I'm assuming that considering our trucks are made to take punishment under heavy loads, Transmission/rear axle/and transfer case failure is not of the greatest worries.

I know that our drivetrains are not idealistically built for high speed or acceleration, but If one's planning on doing some engine/tire upgrades, at which point would someone need to start changing parts before failure happens. I'm just curious to know how much punishment our trucks can take without deteriorating.

So in other words, suppose you build up a 5.3 block to about 400hp, 500hp, 600hp, etc, at what point would one start to expect transmission failure and even transfer case failure in 4wd?

 

I would expect seeing stock transmission failure at barely over stock hp. Also the factory G-80 is prone to breakage at stock HP levels under certain situations.

 

when you buy the truck and you leave the lott spin the tires and wait for failure out of the g80 rear end! Then put a tune on the truck and take it to the track a few times and be careful with the 4l60.....from my experience i have had much better luck so far than most! I swapped a 6.0 with a mild cam and tune and my other parts are still running!

 

My 4l60e is bone stock 150k miles, been behind the 6.0 for 1 year now. No problems so far, but I have a 4l80e in the wings.

 

Wow, I'm surprised the 4L60 is so weak. I looked it up and the strict maximum it can handle when it comes to torque is 360.

See, I'm not one who will want to spend a ton to upgrade my truck. I'm looking for cheap horsepower. The big money goes towards a bank account i have setup for buying either a first gen or third gen camaro. Or on my miata.

So, basically after installing lpp headers and perhaps a better air intake, I'll most likely be maxed out for what the tranny can handle. Tampering with a new CAM and engine setup will require the need to buy a better transmission? Ouch.

 

4L60E is a shot in the dark... Take Superado for example. He had something crazy like 217k miles on his shift kit/servo Stock 60E behind a procharged? 5.3.. He then got a built 60E and it died there after..
KBracing96 had a shift kit/servo 60E that ran mid 12s in a EC Z71, Got a built 60E and i dont think it lasted that long cause he was 1300 miles from home and broke the output shaft in his.

G80s that last awhile and handle abuse, Stock48 went 10.5s in his Turboed 6.0 RC Z71.
Then the guys that have G80 Failures with very few miles.


Basically if you want some nice power numbers in a truck. Your best bet is goin to be a Eaton LSD or a Detroit Trutrac for the rear diff.
4L80E for a tough transmission.

and if you have a Aluminum or single peice Drive shaft, to get a built one that is high speed balanced.

 

I installed my shift kit and etc around 80k, then had it tuned shortly after... removed all tm, abuse mode etc... had well over 80 something passes on that tranny and it blew one day leaving my house @ 130k

this tranny feels much stronger but it worrys me. sometimes you get those "freaks" and sometimes you dont...

my g80 on teh other hand is still in teh truck and ive probly put 120 or more passes on it at teh track... ranging from stock tires to 33's back down to stock size now on 20's

well over 320hp and torq... still running strong.

 

the transmissions are very hit and miss.. and it has alot to do with driving style... and the G80 IMO can last a while depending upon driving style.....

the g80 works great for a daily driven truck but it sucks for drag racing it doesnt start locked... its open untill it senses wheel slip and then this little weight uses centrifugal force to engage the other tire... so imagine 400 horsepower spinning one tire then all of a sudden slamming to the other tire once wheel slip is detected.... its not made for what we do... Hard launches kill these things... I have an Auburn Limited slip and ive had no problems with it so far... only bad thing about auburn is you have to send it to them to get new clutches where as a eaton you can do it your self... i thing next time im gonna go with a tru trac...

i have a 2001 with 130K i bought it with 90K and i dont know if the tranny is stock or not.. but i put a shift kit and a 3000 stall and now its behind a 6.0 (soon to be cammed) and its holding up fine.. i probably have 30 passes with the 6.0 and probably 75 passes with the 4.8... which went 14.8 1/4 mile...

if it were mine i would put a nice tranny cooler on it and a shift kit and cross your fingers... and if mine blows im gonna put a stock 80e w/ a shift kit behind mine...

 

I have shift kit/servo and bigger bands 60E and my truck down 417hp and 440tq in second gear and still alive for now.

 

Get headers, Shift kit, Servos, locker, and a tune. Leave in some Torque Management to make the transmission last longer and you should be good for a long while.