Looking at a couple of options for a trans. I currently have a stock 4l60e. I will be adding performance goodies very soon and I will need something to hold up. Could I get by with upgrading my stock trans. If I go the 80e route, should I go with the 6L80e or 4L80e? Also see a member here selling a FLT 4l65e level 7. Also how much extra would it cost to go the 6l80e or 4L80e route.
For you Louisiana guys, if I do the 4L60e upgrade, who do you recommend in my area (Baton Rouge). Two names have been mentioned and they were Powertrain Specialties and Morris Transmission. Have any of you had dealings with these guys.

 

both of those are good trans shops.... but no one seems to beable to build a 60e that can hold up for the long haul (theres always exceptions). I went the 4l80e route and it ended up costing me 2000 including a 1000 dollar converter, but I did all the work my self.

 

4l80, its twice the weight, but a hell of alot stronger stock for stock and built for built

 

Is it better than the 6L80?

 

My understanding is its very expensive to swap in a 6l80e... ur best bet would probably go ahead with the 4l80e...

 

well, I have never had a 6l80 so I can't comment...

but the facts are the 6l80 has been out for 2-3 years and has little to no aftermarket parts available. The 4l80 has been out for 15-20, and has a much greater aftermarket. I personally have one in my tahoe which has been raped repeatedly with a 502 and a 200 shot....(so an honest 700 hp at the crank) and my other in the 2500 sub has a 6 liter making 537 rwhp in front of it. Both have been used to tow 10K lbs, and drive like a leadfoot (lets just say I try to get pulled over, and I even tow at 80-90 mph)......65k on the suburban, 30 on the tahoe since the 502.

I wouldn't even look at a half ton suburban when I got this one, having moved 4l80's around and almost killed myself (they're close to 250 without a 75 lb stock sized convertor) as compared to a 4l60 at 130+40-50lbs with a convertor.......well the difference in which is going to stay together is pretty evident.

Of course I've never owned a 6l80 and having 2 extra gears is never a bad thing....the 4l80 is just tried and tested.

 

As far as 6l80e experience this is my 1st and i put 522hp to the ground on a local dyno... i dont constantly beat on my truck but im far from a paw paw and with about 3k miles since the blower so far so good....

 

these guys are dead on.. the 4l80e is stronger than the 6l80e. its more readily available, relatively cheap and theres more of an aftermarket world. and they are pretty tough even in stock form. the only down side is that they have a 2.5 first gear. so you have to compensate for that with an aggressive rear gear. I am very satisfied with my 4l80e. picked it up for 750 bucks threw a shift kit in and been beating on it for close to 2000 miles now. the conversion wasn't very hard at all either.

 

So for the occasional trackster (maybe 6 passes ) and a little street punch, yall are saying that a 4l60 wont hold up. I'm definitely not one to beat on my truck.

 

4L60E's are like 10bolt rear ends in LS1 Camaro/transam, yea there are people running High 11's-low 12's and so far so good, but just looking from an engineering perspective its only a matter of time..

Food for thought, the 4l60E's are rated at 360ftlbs torque 4l80e's are able to handle more than 460ftlbs of torque.