auto swap 6l80
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,774
Likes: 38
auto swap 6l80
looking to auto swap this winter to the 6l80 .my biggest thing is i here alot people cant tune these trans .im wondering who i can get to do this and what trans controller would be best for it i am in maryland
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
The real problem is that most people can't tune the 6L80 and they self-destruct. There's a few people who are running them with serious power now, but they need to be tuned properly, no matter what internal upgrades you use, because they rely entirely on electronic control to shift, etc.
There has been a lot more time and effort spent on the development of upgraded internals of the 4L60 based trans, as they've been around a lot longer and are much easier to tune. I have to say though, that over the years I've seen a lot more 4L60s blown up than I could shake at stick at, in all sorts of vehicles. I haven't blown up either of the A6 s in my two vehicles, yet, despite my best (worst?) efforts...where's that piece of wood to knock on?
I'm not saying that if you get a built to the hilt Level 7 (or whatever they're at now) from RPM or another reputable shop that it won't be stronger than a stock 6L80, and the swap may be easier, but it depends on what that swap would cost, and what power level you are at, what do you use your car for, etc. in order for you to make an informed decision about which swap would be best for you.
BTW: the 6L80 comes with its own TCM built in, so you would need a controller for it, you just need someone who knows what they're doing to make that communicate properly with your car's ECM.
If you really want to do the 6L80 swap, talk to Christopher Martin, aka "subfloor" on these forums. He's done this swap a number of times and knows how to tune them as well, and he's made hundreds of passes on this type of trans behind a 427. He's our resident A6 go-to guy, and is one of the most helpful people on these forums, IMV.
GL with whatever you decide to do.
There has been a lot more time and effort spent on the development of upgraded internals of the 4L60 based trans, as they've been around a lot longer and are much easier to tune. I have to say though, that over the years I've seen a lot more 4L60s blown up than I could shake at stick at, in all sorts of vehicles. I haven't blown up either of the A6 s in my two vehicles, yet, despite my best (worst?) efforts...where's that piece of wood to knock on?
I'm not saying that if you get a built to the hilt Level 7 (or whatever they're at now) from RPM or another reputable shop that it won't be stronger than a stock 6L80, and the swap may be easier, but it depends on what that swap would cost, and what power level you are at, what do you use your car for, etc. in order for you to make an informed decision about which swap would be best for you.
BTW: the 6L80 comes with its own TCM built in, so you would need a controller for it, you just need someone who knows what they're doing to make that communicate properly with your car's ECM.
If you really want to do the 6L80 swap, talk to Christopher Martin, aka "subfloor" on these forums. He's done this swap a number of times and knows how to tune them as well, and he's made hundreds of passes on this type of trans behind a 427. He's our resident A6 go-to guy, and is one of the most helpful people on these forums, IMV.
GL with whatever you decide to do.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Swapping from what and into what?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,774
Likes: 38
The real problem is that most people can't tune the 6L80 and they self-destruct. There's a few people who are running them with serious power now, but they need to be tuned properly, no matter what internal upgrades you use, because they rely entirely on electronic control to shift, etc.
There has been a lot more time and effort spent on the development of upgraded internals of the 4L60 based trans, as they've been around a lot longer and are much easier to tune. I have to say though, that over the years I've seen a lot more 4L60s blown up than I could shake at stick at, in all sorts of vehicles. I haven't blown up either of the A6 s in my two vehicles, yet, despite my best (worst?) efforts...where's that piece of wood to knock on?
I'm not saying that if you get a built to the hilt Level 7 (or whatever they're at now) from RPM or another reputable shop that it won't be stronger than a stock 6L80, and the swap may be easier, but it depends on what that swap would cost, and what power level you are at, what do you use your car for, etc. in order for you to make an informed decision about which swap would be best for you.
BTW: the 6L80 comes with its own TCM built in, so you would need a controller for it, you just need someone who knows what they're doing to make that communicate properly with your car's ECM.
If you really want to do the 6L80 swap, talk to Christopher Martin, aka "subfloor" on these forums. He's done this swap a number of times and knows how to tune them as well, and he's made hundreds of passes on this type of trans behind a 427. He's our resident A6 go-to guy, and is one of the most helpful people on these forums, IMV.
GL with whatever you decide to do.
There has been a lot more time and effort spent on the development of upgraded internals of the 4L60 based trans, as they've been around a lot longer and are much easier to tune. I have to say though, that over the years I've seen a lot more 4L60s blown up than I could shake at stick at, in all sorts of vehicles. I haven't blown up either of the A6 s in my two vehicles, yet, despite my best (worst?) efforts...where's that piece of wood to knock on?
I'm not saying that if you get a built to the hilt Level 7 (or whatever they're at now) from RPM or another reputable shop that it won't be stronger than a stock 6L80, and the swap may be easier, but it depends on what that swap would cost, and what power level you are at, what do you use your car for, etc. in order for you to make an informed decision about which swap would be best for you.
BTW: the 6L80 comes with its own TCM built in, so you would need a controller for it, you just need someone who knows what they're doing to make that communicate properly with your car's ECM.
If you really want to do the 6L80 swap, talk to Christopher Martin, aka "subfloor" on these forums. He's done this swap a number of times and knows how to tune them as well, and he's made hundreds of passes on this type of trans behind a 427. He's our resident A6 go-to guy, and is one of the most helpful people on these forums, IMV.
GL with whatever you decide to do.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 135
From: Thornton, CO
http://zerogravityperformance.com/
(602) 920-8926
He tuned the 6L80 in my Jeep and gave me exactly what I was after.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,405
Likes: 353
From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
Contact Jim Miller at Zero Gravity Performance in Mesa, AZ.
http://zerogravityperformance.com/
(602) 920-8926
He tuned the 6L80 in my Jeep and gave me exactly what I was after.
http://zerogravityperformance.com/
(602) 920-8926
He tuned the 6L80 in my Jeep and gave me exactly what I was after.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,405
Likes: 353
From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 135
From: Thornton, CO
I can show you 800+hp Ultra 4 buggies running the 6L80 with 40" tires through the toughest 1 day race in the United States and they survive. I guarantee they are harder on them than drag radials and 900hp you can come up with.
It isn't a very good comparison between off road and on road racing and I'm only pointing out the tuner who gave me exactly what I wanted with my 6L80.
The point is to discuss applications where they fail. And if so... what fails?? "They're junk" doesn't help anybody.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,962
Likes: 64
Idle? Not so much.
I can show you 800+hp Ultra 4 buggies running the 6L80 with 40" tires through the toughest 1 day race in the United States and they survive. I guarantee they are harder on them than drag radials and 900hp you can come up with.
It isn't a very good comparison between off road and on road racing and I'm only pointing out the tuner who gave me exactly what I wanted with my 6L80.
The point is to discuss applications where they fail. And if so... what fails?? "They're junk" doesn't help anybody.
I can show you 800+hp Ultra 4 buggies running the 6L80 with 40" tires through the toughest 1 day race in the United States and they survive. I guarantee they are harder on them than drag radials and 900hp you can come up with.
It isn't a very good comparison between off road and on road racing and I'm only pointing out the tuner who gave me exactly what I wanted with my 6L80.
The point is to discuss applications where they fail. And if so... what fails?? "They're junk" doesn't help anybody.
I'm not speaking for him ... But Ill bet He'll take a customer for swap to a 6l80 if thats what she/eh wants and treat you as good as any other customer he has... he's just being honest... he might even make more money on the 6l80 versus 4 who knows...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
And we still don't know what the OP plans to put the trans into.
Saying "looking to auto swap this winter to the 6l80" tells us nothing more than it's a 6l80 trans. His profile doesn't exist and without doing a bunch of research, we only know he's in Maryland.
Is this going into a dedicated drag car with 1,000 HP or just a stock DD M6 so his wife can drive to watch the grandkids play soccer? Is this even a C6 he wants to put it in?
Saying "looking to auto swap this winter to the 6l80" tells us nothing more than it's a 6l80 trans. His profile doesn't exist and without doing a bunch of research, we only know he's in Maryland.
Is this going into a dedicated drag car with 1,000 HP or just a stock DD M6 so his wife can drive to watch the grandkids play soccer? Is this even a C6 he wants to put it in?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,405
Likes: 353
From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
And we still don't know what the OP plans to put the trans into.
Saying "looking to auto swap this winter to the 6l80" tells us nothing more than it's a 6l80 trans. His profile doesn't exist and without doing a bunch of research, we only know he's in Maryland.
Is this going into a dedicated drag car with 1,000 HP or just a stock DD M6 so his wife can drive to watch the grandkids play soccer? Is this even a C6 he wants to put it in?
Saying "looking to auto swap this winter to the 6l80" tells us nothing more than it's a 6l80 trans. His profile doesn't exist and without doing a bunch of research, we only know he's in Maryland.
Is this going into a dedicated drag car with 1,000 HP or just a stock DD M6 so his wife can drive to watch the grandkids play soccer? Is this even a C6 he wants to put it in?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
6l90's have one more clutch per pack. They live in 1300 hp 4600 lb cars that run low 9's and 8's. I think it's possible the 6l80 can live in a 1000 hp car that weighs 1100 lbs less. If it is tuned by someone who knows what they are doing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 261
From: Miami Florida
I have a 6l80 and love it been a trail blazer here sense is a relatively new transmission one thing we discover that made all the difference for us is ones the tuner upload a few times the original tune has to be reloaded and start a fresh tune.
The symptoms will be actin up and weird like slipping clutches as though they are gone, non of it not even the transmission but the tcm just upload a fresh tune.
The first gear on a 6l80 is must desirable specially when couple with a 3.42 diff.
The symptoms will be actin up and weird like slipping clutches as though they are gone, non of it not even the transmission but the tcm just upload a fresh tune.
The first gear on a 6l80 is must desirable specially when couple with a 3.42 diff.