its only a level 6. Been living 3 years with a D1x Procharger and still hanging in there with an F1a-94 spinning beyond max recommended impeller speed on a forged Ls3 now.
When it breaks im likely to go with an 80e, but I’ll run it as long as I can.
When it breaks im likely to go with an 80e, but I’ll run it as long as I can.
But that's exactly my point. "Only" a level 6? I mean, until recently, I believe that's as built as they made them. And how much was that "only a level 6?"
I have a basically stock 80, that is dual fed. And when it has 700-800hp hitting it, I'm not worried one bit, because I've done it before.
I just know I spent $ 3x on a 60, and I may as well have lit it on fire. I wasted time and money and frustration, when if I had just thought it through, I would have just bought the 80 to begin with, but "people" said how big they were, how heavy they were and how horrible the gearing was.
The trans fit in my truck no problem. They are heavy, I'll say that, but the trucks 60' is as good with the 80 as it was with the 60.
I have a basically stock 80, that is dual fed. And when it has 700-800hp hitting it, I'm not worried one bit, because I've done it before.
I just know I spent $ 3x on a 60, and I may as well have lit it on fire. I wasted time and money and frustration, when if I had just thought it through, I would have just bought the 80 to begin with, but "people" said how big they were, how heavy they were and how horrible the gearing was.
The trans fit in my truck no problem. They are heavy, I'll say that, but the trucks 60' is as good with the 80 as it was with the 60.
Trending Topics
But that's exactly my point. "Only" a level 6? I mean, until recently, I believe that's as built as they made them. And how much was that "only a level 6?"
I have a basically stock 80, that is dual fed. And when it has 700-800hp hitting it, I'm not worried one bit, because I've done it before.
I just know I spent $ 3x on a 60, and I may as well have lit it on fire. I wasted time and money and frustration, when if I had just thought it through, I would have just bought the 80 to begin with, but "people" said how big they were, how heavy they were and how horrible the gearing was.
The trans fit in my truck no problem. They are heavy, I'll say that, but the trucks 60' is as good with the 80 as it was with the 60.
I have a basically stock 80, that is dual fed. And when it has 700-800hp hitting it, I'm not worried one bit, because I've done it before.
I just know I spent $ 3x on a 60, and I may as well have lit it on fire. I wasted time and money and frustration, when if I had just thought it through, I would have just bought the 80 to begin with, but "people" said how big they were, how heavy they were and how horrible the gearing was.
The trans fit in my truck no problem. They are heavy, I'll say that, but the trucks 60' is as good with the 80 as it was with the 60.
If my memory is correct the level 6 was just over $3000 and has lasted over 4 years now. I started with a boosted sbe, then added a built ls3, and then recently replaced the D1x with an f1a-94. It doesn't owe me anything at this point. I ran a 60 previously from FLT which was a level 5 behind a 408 with a 150 shot for several years without issue. Sorry about your luck with them, but in no way am I claiming a 60 is better than an 80.
I specifically said I will go to an 80 whenever the 60 dies, but I will run it until it breaks since that is what I already have.
RPM makes a level 7 and a level 10, but yes, they get pretty pricey.
He will have to do some cutting to make the 80 work in a GTO, but if he plans on making ridiculous amounts of power then the 80 right from the get go might make sense for him.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
I certainly wasn't trying to come off as worked up, but I can see that now. I know everyone has their own goals and specific wants. I mean there are guys who want, and are working on making a 60 live longer and for more power. I heard Jake is one of them. I was just trying to say, from the get go, if someone isn't financially invested in one, and don't have a specific want to keep one, a 80 is financially a better decision.
Teching In
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I have a 4L60e built by Dana @ Pro Built Automatics in my 4,300 pound E31 and it's been surviving well behind my 650whp 5.3. They CAN be made to last and take power, but it's not a nice experience to live with one that's been built as such. No amount of tuning can remove the incredibly harsh shifts that result from building a 60 to handle that much power and weight. I also spent more than I would have had I just picked up an 80e and done a very mild build on it, which would have held up just as well.
Unless you're restricted by the available space, a 4l80e is ALWAYS a better choice than a 60e when it comes to making power.
Unless you're restricted by the available space, a 4l80e is ALWAYS a better choice than a 60e when it comes to making power.
Just gonna throw the TH400 out there too because it's a valid option if you don't mind having a full manual valve body.
Additionally, I spent half as much money building my TH400 with converter for 1,200 hp as I would have spent building a 4L80E.
Additionally, I spent half as much money building my TH400 with converter for 1,200 hp as I would have spent building a 4L80E.
Is it a 4l60e or a 4l65e? Someone told me the auto 2004 gto trans had 5 pinion planetery gears and was a 4l65 if i remember correctly.
nevermind ebay says 2004 gto 4l60e i dont know why someone would tell me that.
nevermind ebay says 2004 gto 4l60e i dont know why someone would tell me that.
Last edited by 95maroz28; May 21, 2023 at 02:24 AM.