Looking to upgrade your A6 transmission? Well the wait might finally be over!
06-25-2010, 05:56 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
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Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Brentwood World's first A6 in the 9's (including N/A, blower, turbo and nitrous cars) 9.950@139.267 CA
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Looking to upgrade your A6 transmission? Well the wait might finally be over!
If anybody has ever followed my exploits over the last few years you should know that I go through 6L80 transmissions faster than most people go through tires. In just the past 6 weeks alone I’ve managed to blow up a freshly rebuilt trans as well as one from a wrecking yard with very low miles, both after just 23 passes each.
Tired of not having having any viable upgrade options I was REALLY close to doing a 4L65 conversion before hearing about a new set of clutch packs that had become available from a company called Alto. As soon as I heard about this I was immediately on the phone inquiring about them but was a little disheartened to find out they didn’t have any real world results to validate how well the new clutch packs were holding up in high HP cars. The only results they were able to provide me with were that they had “put them in a few cars and they seem to be holding up well so far”. To me that wasn’t enough proof because quite frankly, you could easily put a bone stock 6L80 in a 1000 HP car and have it last but it doesn’t address the more important question of “how long will it last?”
I did a little more research on the new clutch packs and ended up talking Century Transmission in TX. Mike Kurtz (the owner) had gone a little further with respect to testing in that he was running a built transmission in a Magnacharged Camaro using the Alto clutches and while it was holding up fine so far, he hadn’t really beat on it very much.
After hearing about my car we worked out an agreement for him to build me a strengthened 6L80 (using the new clutches) and purposely beat up on at the track to see how well it would hold up. Unlike some companies who charge a fortune to do a 6L80 upgrade but provide absolutely no track results, Mike realizes that while there are a lot of people looking to upgrade their A6, very view people will want to do so without having solid proof that it will actually work.
The transmission literally got picked up from his shop just a few hours ago and should be in Brentwood by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The current plan is to run it at the Test & Tune next Friday night in Sacramento and then again on Saturday and Sunday at Infineon. I figure I should get at least 23 passes over those three days so anything beyond that will be bonus. After that I’m going to keep racing it on a regular basis (approximately 40 passes per month) and once we get to the three month milestone I’m going to pull the trans and send it back to Mike to do an analysis of how well everything is holding up. The theory behind all of this is that if it can hold up in my car it should be able to hold up in anybody's.
Also, since this is admittedly the testing phase I promise I’ll be sure to post up the results be they good or bad. Mike understands this and as such I think it’ll be a win-win for everybody involved because we both agreed to do whatever is needed to make this project a success and in turn provide a much needed service to A6 owners everywhere.
Wish me luck and thanks for reading!
Christopher
66 track passes to date:
07/02/10 – 13
07/03/10 – 7
07/07/10 – 5
07/09/10 – 13
07/14/10 – 12
07/21/10 - 4
07/28/10 - 3
08/04/10 - 9
Tired of not having having any viable upgrade options I was REALLY close to doing a 4L65 conversion before hearing about a new set of clutch packs that had become available from a company called Alto. As soon as I heard about this I was immediately on the phone inquiring about them but was a little disheartened to find out they didn’t have any real world results to validate how well the new clutch packs were holding up in high HP cars. The only results they were able to provide me with were that they had “put them in a few cars and they seem to be holding up well so far”. To me that wasn’t enough proof because quite frankly, you could easily put a bone stock 6L80 in a 1000 HP car and have it last but it doesn’t address the more important question of “how long will it last?”
I did a little more research on the new clutch packs and ended up talking Century Transmission in TX. Mike Kurtz (the owner) had gone a little further with respect to testing in that he was running a built transmission in a Magnacharged Camaro using the Alto clutches and while it was holding up fine so far, he hadn’t really beat on it very much.
After hearing about my car we worked out an agreement for him to build me a strengthened 6L80 (using the new clutches) and purposely beat up on at the track to see how well it would hold up. Unlike some companies who charge a fortune to do a 6L80 upgrade but provide absolutely no track results, Mike realizes that while there are a lot of people looking to upgrade their A6, very view people will want to do so without having solid proof that it will actually work.
The transmission literally got picked up from his shop just a few hours ago and should be in Brentwood by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The current plan is to run it at the Test & Tune next Friday night in Sacramento and then again on Saturday and Sunday at Infineon. I figure I should get at least 23 passes over those three days so anything beyond that will be bonus. After that I’m going to keep racing it on a regular basis (approximately 40 passes per month) and once we get to the three month milestone I’m going to pull the trans and send it back to Mike to do an analysis of how well everything is holding up. The theory behind all of this is that if it can hold up in my car it should be able to hold up in anybody's.
Also, since this is admittedly the testing phase I promise I’ll be sure to post up the results be they good or bad. Mike understands this and as such I think it’ll be a win-win for everybody involved because we both agreed to do whatever is needed to make this project a success and in turn provide a much needed service to A6 owners everywhere.
Wish me luck and thanks for reading!
Christopher
66 track passes to date:
07/02/10 – 13
07/03/10 – 7
07/07/10 – 5
07/09/10 – 13
07/14/10 – 12
07/21/10 - 4
07/28/10 - 3
08/04/10 - 9
Last edited by thesubfloor; 08-05-2010 at 02:37 AM.
06-25-2010, 07:26 PM
#6
ZO6 Owner
06-25-2010, 11:43 PM
#10
Instructor
Christopher,
You should call and talk to Circle D in Houston also. They have created their own upgraded clutches and look to have a great setup also, but they are saying that no matter what you tell the computer to set the line pressures to it won't. Sounds to me like HP tuners has not unlocked all of the programming, and that there is currently no way to overcome some of the nanny's in the computer. Circle D said that they actually put gages on the tranny and then commanded pressures and it had absolutely no effect on the actual line pressures. Circle D said as long as you don't go over 800rwhp their 6L80 is lasting, but much over that and it is trash after a few passes. I am waiting on my InTank Fuel pump from Aeromotive and then going to step it up to around 800rwhp and see how my Rossler tranny holds up. The latest GM High Tech has an article about a Livernois 800rwhp 6L80 C6 with a Rossler tranny that has lasted for several years, but don't know how it is driven. My little N/A motor has had tons of passes, and several 200mph pulls, with no issues on the Rossler Tranny, but I am only making a little over 500rwhp and no converter.
Aaron
You should call and talk to Circle D in Houston also. They have created their own upgraded clutches and look to have a great setup also, but they are saying that no matter what you tell the computer to set the line pressures to it won't. Sounds to me like HP tuners has not unlocked all of the programming, and that there is currently no way to overcome some of the nanny's in the computer. Circle D said that they actually put gages on the tranny and then commanded pressures and it had absolutely no effect on the actual line pressures. Circle D said as long as you don't go over 800rwhp their 6L80 is lasting, but much over that and it is trash after a few passes. I am waiting on my InTank Fuel pump from Aeromotive and then going to step it up to around 800rwhp and see how my Rossler tranny holds up. The latest GM High Tech has an article about a Livernois 800rwhp 6L80 C6 with a Rossler tranny that has lasted for several years, but don't know how it is driven. My little N/A motor has had tons of passes, and several 200mph pulls, with no issues on the Rossler Tranny, but I am only making a little over 500rwhp and no converter.
Aaron
Last edited by sheesnaz; 06-25-2010 at 11:46 PM.
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06-25-2010, 11:59 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Nov 2008
Location: Lower RGV
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St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
I just tried drag racing for the 1st time over the last 2 weekends... and it's a blast. The one concern I have is the effect on the trans. I wish you luck and Century Transmissions the best of luck.
06-26-2010, 12:55 AM
#12
Team Owner
Looking forward to the results/progress Christopher, good luck. 
I was going to mention them as well as they also appear to be making some decent progress with the 6L80. 
06-26-2010, 01:48 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
I saw those over at Tech. Thought they only have the 4/5/6 packs so far...still working on 2/3.
Good prices on them too. The packs themselves are only about $250-300 I believe. Of course, the installation is what would be the bear.
Thanks for being the guinea pig.
Anxiously
...........
Good prices on them too. The packs themselves are only about $250-300 I believe. Of course, the installation is what would be the bear.
Thanks for being the guinea pig.
Anxiously
...........
06-26-2010, 02:09 AM
#14
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
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C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I sure hope it works for you. If you can get the 120+ passes without a failure, then I know if (more like when) mine breaks, I'll know where to get the fix.
06-26-2010, 12:13 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Mar 2008
Location: Williamsburg Virginia
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Sounds great, I have been wanting to take mine to the strip but I know the stock tranny wouldn't last.
Has anyone talked to RPM Transmissions lately? I don't know where they are with their A6, I have been meaning to call them.
Also, has anyone tried the 6L80E 300M Hardened Intermediate Shaft, part number BPT-6L80IntShaft?
Has anyone talked to RPM Transmissions lately? I don't know where they are with their A6, I have been meaning to call them.
Also, has anyone tried the 6L80E 300M Hardened Intermediate Shaft, part number BPT-6L80IntShaft?
06-26-2010, 11:04 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Christopher,
You should call and talk to Circle D in Houston also. They have created their own upgraded clutches and look to have a great setup also, but they are saying that no matter what you tell the computer to set the line pressures to it won't. Sounds to me like HP tuners has not unlocked all of the programming, and that there is currently no way to overcome some of the nanny's in the computer. Circle D said that they actually put gages on the tranny and then commanded pressures and it had absolutely no effect on the actual line pressures. Circle D said as long as you don't go over 800rwhp their 6L80 is lasting, but much over that and it is trash after a few passes.
You should call and talk to Circle D in Houston also. They have created their own upgraded clutches and look to have a great setup also, but they are saying that no matter what you tell the computer to set the line pressures to it won't. Sounds to me like HP tuners has not unlocked all of the programming, and that there is currently no way to overcome some of the nanny's in the computer. Circle D said that they actually put gages on the tranny and then commanded pressures and it had absolutely no effect on the actual line pressures. Circle D said as long as you don't go over 800rwhp their 6L80 is lasting, but much over that and it is trash after a few passes.
06-26-2010, 11:14 PM
#20
Instructor
Yeah, that 1000hp+ car is that Camaro that was first to the 9's, but they have had several rebuilds on it. They said they have enough clutch material to survive over 1000hp but the computer is the problem.