A question about the A4 transmission.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 153
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From: DFW area, tx
A question about the A4 transmission. I thought about this reading another thread kinda similiar. About how much hp/torque can the stock transmissin handle? The only big thing Im going to be doing soon is the Hotcam, So Im not going to be putting out a tremendous amount of power as of now. I do plan on doing heads later on down the road. When should I have to worry about breaking stuff? And what can I do to beef up the transmissions or rear end to hold up a little more?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,628
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Re: A question about the A4 transmission. Some people blow them at stock power levels. Then you have guys like ONYXSS that are running an H/C setup and have Ets in the low 11s on the stocker doing ok so far.
Personally, I’m not waiting till I toast mine to upgrade it. I’m running mid 12s now with bolt-ons and I have a basement full of parts that are going on come spring that should have me in the high 11s. I’m doing the tranny along with the other stuff just for safety sake. It’s still a 4L60E (I don’t see a need for a TH400 at my levels), it just has better internals.
Will it blow with just a hotcam and bolt-ons? Eventually, yes it probably will. How long do you have? That’s anybody’s guess. The best thing you can do is to keep that fluid as cool as possible. Run a nice sized trans cooler and maybe a deep transpan (more fluid means longer resistance to heat) with cooling fins built in. And just take it easy on the car if your trans temps get above 200. This is about all you can do to help the stocker. Shift kits are debatable. Some say they will help, others say no. I think a shift kit is a great idea to prolong clutch life as long as you install a hardened front pump to handle the harder shifts. The stock pumps have been know to go...
Personally, I’m not waiting till I toast mine to upgrade it. I’m running mid 12s now with bolt-ons and I have a basement full of parts that are going on come spring that should have me in the high 11s. I’m doing the tranny along with the other stuff just for safety sake. It’s still a 4L60E (I don’t see a need for a TH400 at my levels), it just has better internals.
Will it blow with just a hotcam and bolt-ons? Eventually, yes it probably will. How long do you have? That’s anybody’s guess. The best thing you can do is to keep that fluid as cool as possible. Run a nice sized trans cooler and maybe a deep transpan (more fluid means longer resistance to heat) with cooling fins built in. And just take it easy on the car if your trans temps get above 200. This is about all you can do to help the stocker. Shift kits are debatable. Some say they will help, others say no. I think a shift kit is a great idea to prolong clutch life as long as you install a hardened front pump to handle the harder shifts. The stock pumps have been know to go...
TECH Regular
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 450
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From: Texas
Re: A question about the A4 transmission. Speaking from experience, these trannys can't handle anything more than stock. I have went through 3 in the last 4 months.
1. Put the Hotcam in, tranny died the same day
2. rebuilt to "performance" specs by local shop and 700 miles later I'm walking again
3.FLP IV made it 600 miles and burnt up th 2nd 4th gear band
4. Now I'm waiting on another FLP tranny.
In other words be prepared to unass some serious dough!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" /> <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" />
1. Put the Hotcam in, tranny died the same day
2. rebuilt to "performance" specs by local shop and 700 miles later I'm walking again
3.FLP IV made it 600 miles and burnt up th 2nd 4th gear band
4. Now I'm waiting on another FLP tranny.
In other words be prepared to unass some serious dough!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" /> <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" />
