any 3.4's w/ a beefed up tranny?

[cb1101]

I was just wondering what I can do to beef up the tranny a bit. I have a shift kit and it makes a world of difference w/ my shifts. But i'm not sure if the tranny can really take a beating w/ just a shift kit?

[cb1101]

Anyone

[KBeezy]

I'm getting mine built as soon as I get my 2nd car. What you can do now though to help out with the harder shifts are get a transmission fluid cooler, that will help with its life. Do you have a 4L60 or a 4L60E though? You can get some awesome clutch packs and pretty much make it V6 proof.


...Tell me what you're looking to do to your car in the end and I'll help you out...

[cb1101]

I have a 4l60E..I really just want my tranny to take the abuse that it gets when I drive it hard.

Also i noticed that when I keep the car in 1st gear..the computer automatically shifts it into 2nd when at 5500 or so. I would like to be able to hold a lil longer or be able to eliminate that computer and shift it myself when ready.

I absolutely do not abuse my tranny ..only once in a blue moon I will down shift and hammer it, but the car is getting old and I just want to make sure it will last if I continue to drive it hard.

Thanks

[KBeezy]

So you're not looking to make it a sweet tranny that can handle a lot of power? More along the lines of something cheap but handles abuse?

[cb1101]

well let me hear both options?

I mean... i dont think i will ever make enough power, just dont have the money for it. But I am curious as to What kind of power I would be able to make just by upgrading the trans?

[KBeezy]

well, 4L60Es are usually swapped out by the LT1 and LS1 guys because they cant handle a lot of power, which the LT1s/LS1s tend to make when they get modded, but I'm sure with some clutchpacks, a REAL shiftkit (non-electric shiftkit) and a couple other little goodies you can handle 400 pounds of torque without even worrying about it. Thats what I am going to do - its pretty much going to be V6 proof, so no matter what I throw at it theres NO chance of it breaking.

[95Batmobile]

Your tranny will be fine.
The computer work I had done made my car shift hard as hell, I also have a tranny cooler.
The tranny cooler was just to help prolong the life of my tranny, so was the shifting.
The firmer the shifts in your car, the longer it will live. That is because of how an automatic tranny shift, there is like some friction crap or something that catches and makes your car shift... I forgot exactly what happens.

But all technicalities aside, the faster your car can get from one gear to another the less wear and tear you put on the transmission.

[KBeezy]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 95Batmobile:
Your tranny will be fine.
The computer work I had done made my car shift hard as hell, I also have a tranny cooler.
The tranny cooler was just to help prolong the life of my tranny, so was the shifting.
The firmer the shifts in your car, the longer it will live. That is because of how an automatic tranny shift, there is like some friction crap or something that catches and makes your car shift... I forgot exactly what happens.

But all technicalities aside, the faster your car can get from one gear to another the less wear and tear you put on the transmission.<hr></blockquote>

If it is shifting harder you will kill it faster. It uses clutch packs that do all the "friction crap" -- and they work like a normal clutch. The higher the RPMs you drop a manual at the harder its going to grab -- so the more wear you do to the clutch. In an automatic there are more clutches to do it too, so the firmer the shifts the harder the clutches grab, the shorter they live.

Oh, and I don't know why I didn't mention this -- torque converters...!!!

[ November 24, 2003: Message edited by: KBeezy ]</p>

[cb1101]

KBeezy- what exactly are you going to do to your tranny? Are you going to swap it or just add to it?

I'm not sure if you were referring to my shift kit or not but i do not have the electronic one.

How much money are we talking for upgrades and swaps?

Sorry to ask so many questions..just want the best for my money ;)

[95Batmobile]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by KBeezy:


If it is shifting harder you will kill it faster. It uses clutch packs that do all the "friction crap" -- and they work like a normal clutch. The higher the RPMs you drop a manual at the harder its going to grab -- so the more wear you do to the clutch. In an automatic there are more clutches to do it too, so the firmer the shifts the harder the clutches grab, the shorter they live.

Oh, and I don't know why I didn't mention this -- torque converters...!!!
<hr></blockquote>

That seems to be a different opinion that the 2 tranny shops I've talked to, my dad who specialized in motor/tranny work, and also the transmission build up I watched on SPEED TV.

[cb1101]

Batman- what kind of computer work did you do?

do you have an auto? If so, can you bang 2nd gear often? I grab once in a while(blue moon)

But i would love to chirp on command!

[KBeezy]

Its not a different opinion, its fact. Sure, our cars dont put out a whole lot of power, but when you are producing power on the stock clutchpacks the harder they slam in to one another the less time it will take to burn them up. Think about it, its not that complex. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Thats why people upgrade clutch packs to stronger materials for the ability to not smoke them when their shiftkit causes the transmission to shift gears real hard.

[95Batmobile]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by cb1101:
Batman- what kind of computer work did you do?

do you have an auto? If so, can you bang 2nd gear often? I grab once in a while(blue moon)

But i would love to chirp on command!<hr></blockquote>

I got some work done by fastchip (www.fastchip.com) ... one of the best things I ever did for my car.
Yes, I have an auto, but my tires don't chirp, they just spin without making noise [img]tongue.gif[/img] I have 245/50 tires too lol In the rain it's so easy to lose the rear end... even on the downshift from 3-2 I can get sideways not even trying.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by KBeezy:
Its not a different opinion, its fact. Sure, our cars dont put out a whole lot of power, but when you are producing power on the stock clutchpacks the harder they slam in to one another the less time it will take to burn them up. Think about it, its not that complex. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Thats why people upgrade clutch packs to stronger materials for the ability to not smoke them when their shiftkit causes the transmission to shift gears real hard.<hr></blockquote>

Re-read what you just said, because it's exactly what I'm talking about.
"the harder they slam in to one another the less time it will take to burn them up."

I am guessing you didn't mean that, so I will include that I used to think the same way you did. I didn't want my tranny to burn up when I got firmer shifts, but they actually do help the life of the tranny. The computer bumped up the my tranny pressure which caused the harder shifts and it is better for the tranny. It shifts even harder now with 3.73s

[KBeezy]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by cb1101:
KBeezy- what exactly are you going to do to your tranny? Are you going to swap it or just add to it?

I'm not sure if you were referring to my shift kit or not but i do not have the electronic one.

How much money are we talking for upgrades and swaps?

Sorry to ask so many questions..just want the best for my money ;) <hr></blockquote>


I'm having one built for me. A 4L60E with a nice torque converter, upgraded clutch packs, shift kit, and MAYBE a vette servo (definately adding a tranny fluid cooler) -- the servo is depending on what all is done too it. Its going to be able to handle 400+ horsepower when I get thru with it.