GM Transmissions
 

Putting together a 88LX coupe with 6.0. aka project snoball
Just to get it going I got a local TH350 and 3500 stall, when I really wanted a T56 or Ford 5 speed so I can have OD and drive it around the mountains/etc.
BUT every way I look at a manual set up its $2k-$2500 just depending on the parts.

Keep wondering about an OD tranny....the thoughts of a 4L60e comes up, so does a 4L80e.

The 80 is about 100#s heavier than the 60, DRY. How much power does it rob?

I have an 80 in the 71 and often wonder how much quicker it would be with a 60 or A3 but i built that truck to tow not race but you know how that goes.

Granted I probably would have $2k in the end if I did the A4/OD trans but just trying to figure out what I might be giving up if going to the 80....
The Auto set up would be so much simpler to put in the car than a Manual....

I need a money tree.........

Purpose of the car: to have fun, I think it should hit a 6.9 eighth mile on motor and if we need to go quicker I got bottles. Would like to be able to drive the car anywhere, that includes to the mountains and back without roasting the trans..

Discuss please!!

Depends on the power levels. A properly built 60 or 70 (talk to Gerald, he did wonders on mine) should handle 600 whp no problem.

The 80 is just more reliable and has different gear ratios(not sure on how different). Lots of TBSS guys are going 4L80 just for the power handling capability and reliablity.

Don't really think 100 lbs is gonna rob you of too much if you're doing this for a everyday car. Race car, yes, mountain touring car, no.

I was hoping to put 450 +/-20 to the wheels thru the TH350 N/A.

I had thought if I was going to spray it regularly then I could do a high rear gear and that would bring down the highway RPMs and get a 28ish tire for the street.

Far more knowledgeable people on this board than me, wait til Gerald or someone chimes in.

I know Bad Bob had a completely factory TH350 out of an old ass car, slapped a converter in it, and drove it. It never had any issues making some pretty good power. He drove the car a good bit too.

...and never went over 45mph! lol

I got a 400 in great shape id sell ya.

Meaning I have a TH350/3500 sitting in the floor in waiting....I do not want another 3speed auto, I am asking about OD trannies.

For simplicity I will rock the TH350 for a while and then decide, I am ready to burn rubber in this thing...

i got a t56 that may be coming out soon if i can ever make up my mind.

shoot me over a price if you decide to go that route and what all you including with it.
the 88LX has 3 pedals LOL

ive got a t56 out of a ls1 car that i may trade for some parts for the TA

is it ready to go or need work?
send me a PM

I like th400 ..... my t56 car is slow slow slow

1st step: call Gerald
2nd step: tell Gerald your goals
3rd step: listen to what Gerald says
4th step: take trans to Gerald
5th step: install new trans
6th step: race and have fun

Gerald can build you a killer 4l60e or a killer AOD (which you can run behind a ls motor) that will hold up to your power easily. When my camaro had a 4l60e and 6.0 in it was 3650 race weight and I was spraying alot of nitrous and the 4l60e worked flawless. The same 4l60e was then put in my 2004 silverado I had with a 6.0 in it and I sprayed alot of nitrous again and it worked flawless even in the heavy truck. If you want a bad ass OD trans I wouldnt go anywhere else besides Gerald. If I ever need another 4l60e I will ship it SC to Gerald, I have a really great trans guy here in TX but he can not get a 4l60e to work like Gerald.

My bad

As far as a core goes, your best value for the buck is a 4L65E. The 65 has a lot of hard parts in it already that you would have to pay lots of bucks for to upgrade a 60. The 65 already has 5 pinion planets, hardened input and output shafts, and a hardened stator support shaft.

A 4L60/65E can handle 600-700hp with the right combination of parts and a proper tune on the electronic side. Anything past that and its time for a 4L80E. The 80 can handle 1000hp and up. Of course, if you are making that much power, dealing with the extra weight of the 80 really doesn't matter!

65e needs a trans controller, right?

The 4L65E runs off the factory PCM. The 65 is just basically a 5 pinion planet version of the 4L60E. The same tune that runs a 4L60E can run a 4L65E.

I thought the 65e had a seperate controller ie TCM in the GTO....

I haven't personally dealt with trans electronics on a GTO yet, but if it has a separate TCM, it will run either a 60 or a 65. I do know that a TBSS has a separate TCM.