Is the 4L60E the same thing as the TH350? but with electronic controls? And with all this T/M B.S is chevrolet basically saying their trans. aren't ****...or is it for the grandpa driver just cruising to the grocery store once a week? A GOOD built trans should not need "protection" for a longer life....so I don't want to hear that! B/c the old Th350's were proof! Thanks guys!

 

YES but w/o overdrive obviously. Same as turbo 400/4l80e. Just get it built / shift kit and it'll make ya happier unless your going for insane H.P.

 

The 4L60E is a light duty car/truck transmission that is not designed to handle a lot of horsepower. If you want a stout transmission go for the 4L80E. Its basically a TH400 with OD. Im not sure what the 4L60E is based on. Maybe what GM had laying around in a scrap pile but definitly not the TH350.

 

these transmissions arent made to handel a mass amount of hp... its meant to tow to its capabilities and meant to be driving NORMALLY.. not how we race them, lol. But a well built 4l60e or 65e (same thing basically) can be built up to handle in the ballpark of 500rwhp w/o t/m. Only problem with 4l80e is that it robs a lot hp, more so than through the 60e drivetrain... 4l80e is a good idea if your eventually wanting to go FI or build a motor in the 500+ hp range.

 

I dunno if its "a lot" of extra parasitic loss compared to a 60e...maybe slightly more. The first syclone with a 80e installed actually picked up one or two tenths compared to the 60e with no other changes. The 80e is most deffinately heavier IF you keep the stock torque converter but put a higher stall converter in a 80E and then theres maybe ~65lbs diff between the two.


Fellow294,

The 60e is not an electronic th350 and arent related in any way that Ive seen, read, or heard of. However, the 60E is an electronic version of the 700R4. The break down is basically like this:

700R4=non electronic controlled 4spd OD trans
4L60=700R4 when GM decided to change the name in the early 90s.
4L60E=Electronic controlled 700R4/4L60 (thats where the E comes from).

There are differences between the above models as well as updates during the production run but most of the basic gear train is interchangable either in pieces or sub assemblies from the early years to the present time.

The 4L80E as was stated is a direct relative of the th400 in so much that quite a few of the parts in the 80e will interchange between it and the th400. Its safe to say (generally speaking) that an 80e is a th400 with electroinc controls and overdrive added.

If you can swallow the cost then theres no comparison between an 80e and a 700/60e. Hell, the OD clutches in an 80e are bigger in dia than the entire pump thats in a 60e .

 

 

The closer ratios of the 80e trans over the 60 e trans help with shift recovery. The rpm drop is less with a close speed trans than with a trans with wide ratios like the 4l60e/65e/70e transmissions.
the 80e is much better trans internally with much better shifts as it doesnt have any nabnds like teh 60e series trans does. Clutches and steels all the way baby.

peace
Hog

 

DO IT THAN!! lol

 

I agree with all of what Hog said about the 60E vs the 80E as far as ratios and what not. The gear spread between 1st and 2nd is not NEARLY as bad in a 80E compared to the 60E. The deep (lower) first gear in a 60E makes a vehicle with moderate power accellerate like a more powerful vehicle but the huge jump on the 1-2 shift really pulls the motor WAY down in rpm (and breaks parts on a high tq vehicle). The 80E's closer ratios may not give you as much of an explosive off the line accelleration as 60E in a moderately powerful vehicle but the ratio difference between 1st and 2nd is not nearly as dramatic so its easier (IMO) to keep the engine at peak hp throughout the test.

BTW, the 80E does have bands....two of them to be exact compared to the 60E's one band. However, one band of the 80E is prolly heavier and has more friction surface than two 60E bands LOL. Comparing the internals of a 60E to the internals of an 80E is like comparing a 100lb weakling to a 350lb power lifter....as in no comparison and the 80E is a brute of a trans hands down.

 

I've heard people claim the 700R4 was based upon a TH350. I guess it sure didn't inherit the the claim of being bulletproof. Parasitic losses for the TH400 is 45hp, the TH350 takes 30hp and the powerglide take a staggaring 20hp.

Here's a great GM transmission reference:
http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/oftrn.htm