mcalus

iTrader: (14)

It's getting down to the nitty gritty on my build.

I'm looking to get the trans built while it's out. I have a guy that can do it I just needs to get the parts. I'm looking to get a 3600-4000 stall (haven't decided yet).

My car is a 355, stock rods, stock crank.
Fresh bearings throughout.
LE 226/232
Stock heads

Suggestions on a kit? Thanks guys!

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

www.700r4l60e.com

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

That is ProBuilt Automatics.
I am sure the non-sponsor link will be taken down but he is the guy who built my tranny better than 8 years ago when I had MUCH milder goals in mind and when I added all the power all I had to change was a single hole in the separator plate. So I am pretty happy.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

Any good news about the monster kits?

It's $475 without the Input drum reinenforcment. Which I know is needed, where can I get one?

Thanks guys.

License2Ill

iTrader: (1)

TH350 or TH400. Hell powerglide it.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

Unfortunately the funds won't allow it.

BIGCAT7274

http://www.ckperformance.com/resourc...R4CATALOG.html

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

www.performabuilt.com

They are a site sponsor and build some seriously strong OD transmissions. I have their level 2 4L60E and beat the snot out of it regularly.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

What makes the $570 kit better than the $450 one?

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I haven't looked at the "monster" site in awhile but when I did their description of what they did was basically a list of what you could do wrong to kill one quick like blocking accumulation. I wouldn't use a free tranny from them because I believe it would still cost a rollback ride.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

Thanks for the heads up. Do you recommend the street/strip one from Performabuilt? And what's the difference between with or without the "z pak"

Thanks guys, just want to do this right the first time.

License2Ill

iTrader: (1)

Hey man ask around....if you really want to do it right it would be to get rid of the R4 in it's entirety....thos things fail on the street all the time.

I think and this is just my opinion....the TH350 is everywhere and with a shift kit can hold up really well....also has proven itself as a solid foundation.
Maybe things have changed for the R4 these later years....but if ur strapped for cash and dont want to lose it. The safe bet is a solid 350 even used is better in R4.
Good luck tho either way. Looks like some ppl have built the R4s up...wish I knew the stats of how long they last tho.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

The 4L60E can handle a lot if built well.

Just because the average guy is a retard and buys on marketing and price instead of using a good vendor does not make the tranny bad. For a steet car it would be really stupid to do a 3 speed and lose the awesome first gear, overdrive and lockup.

93M6Formula

There's no need to go to a 3-speed for a mild street car and lose your OD which would drive me nuts. A built 700/4L60E will handle what the OP throws at it no problem. Once again the internet succeeds at brainwashing people with the things they read about how bad the 700R4/4L60E is because a few people blew up their trans. just my $0.02

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

Back when my car still had the L99 I had a local shop do a "built" 4L60E for me and fully informed them I was putting a LT1 with a mild cam in it, the LT1 swap happened shortly after, the cam swap the following summer, then the tranny acted up the epc was plugged with clutch material. A month later so like 16 months total and the tranny was junk. I had a real builder go through it and he found failures he had never even seen before, was shocked at the carnage. At that time the car was not setup properly I had things like stock exhaust manifold with a ZZ4 cam so many bolton cars make more power than it did yet the well regarded local shop that was THE place for everything from car to armored trucks, motor homes and school busses, dump trucks but they couldn't put together a 4L60E to save them.
Then I had ProBuilt Automatics build one, couple years later I added the AI heads and cam FAR exceeding the power goals I had stated when the tranny was built and he just had me redrill one hole in the separator plate to compensate. That tranny is over 8 years old now. Stock servos, stock sunshell, stock planetaries, input is NOT sleeved, just a well assembled unit.

FLT and Rossler also do top notch work, Rossler does the 4L60E for the donovan block 434 "LT1" in the 96 Impala, the guy has issues getting the car down the track sometimes as he has a low 9 second 4400lbs car with opti, stock computer, 8.5" 10-bolt, it ran mid 9s on a stock driveshaft but the only tim I heard of a tranny issue for him was when the wheel studs sheared at Pump Gas Drags, the resulting overrev rolled a sprag and bent the crank. I haven't seen any hard data on recent performance but he did post full numbers for some mid 9s and at that time the mph/weight worked out to over 900rwhp and I know he has added something like 15mph to his trap times since.

Now I wont claim that is just a bolt together 4L60E I know there is some custom stuff going on, but if one can be made to handle that car there is no reason a car a thousand pounds lighter with 500+ less HP should ever have a problem.

There are a LOT of bad shops out there that give the 4L60 a bad name but it is the shops that are bad not the tranny. GM doesn't help either though with things like my 2005 Sierra crewcab having a smaller second gear servo than a 94 Roadmaster or Caprice got.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

Thank you for all the info. Im just looking to make it hold my power level (which isn't very high) I want to take care of it while it's out. It's the main thing that will be holding me up from putting it in the car in the next 2-3 weeks. For all I know I may sell it after a summer. Should I do a stock rebuild on it?

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

Opinions? What's the "modified" z pak? You can select extra options at the bottom, any worth getting?
http://www.700r4l60e.com/store/produ...&cat=19&page=1

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Have you considered Performabuilt yet? You'll be hard-pressed to find anything bad about their transmissions. Purchase one and done.

mcalus

iTrader: (14)

They are a bit rich for my blood I can buy a kit, get it rebuilt with a stall for $1200-1300.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

I have doubts about the reliability of such a route. But if money's tight you gotta make due! Nowadays the price of reliability seems to be more worthwhile with the increasing numbers of shoddy shops and workmanship.

Good luck!