I'm guessing it's more then an oil cooler, and shift kit. How do you make a trans able to take more abuse?

 

well i added "the beast"sun sheel with i think is the weakest point in a 4l60. i also added a corvette servo witch holds the band tighter for less slippage in 2nd gear. then i installed the transgo hd2 shift kit.

 

Could you elaborate a little on this;

"the beast"sun sheel

Thanks.

 

Here are a few examples of what goes into a "built" trans:

http://www.jagperformance.com/transmissions.asp

https://www.flp2win.com/store/transmission.php

 

Cool. I don't understand half of that stuff, but it's still quite interesting. So let me get this straight; a 4L65E is a 4L60E with a bunch of stuff changed out of it right? At what point does it become a good idea to beef up your 4L60E, in terms of RWHP? This truck needs to last me a very, very long time. I'm aiming for about 300RWHP.

 

the 60e is weak, plain and simple. if you want durability and longevity your gonna eventually have to have it built.

 

But no matter how built your 4L60e is, these trucks will break it if you make any kind of respectable power. If you plan on making more than 500 rwhp, go with a built 4L80e. It is good for around 1000 rwhp. A very rock solid tranny, and it cost about the same as a built 4L60e.

 

Here is an article on the 65e and what parts are different. http://www.superchevy-web.com/tech/0311sc_4l65e/ The most notable difference I would say is the 5 pinion planetary gears instead of the 60's 4 pinion - this right here . For your needs I would say either a good built 60 or a 65 and a cooler would be quite sufficient. I had an average of about 350rwhp through my stock 60 with the factory cooler, a transgo shift kit, billet accumulator piston, servo release check valve (all inexpensive parts) and it held up fine for over a year. I've also had a 3k stall since 7k miles on the truck.

Keep in mind it all depends how you treat the truck, if you use slicks at the track, the line pressure, and the quality of the build/or installation. There are guys who are almost stock that blow up the 60's in a matter of months, and there are guys getting by with about 400hp. I think a good built 65 can take 500hp, because I'm just about there with no probs yet. The 4L80e weighs alot, takes more hp to turn, and is not a walk in the park installation - I'd say if youre above 500hp and going through well built 65's, then its time for a 80.

 

What actually constitutes a "built" transmission? I mean what parts need to be upgraded to actually call it a "built" tranny vice just a rebuilt tranny? I just had mine rebuilt and I had them install the shift kit, servos, red altos (or something like that) bands, seperator plate, accumilater housing and piston and a few other things that I can't remember right now. Is mine considered "built"? I did NOT have the major had parts upgraded like the sungear and input/output shafts.

 

Awsome info 03GMC! So I could build my 4L60-E with a kit, or chance it to a 4L65-E also with a kit. I'm guessing it's better to strengthen it before it breaks, then build it better after it breaks. Right?