Eddie did mine... extremely good work!
Need help with transmission selection
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
Need help with transmission selection
Well I posted a while back that I finaly got my car running and got it dynoed I have chewed up 2 tranneys since then and one of them claimed to handle over 700hp I killed it in less than a day. the 700r4 is junk. what are some of the automatic combos that have worked for you guys with the least mods.
I am looking at 2 options
1 gear venders behind a 400 turbo
2 2004r built to the hilt (grand national transmission)
Thanks for the advise in advance.
I am looking at 2 options
1 gear venders behind a 400 turbo
2 2004r built to the hilt (grand national transmission)
Thanks for the advise in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Is this strictly a track car?? I'm not sure. If it's a street car I would almost say go with a 4L80E. But that's only if you care about gas mileage and highway driving and can spare the extra 100 lbs.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,637
Likes: 2
From: Honeoye Ny
Ive got two words. TRANS BRAKE! that alone makes it worth looking into the 400. On the other hand, my Dad runs a built to the hill 700 behind a 6-71 blown 355 making 12 psi. The truck is an all steel extended cab s-10 weighing 4000lbs.
It has a transbrake from Darkhorse in it now (4th or 5th trans rebuild since '93 or about 10k miles, 3 motors, 2 sets of heads, oh yea my old man likes to party with the gas pedal) and it'll hang em high on the 10.5 slicks. So if you wanna spend the bucks on the parts 700's can live @6-700hp for a while. Whereas a 400/GVOD will do all the above for twice as long for a little more$$$.
me, I dream of lenco's. Hydraulic (power steering pump) cylinder actuated, paddle shifted lenco's. After all, the st1200 is only about 10" in dia. It sure would fit in the tunnel well.
It has a transbrake from Darkhorse in it now (4th or 5th trans rebuild since '93 or about 10k miles, 3 motors, 2 sets of heads, oh yea my old man likes to party with the gas pedal) and it'll hang em high on the 10.5 slicks. So if you wanna spend the bucks on the parts 700's can live @6-700hp for a while. Whereas a 400/GVOD will do all the above for twice as long for a little more$$$.
me, I dream of lenco's. Hydraulic (power steering pump) cylinder actuated, paddle shifted lenco's. After all, the st1200 is only about 10" in dia. It sure would fit in the tunnel well.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 2
From: Houston TX
I too went through multiple rebuilds and even replacement of the 700R4. They would not seem to last behind (at the time) 575RWHP for very long. Weird things would happen on these fully built transmissions (broke the input shaft, sheared the sun shell, broke the pump tangs off the convertor, etc.). So back about 7 years ago, I switched to a cryo treated ZF. This was a great move, but slowed me down at the track and sent me on another steep learning curve with the clutch (I think everyone will recall the CF dual friction, and then the SPEC drama, but I am now quite happy with the McLeod). I also had to step up a bit in gearing in the D44 as well.
I found the ZF to be the best alternative for a car that you do not want to totally chop, has high HP, and still will be a street car.
Best of Luck in your decision.
Aaron
I found the ZF to be the best alternative for a car that you do not want to totally chop, has high HP, and still will be a street car.
Best of Luck in your decision.
Aaron
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Helena AL.
I put a 4L80E in my car several years back and love it. Using the TCI controller and it is nice, adjust all shift points at WOT at any rpm given. Torque converter lock up at any mph. Using a Precison 5 disc lock-up.
There is very little cutting to be done to the fiberglass under the shifter console. Also have been told that someone (Hughes I think) sells a trans brake for them now. I had my 700R4 built too many times, there was no way it was going to hold up.
Heres a link to pictures if interested.
http://www.twinturbovette.net/Updates.html
There is very little cutting to be done to the fiberglass under the shifter console. Also have been told that someone (Hughes I think) sells a trans brake for them now. I had my 700R4 built too many times, there was no way it was going to hold up.
Heres a link to pictures if interested.
http://www.twinturbovette.net/Updates.html
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
EX gold Ithink you have what I am looking for. I would love to control my tranny with a computer but did not want the other 700r4 version. did you have to have custom exhaust made or did the same exhaust u used on the 700 work. also did you gain or loose horse power and can you explain what you ment by cut it alittle bit can you give more details thanks for the help.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Helena AL.
My exhaust was already custom but we did have to modify it a little to clear the 4L80E.
Everyone told me that I would loose upward of 40 hp. when I put the 4L80E in my car, not to mention the extra weight. Well, dyno day came as a suprise, we gained 130 hp to the rear wheels over the 700R4 simply because it wasn't slipping.
I can't find any of my old pictures of the cutting I did in the tunnel under the shifter. The hole would be compared in size to a business card.
The 4L80E is a heavy trans. It is a pain to fit in a C4. Driveshaft has to be cut to length. Has to be adapted to fit the torque arm ( C beam). The TCI controller is around $750.00. 1st has straight cut gears that are noisy and not as deep as the 700R4. All things to consider.
But for now I am very glad we went through the troubles and will soon see what kind of power it will hold with the new motor and turbo kit.
Everyone told me that I would loose upward of 40 hp. when I put the 4L80E in my car, not to mention the extra weight. Well, dyno day came as a suprise, we gained 130 hp to the rear wheels over the 700R4 simply because it wasn't slipping.
I can't find any of my old pictures of the cutting I did in the tunnel under the shifter. The hole would be compared in size to a business card.
The 4L80E is a heavy trans. It is a pain to fit in a C4. Driveshaft has to be cut to length. Has to be adapted to fit the torque arm ( C beam). The TCI controller is around $750.00. 1st has straight cut gears that are noisy and not as deep as the 700R4. All things to consider.
But for now I am very glad we went through the troubles and will soon see what kind of power it will hold with the new motor and turbo kit.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,637
Likes: 2
From: Honeoye Ny
Yep, I hate to say it, But Ive seen some ford aod conversions with chevy bellhousings that the builders swear will eat up 1khp. Ive never tried one, and I can't remember for the life of me what company it was. It was in hotrod or PHR a few years back.
Used nascar liberty or jerico- www.musclemotorsports.com
They usually have a selection.
Used nascar liberty or jerico- www.musclemotorsports.com
They usually have a selection.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 304
From: Timra, Sweden
No cuting required for me when istalling the 4L80E
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2004-12-26_4l80/
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2005-05-17_electrical/
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2005-05-28_Exhaust/
You can download software and play with the TCI controller settings here:
http://www.tciauto.com/electronics/setup.exe
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2004-12-26_4l80/
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2005-05-17_electrical/
http://www.joby.se/corvette/mods/2005-05-28_Exhaust/
You can download software and play with the TCI controller settings here:
http://www.tciauto.com/electronics/setup.exe
Last edited by JoBy; Aug 3, 2005 at 06:05 AM.