I am going to be putting a 5.3 into an 84 chevy c10 and need a transmission to go with it. Since I am starting with nothing should I find a 60e or 80e? The 5.3 only has a small torque cam in it now. The only mod it might get later is a little bigger cam. The only towing that it will see is hauling a couple of 4 wheelers. I have read that I will lose some power with the 4l80e. How much of a difference is there? It won't be raced but will be driven fairly hard. Will a 4l60e hold up?

 

80e would be overkill for that setup. I would just use a 60e.

 

Sure it will hold, for a while..... I'd do a 4l80e. It's overkill, but it is very nice not having t o worry about trans issues.....

 

Those older trucks are so much lighter than the newer trucks that I would stay with the 60e/65e70e trans family.

peace
Hog

 

80e and be done with it.

 

If going with a junkyard or local builder, I say 80e. And then have no worries.

 

I've heard that an 80 can have as much as 50 HP parasitic loss but the money you would dump into a 60 later would pay for the 80 now!

 

+1 for a 4L60/65/70E......

 

I would do built 60e, you dont weigh much more than an fbody with around the same power, i think it will be fine.
once forced induction come into play, its another story

 

I think a built 60 would hold it with no problem at your power level, but you could get an 80 at a junkyard that would cost less and be stronger as well. Since you're starting from scratch, do it once.