Wheel Stander

I'm hoping someone has experience with A4 trannys for beefed-up
C4 / LT1 motors. My engine builder is going to bore / stroke my motor to 396 CI and install a more radical cam and larger heads. I'm going to a Yank 3400 converter, but my A4 is the stock 4L60E which probably won't hold up long once it starts handling the extra power. Assuming my stock A4 bites the dust, what should I consider buying as a replacement?

Thanks ............ WS

RF1

If I didn't do my own, Rossler.

Wheel Stander

Yeah, I've got Rossler on my short list. Thanks.

l98tpi

RPM Transmission. I have a 4l60 Stage 4 by RPM Transmission and it has been great for the past 4 yrs. It takes a beating.

MDstar2

Rogers Automotive in Chantilly VA. Awesome builder!

tunedport85inject

if you find a good builder ,you can put together a 4l60E hard like a rock.it's pricey since good parts cost.I recently had some training on an old TH700 unit.We ( me and a friend)take it a part lot of times and put it together again.This training made us confident on our ability to run into this challenge. Sonnax trasmission list lots of upgraded parts,very strong modified parts up to 700 hp rated.If you want your tranny rebuild to max torque capacity here some kit/parts i suggest you:

the weak known part are the 3-4 clutches in this unit and the reaction sun shell prone to crack on the spline bottom.
the imput drum is another part that recently had a Sonnax effective upgrade with a bolted on top plate that allows more torque resistance and more room for clutch pack upgrade.
As you know the stock 4l60E uses a 3-4 clutch pack with 6 frictions 5 steels plate setup. Lot of builder use the "more frictions" approach,but more frictions means thinner steels,and a thinner steel cant hold thermal abuse and tend to warp. The best is a compromise with 7 frictions and upgraded ticker steels.Using the Sonnax Smart Imput Drum you have lot of new room available to fit ticker plates that hold hot abuse and hi torque. It's a pricey part that run 430 $ on Ebay.
Another part usually listed on the upgrade kit is the five pinion planetary assy .Reputable bulders encourage you to buy ONLY ACDelco five planetary from the 4l65 E as an effective upgrade to retrofit into early unit.As you know you have a FRONT one and a REAR one since it double the cost.
The also known BEAST reaction shell is an aftermarket part in the 50-70$ range .The Sonnax Smart shell is an upgraded version of these stronger ticker units.It uses torrington bearing in place of the standard washer. Good Alto Red frictions and Kolene impregnated steels complete this upgraded 4l60E.You can find heat treated imput shaft,line pressure booster kit as the boost .500 valve and intermediate valve and spring (into the pump assembly).
Some link to think about
here a master build stage 3 from Trutech
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trutech-Level-3-Master-Builder-Raybestos-Blue-Plate-Rebuild-Kit-1987-1993-700R4-/251356818397?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item3a8608abddhere the Smart imput drum from Sonnax
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonnax-Smart-Input-Housing-Drum-77733-06K-Trutech-4L60E-700R4-4L65E-4L70E-SALE-/251467099015?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8c9b6b87&vxp=mtrhere the Sonnax Smart Shell
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SONNAX-SMART-SUNSHELL-SMARTSHELL-4L60E-700R4-4L65E-4L70E-PROCARE-TRANSMISSIONS-/170880454246?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c944ce66&vxp=mtrhere the 5 pinion rear planetary assy ( it is in the master kit)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-TH700R4-4L60E-4L65E-Transmission-5-Pinion-Rear-Planet-New-AC-Delco-99913-/190815944851?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6d844093&vxp=mtr
best regard
Alberto-Italy

383vett

tunedport85inject

in this Rossler you can see i.e the Billet super servo 3-4 piston,this is larger than the large corvette servo and it translates into more aggressive apply power onto the band,and band reverse input drum assy.Forgot to mention this part from Sonnax too.

Alberto-Italy

tunedport85inject

383 can i ask you about specs?and if you can,how much do you pay for this 4l60 since it holds your sky-pointing monster....

383vett

Hi Tuned, This unit cost about twice as much as a normal built tranny. I've gone through so many of these things that i felt that if I can get a couple of years out of this I'll be ahead. I've had it for 1 year and have already twisted a hardened input shaft. It was my fault because I lock up the converter in 2nd gear resulting in a pretty firm 2-3 shift at full throttle. The tranny was disassembled and looked pretty much new inside in spite of having close to 200 runs in the past year. I have since switched to a billet input shaft ($650) and swore off the early lockup (good for a tenth in my car). Rossler performs many upgrades to these trannies. One of the biggest is the use of a bigger 3-4 clutch pack. Somehow he is able to shoehorn the pieces into a modified drum increasing the diameter 1/4 inch. Multiply that times 9 or so disks and you've got a major increase in surface area. He felt confident that this unit would hold up to my usage. He has the same unit running in an 8 second Impala. One interesting note is that he uses a new 4 pin GM planetary rather than the aftermarket 5 pin upgraded units which he says are weaker and sap hp. He has been in business for decades and uses his knowlege to build these near bulletproof units. I had to wait 4 months to have mine built. Wille

85vet

I agree!!!!

tunedport85inject

Willie,i've done some math and a good 4l60 ( talkin about a 550-600 lbft of torque capable unit) is in the 3.5-4k $.
i know aftermarket 5 pinion planetary are weak,more than a stock GM Delco 4 pinion planetary.Builders recommend DELCO GM 5 pinion from the 4l65.
Wheel Stander is building a 396 ,probably in the 450-500 lb of torque.For an engine like this,if the car isn't track abused, i belive a good rebuild kit with the goodies i've listed is more than enough.we have about 1500-1600 $ in special parts+labour.a unit like this can be performed by a builder in the 1200 $ labours total of 2800$.Let me know guys if i'm good with the math here from Italy.

forgot to mention that a stock Dana 36 it's like a 3 years old kid with a rottweiler on a leash...can't hold too long...

Alberto -Italy

383vett

Hi Alberto, you're Italian math is spot on in regards to the Rossler pricing.

tunedport85inject

RF1

Fortunately, you will not need many upgrades for what you are building.
HD reaction shell, a transgo hi-rev kit, and improved 3-4 pack are my recommendations.
Yank converters are second to none.