I vote for a 6L80 swap.

(6L80 is GM's new six-speed automatic. It bolts up anywhere a 4L60 will, and is the same size. You'd need a controller for it just like you would for a 4L80, but it'd be really cool.)

 

well is the 6L80 a proven contender for strip cars. I have never heard of it being very good. I think im going to get a th400. Just need to find one beefed up enough for me ready to bolt on.

 

No, it's not a proven contender, because it's too new and I don't think anyone who knows what they're doing has tried to build a real strip car using one yet.

So it's not a proven combo, but that doesn't mean it can't work. You'd just be the first.

 

The least expensive solution is a stock T56. It will hold up pretty well. How long it lasts is variable and depends on how often you launch hard with sticky tires on a prepped surface. Obviously is very streetable. You will need a Street Twin clutch and flywheel for about $1,200 but other than that it's "free". The problem with it is that in stock form it can't be speed shifted and will therefore be giving up some ET. You can have a T56 built up to make it pretty bulletproof and so that you can speed shift it. But that gets very pricey - in the $4-5,000 range plus the clutch.

You mention "drag car". I am not sure what kind of drag racing you're referring to. If you mean bracket racing, any manually shifted tranny (even a manually shifted automatic) will put you at a big disadvantage. The only way to be consistent enough to win against tough competition on a regular basis is to have a tranny that is shifted with an air shifter or an electrical equivalent. IOW, an "automatic" with a manual valve body and an air shifter to shift it "automatically". Sounds stupid, but that's the best way I could express it. A Lenco or other "clutchless" manual can also be shifted mechanically.

The problem with a TH400, as has been mentioned, is the lack of an OD. This will kill your car for serious street use. The TH400+GV solves this but is expensive. I think the cheapest "best of both worlds" solution is currently the 4L80, though not enough people have done it to make it "plug and play". This is not cheap by any means either - remember that with any auto you also have to buy a converter, which to be appropriate for this kind of use will run close to $1,000 and a shifter for another couple hundred.

If I still wanted to use my 800+rwhp car at the track, I'd go for the upgraded T56. A T56 + big power is a joy on the street. An auto, even with OD, is not due to the high stall converter needed. Of course, my track use for the Camaro was never brackets. It was test n' tune and grudge racing. As it is, I am using a stock T56 - it lasts fine on the street as traction is so limited compared to sticky tires on a track. And I don't do "hole shots" on the street. I will upgrade it as needed.

If I had an unlimited budget, I'd do up a 5-speed Lenco with a 2.73 rear end. What with the cost of the parts and all the custom work needed that would be in the $10K range though.

Rich

 

Wow, you made my choice even harder. lol. Thank you for int info, but damn. Im back at square one. If i knew this was all so hard, I would have a different hobby. I can just imagin what problems Im going to have when i start draining my bank acount though.

As far as which tranny, still Im not very familar with them. Like the air shift etc. I dont know what kind of racing I will get into, b/c I still have the same car i started with. Most likely I will start off going to the track and getting to know my car and then decide from there. I wont lie, Im leaning torward the proven th400. I have a m6 now and even with 350-400 rwhp, it has problems, and i have the carbin internals. Before I sell it i will rebuild it myself.

 

I think you will be happy with the Th400, and if you find that you miss overdrive it can always be added.

 

go with Rossler or probuilt, learn from my Mistake

 

Had a probuilt and it lasted maybe 2 thousand miles and then turned into a huge paper weight.