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How much Horsepower can 94 Auto Transmission Handle.
I am picking up a very clean low mileage (66K) 94 automatic convertible. It has a rod knock so I am trying to decide if I should rebuild the engine or install a fully built 383 that I have. It was set up for a drag racer and has never been run. It has a forged rotating assembly, Eagle, rods, heads cam etc. I expect that it will make 400+ hp. I am not a drag racer and would probably have to detune it for street use. I am leaning toward a rebuild, subject to inspecting the bottom end. Will the stock Auto Trans survive with the stroker engine?
If you're planning to do a 383, eventually you will wear out the 700r4/4L60 you have. When it goes just depends on a lot of variables but generally I'd not expect it to last many years in stock form, behind 375-400 TQ+. It can survive, and you can drive it daily for awhile, or it might start losing the 1-2 or 2-3 shifts within a couple months.
I drove around with ~500 flywheel torque for a couple years, never really beating on it, and then the 1-2 shift started to go. I've seen others here lose the tranny behind less power than I make and in much less time. So there is not definitive answer to your question. It depends. Adding a cooler in front of your radiator will help longevity, but eventually that much power breaks something.
So you need to understand that you can do the engine and it'll be fine for a period of time, you can get it tuned and drive it daily, but at some point the rebuild will be necessary.
The transmission can be built up to handle your engine. Drive with the current transmission and when/if it fails just build it up to handle the higher torque and horsepower of your engine.
There are plenty of threads on building the transmission to handle more power on the forum.
Transmission is living on borrowed time if you install the 383, detuned or not. I'd leave it the way it is and prepare for a new rear and and transmission rebuild. I had an LPE 383 mated to a fresh rebuild. After tuning, LPE told me it would not last a year. 9 months with me babying it. I wouldn't put another penny into it.
2 options. While things are out, have it rebuilt better. This is a time of YOUR choosing. That or you can let it fail and figure out a rebuild at a time, NOT of your choosing.
I have had 2 rebuilt behind my mild 396..1993
Finally had Pro Built Automatics build it. Dana set me straight. I do have a Vigilante Converter and 3.75 gears. Gears take a little load off of the transmission, due to easier accelerating.
I dont drag it anymore, not that I did much anyways.
But, I highly recommend a external cooler inline with the radiators cooler lines. I use a big B&M stacked cooler. Stock pan, and good fluid.
Never get on it when cold, that helps the engine and transmission.
Thanks for all the responses. Unless the bottom end is a complete disaster, I will probably rebuild it and sell the stroker. It is complete with intake, injectors etc. It has only been run on a test bed. Can anyone tell me what it's worth for a quick sale?
To price a 383, need who built it, specifics of build (Compression, cam lift, pistons rings), components of bottom end, specs on cam, who did the heads etc etc..
install a fully built 383 that I have. It was set up for a drag racer and has never been run
The million dollar question and of course the elephant in the room.
Is such 383 a LT1/LT4 based engine ?
Nothing else matters until that is resolved. If it is not, then discussion about installing such is a moot point, and further discussion should shift towards rebuild of the engine and building the transmission.
Unless the bottom end is a complete disaster, I will probably rebuild it and sell the stroker.
As I noted above, if the stroker is not a 92 - 97 LTx based engine, then it is a moot point whether the bottom end is trashed or not.
That was who Lingenfelter recommended after tuning my car. He warned me it would be needing a rebuild within a year. Like an idiot, I waited. When does it break? Cold weather and worst time possible, of course.
That was who Lingenfelter recommended after tuning my car. He warned me it would be needing a rebuild within a year. Like an idiot, I waited. When does it break? Cold weather and worst time possible, of course.
Pucker factor is always happening when I floor it, and now with sticky tires......ouch. I always make sure its warm and no more stop light fast starts. I just roll into it..
383 Stroker engine is LT1 based and it is a new build, although it has been sitting in my shop for a few years. The Stock LT1 in the Corvette has the rod knock.
Pucker factor is always happening when I floor it, and now with sticky tires......ouch. I always make sure its warm and no more stop light fast starts. I just roll into it..
Since it is a LT1/optispark based engine, I would just build the transmission. Just be aware, the next weak link would then be the Dana 36 differential. The auto cars are the weak sister's as
compared to the stick cars.
Tires as of late were really bad old ones, so they spun easily. Old, BFG KDs. Now, I have Nitto NT05 315s in the rear..
I wont due a super sticky tire on the street ever again. Dangerous and too much fun.
Before I did have 15 Inch Welds With ET Drags. Ran quite a few 1.5 60' times. Broke suspension pieces and transmsissions.
Tires as of late were really bad old ones, so they spun easily. Old, BFG KDs. Now, I have Nitto NT05 315s in the rear..
I wont due a super sticky tire on the street ever again. Dangerous and too much fun.
Before I did have 15 Inch Welds With ET Drags. Ran quite a few 1.5 60' times. Broke suspension pieces and transmsissions.
I'm looking for the stickies tire I can get in stock size
01-21-2021, 04:41 PM
How much Horsepower can 94 Auto Transmission Handle.
