Ok, I currently have a 4L60-E in my 87 GTA and I think the 3-4 clutches are going, again... Although it will not cost me much to have it fixed at this point, I would like to consider other options that might enhance performance.

One consideration would be to go with a 2004r. I have been witness to many of these holding up very well behind turbo buicks and 400+ cu in olds motors. The gear ratios are closer in this slushbox vs. the 700r4/4L60/4L60-E which will improve 1/4 mile performance. The problem lies in that I will have to track down everything neccessary to convert my F-body over to TTA transmission specs including locating a crossmember, driveshaft, and shift cable bracket. I would hate to give up my current LS1 aluminum driveshaft for a steel one so finding an aluminum unit to replace it with that will jive with the 2004r would be a bonus. Does anyone know where to come across these parts for a reasonable price?

Another consideration would be to do the T-56 swap. I already have the M5 clutch and brake pedal assy's for the 3rd gen as well as the shifter plate for the center console. However, I am unable to locate a good 94-97 T56 for under $1000. Anyone know where to get a good one cheaper? Don't have to funds to pay out more than $1000 for this whole swap let alone just for the trans but this "upgrade" would be preferred.

Keep in mind that I should be able to sell the rebuilt 4L60-E for the going rate which will put funds toward whatever I plan to do. I must keep a budget tho so any advice anyone can give me that meets all my criteria would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

www.rosslertrans.com will rebuild your tranny well for you. 6 months after I stuck an LPE 383 behind it, my 700R4 shredded (LPE gave it 1 year max) and this was with me babying it. 3.5 years after the rebuild, it broke the sun shell gear with me beating on it at least 2 times a day.

 

thanks for the info, but I don't want another 700r4/4L60/4L60-E trans. Aside from always having the potential of burning 3-4 clutch pack up, I would rather have a manual or something with closer gearing. Thanks for the info tho.

 

Have you tryied a race over haul kit?
You could do it your self and would last longer than a stock rebuild.
if you had the time you could stick new clutches on there when ever you had to, but that would suck.
They can take a beating, I saw 1 guy runing high 10's on stock block with a NOS 175 dry shot and the cars orignal TH700R4.
And he didn't put a hole lot of $ into the gear box it's self.

 

Ok, here is the deal. No "stock" 700r4 will last long in a 10 second machine unless the car only weighed 1200 lbs. It might last a couple of passes, but it will not last all season with 10+ passes a week. The problem here is durability. I have no doubt that joe blow's trans rebuild kit will work in just about any application imaginable at least a couple times. I would like to have something that will last 50,000 miles or more behind a 420hp engine that is constantly beat on.

In fact, I have come across a couple of articles pertaining to this issue that all said the same thing: too much pressure during the 2-3 shift can throw shift timing off causing a bind-up which is more likely to burn the 3-4 clutches than the 2-4 band.

Upon the heels of this advice, I lowered the line pressure on the 4L60-E's chip pertaining to 3rd gear and found that the transmission has started to act normally. You see, when this happened, I was driving the car last night when it was fairly cold out, about 37 degrees. I am thinking that the cold weather made the trans run colder causing thicker fluid resulting in higher line pressure. Also, the colder trans fluid will also result in a lower fluid level compared to the summer time. When this "slipping" was felt, the trans fluid temp was only about 130 degrees and it normally runs at 180 degrees on a hot summer day which was the last time I filled the trans. Damn these things are picky.

Anyway, I still would like to up my performance this winter so I am still looking for an alternative to the relatively wide gear ratios found in the 700r4/4L60/4L60-E/4L65-E line of transmissions.

Thanks for the info anyway.

 

I would def. go with the T-56 Those trannies can hold up to about 400 ft lbs of tourqe with no problem stock!! Thats the swap that I might go for if I don't decided to rebuild my 700R4. For under 1000, I hate to say it but you probably wont find one with reasonable miles for that price, usually it will range around 1200-1400 for a decent one. Good luck with your swap.

 

thanks for the info... i am afraid you are right about the cost. I will have to keep looking.

 

http://www.spohn.net/index.cfm?fusea...t&productid=14

If you can get a 200R4 for cheap that might be the route to go...

 

I am in a similar boat as you. I had 5 T5s, but after that went with a th350. The th350 is on its way out, but just due to bagging on it all the time, and the rebuild is cheap. HOWEVER, there is no OD and that is already driving me nutz with 3.27s and 10" converter. I need to step upto 4.10 gears with good gear spacing if possible, but would then REALLY need OD in order to make the car streetable. I have a 200-4R in great shape in my garage which I would like to build, or for now at least put it into the car (with a 305 its currently attached to for winter). Problem is the torque arm and crossmember. I have a hard time beliving that nobody has ever fabricated some sort of crossmember mounted bracet to hold the stock torque arm in place. There has to be an alternative to a $400 aftermarket torque arm. The driveshaft you can get custom cut, so that is not a big deal. LET me know what you find out.

As for the T56, awsome trans. PERFECT gear spacing with 4.10s, and excellent ODs. Can't go wrong. I love mine in my '94.

 

Didn't the TTA's use the standard torque arm? I thought those just used some sort of bracket that would bolt to the crossmember and extend out to the torque arm so GM didn't have to change the design. I will have to look at one for sure to see.

 

Supposedly a different crossmember and bracket, GM does not make it anymore from what I heard.

 

You would be correct, the TTA crossmember is different, you can TRY to find a TTA crossmember, perhaps from someone that upgraded to steve spohns units...