How reliable are Race prepped trannies?
01-29-2003, 01:35 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? MYBLKSS,
Race transmissions are like any thing else, it depends on parts used, street/strip time, hp/tq of car, and who builds it. TCI transmissions go through numerous checks. The valve body and transmission case are check for pressure of each gear separate. The pressure must check within a spec that we have setup, if the either fail then they will disassemble and inspected. Then when both pass, the valve body will be put on the transmission case and tested on our transmission dyno. The line pressure and that individual gear pressure will be checked again. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I see no reason why a race tranny will not be reliable in your situation. The only side affect is that a race tranny will shift harder that a stock tranny. Your 3500 stall will adsorb some the harshness of the shift. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Kevin Steele
Race transmissions are like any thing else, it depends on parts used, street/strip time, hp/tq of car, and who builds it. TCI transmissions go through numerous checks. The valve body and transmission case are check for pressure of each gear separate. The pressure must check within a spec that we have setup, if the either fail then they will disassemble and inspected. Then when both pass, the valve body will be put on the transmission case and tested on our transmission dyno. The line pressure and that individual gear pressure will be checked again. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I see no reason why a race tranny will not be reliable in your situation. The only side affect is that a race tranny will shift harder that a stock tranny. Your 3500 stall will adsorb some the harshness of the shift. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Kevin Steele
01-29-2003, 03:15 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? My line pressure is changed from stock to improve the shifts of my stock tranny, when I install the new tranny will I have to change the line pressure if the tranny is Vaccum modulated?
I bought a speed inc. stage II and it has a shift kit in it I am worried that between the increase line pressure and the shiftkit I might blow the new tranny? Or does Line Pressure not matter because it is vaccum modulated?
also
To any one with a stage II A4 how many miles to you have on your tranny?
I bought a speed inc. stage II and it has a shift kit in it I am worried that between the increase line pressure and the shiftkit I might blow the new tranny? Or does Line Pressure not matter because it is vaccum modulated?
also
To any one with a stage II A4 how many miles to you have on your tranny?
01-30-2003, 12:36 AM
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How reliable are Race prepped trannies? I have a daily driver usually 12-15000 miles a year and I just blew my tranny. I am wondering how a race-prepped tranny will act under everyday normal driving conditions? What if any side affects will I see?
01-30-2003, 07:44 AM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? MYBLKSS,
Line pressure is a very important in any tranny. The line pressure is what is used to apply the clutches. So, if line pressure is lower than stock then the tranny will shift softer and the less load capacity of the tranny. This is also true for the opposite. The 4L60E with a vacuum modulator will adjust line pressure in relationship with the motor vacuum. So, your previous adjustments will not matter. But if you stay with a computer-controlled tranny then the previous line pressure adjustment will matter. This is what I have concluded about vacuum modulated 4L60Es from articles on LS1 tech but I may be wrong. If I am wrong about this than please correct me about the vacuum modulated 4L60E.
The line pressure on a performance tranny is boosted with a shift kit. So, the increase in line pressure of the shift kit and program will be too much. If I were you I would lower the line pressure on the program. But the main thing is to adjust it where you feel a firm shift but not a harsh shift cruising down the road. I would stay with a computer-controlled tranny. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />
Kevin Steele
Line pressure is a very important in any tranny. The line pressure is what is used to apply the clutches. So, if line pressure is lower than stock then the tranny will shift softer and the less load capacity of the tranny. This is also true for the opposite. The 4L60E with a vacuum modulator will adjust line pressure in relationship with the motor vacuum. So, your previous adjustments will not matter. But if you stay with a computer-controlled tranny then the previous line pressure adjustment will matter. This is what I have concluded about vacuum modulated 4L60Es from articles on LS1 tech but I may be wrong. If I am wrong about this than please correct me about the vacuum modulated 4L60E.
The line pressure on a performance tranny is boosted with a shift kit. So, the increase in line pressure of the shift kit and program will be too much. If I were you I would lower the line pressure on the program. But the main thing is to adjust it where you feel a firm shift but not a harsh shift cruising down the road. I would stay with a computer-controlled tranny. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />
Kevin Steele
01-30-2003, 07:52 AM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? Hrm...
I have a vacuum modulated transmission... and the 3-4 clutch packs are dead. Ive talked to a few people, it always seems to be a heat related failure. I talked to a guy yesterday who suggested that it could have been caused by the cluch pack prematurally applying because there wasnt enough pressure on the clutches / bands. Would I be better off getting a shift kit installed with the rebuild?
Transmission was originally built by Yank. I am reving to 6450. Any ideas?
<small>[ January 30, 2003, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: Nagash01WS6 ]</small>
I have a vacuum modulated transmission... and the 3-4 clutch packs are dead. Ive talked to a few people, it always seems to be a heat related failure. I talked to a guy yesterday who suggested that it could have been caused by the cluch pack prematurally applying because there wasnt enough pressure on the clutches / bands. Would I be better off getting a shift kit installed with the rebuild?
Transmission was originally built by Yank. I am reving to 6450. Any ideas?
<small>[ January 30, 2003, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: Nagash01WS6 ]</small>
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01-30-2003, 08:19 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? How do you know what to set the line pressure at? I know that mine is increased but I am not sure by how much. I was told by Jon at speed inc. to keep my new tranny vaccum modulated. This is really frastrating because I really can't afford to blow another tranny and I want the tranny to be hooked up right. <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" /> Which way should I hook it up? Vaccum modulated/computer controlled
01-30-2003, 08:37 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? Keep it computer controlled with the line pressure higher like you have already. The important things are:
Get an extra deep transmission pan and good trans cooler
Change the fluid and filter often:
Severe use 3k fluid - 10k filter
Daily driver use 6k fluid - 18k filter
I build race 4L60E trannies for install at my shop and I always set them up with the extra deep (3 extra quarts) pan and a good cooler if there is a stall converter.
I'm running my built 4L60E with 550rwhp and a PT4000 and it and the fluid is changed every 3,000 miles as I am hard on the car and it sees the track a lot. A few bucks for new tranny fluid every few thousand miles is cheap insurance and it is easily changed with the drain plug in the pan.
There are a lot of unnecessary tranny problems with 4L60E's in f-bodies that are avoidable IMO
Get an extra deep transmission pan and good trans cooler
Change the fluid and filter often:
Severe use 3k fluid - 10k filter
Daily driver use 6k fluid - 18k filter
I build race 4L60E trannies for install at my shop and I always set them up with the extra deep (3 extra quarts) pan and a good cooler if there is a stall converter.
I'm running my built 4L60E with 550rwhp and a PT4000 and it and the fluid is changed every 3,000 miles as I am hard on the car and it sees the track a lot. A few bucks for new tranny fluid every few thousand miles is cheap insurance and it is easily changed with the drain plug in the pan.
There are a lot of unnecessary tranny problems with 4L60E's in f-bodies that are avoidable IMO
01-30-2003, 08:53 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? Should I keep the line pressure increased even though it comes with the shift kit installed? Also I am not sure how to make the change between the Vac/comp. The Speed inc tranny comes Vaccum modulated equipped, I believe that means I can hook it up either way but how do I make the change when installing the tranny? Do I have to do something specific to the tranny?
01-30-2003, 09:21 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? I don't like shift kits and I don't know if that would be too much or not. As for vacuum modulated I don't see the point on a street car that sees even frequent track duty. Too much pressure will cause problems but I have had great results running noticeably higher than stock.
You should probably do whatever Speed Inc. tells you to. It is their transmission so they should know what to do. I would ask them and follow their instructions <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
You should probably do whatever Speed Inc. tells you to. It is their transmission so they should know what to do. I would ask them and follow their instructions <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
01-31-2003, 12:33 AM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? Nagash01WS6,
A shift kit is a good idea. I would convert the tranny back to computer-controlled. The line pressure is used to apply clutches, not release them. If line pressure is low on a tranny then the clutches will burn. The 3-4 clutch pack is the weakest link in the 4L60E. Heat? Ok, maybe. What kind of stall do you have and do you run a cooler.
Kevin Steele
A shift kit is a good idea. I would convert the tranny back to computer-controlled. The line pressure is used to apply clutches, not release them. If line pressure is low on a tranny then the clutches will burn. The 3-4 clutch pack is the weakest link in the 4L60E. Heat? Ok, maybe. What kind of stall do you have and do you run a cooler.
Kevin Steele
01-31-2003, 04:36 PM
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Re: How reliable are Race prepped trannies? MYBLKSS,
An 4L60E’s line pressure is adjustable be computer but the mechanical fluid regulations of the tranny will not allow the fluid pressure to exceed 190-200 p.s.i. Even if the tranny’s computer is set at max load. A shift kit will recalibrate the mechanical fluid regulation system to achieve a max fluid pressure of 240-260 p.s.i. So, a shift kit is a great idea but you may have to reprogram your computer. The fact being is that with a shift kit at one computer setting your tranny’s line pressure is 200 p.s.i. Well at that same computer setting without the shift kit your tranny’s line pressure is 160 p.s.i. This only an example and may very with different shift kits and trannies.
Kevin Steele
An 4L60E’s line pressure is adjustable be computer but the mechanical fluid regulations of the tranny will not allow the fluid pressure to exceed 190-200 p.s.i. Even if the tranny’s computer is set at max load. A shift kit will recalibrate the mechanical fluid regulation system to achieve a max fluid pressure of 240-260 p.s.i. So, a shift kit is a great idea but you may have to reprogram your computer. The fact being is that with a shift kit at one computer setting your tranny’s line pressure is 200 p.s.i. Well at that same computer setting without the shift kit your tranny’s line pressure is 160 p.s.i. This only an example and may very with different shift kits and trannies.
Kevin Steele
