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New transmission and converter

2K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  Muad'Dib15 
#1 ·
I plan on putting in a new converter for my car but I also want to do my tranny since I'm taking that out as well. Everything from the rear end to the tranny would be new then. I've been looking on here and other forums for a good tranny supplier. My car has full exhaust, 3.73 gears, pcm tune from pcmforless.com, custom dash mat :p but the engine is bone stock as far as I know.
https://www.700r4l60e.com/store/product.php?productid=13&cat=18&page=1
https://www.700r4l60e.com/store/product.php?productid=11&cat=18&page=1
These are the 2 that I'm most interested in. My car is basically a daily driver right now but I do eventually plan on doing more to the engine. Either one of those are going to be able to handle anything that I could throw at it. Any other suggestions would be nice.

I would also like a list of converters to look into (ones that you KNOW are good). I am looking for somewhere between 2500-3200 stall. On the same site as those trannys I was looking at the Vigilante and Edge converters. They seem to be one of the better-known companies anyways.

Will it require any separate tuning from me to install the tranny and converter?
 
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#2 ·
Over 8 years ago I had Dana build me a "street/strip" with vacuum modulator, at that point I had much milder goals in mind. When I added the heads/cam setup Dana just had me drop the separator plate and redrill the 1-2 feed hole and it has been all good.

Far as the stall I like the Edge converters had them in 2800/3400/3800, if I were going to spend the coin on a Vigilante I might try Yank instead as they drivability is reported to be better by folks I trust.

The high stall will probably require some tuning for nuisance reasons, sometimes they can cause a surging idle or a tranny code to be set but that is usually only at the dragstrip and both problems are easily remedied with reprogramming.

If the tuning has the shift firmness increased than that should not be combined with the shift kit in a properly built tranny, the vacuum modulator does away with the pcm control of firmness or you could get that returned to stock in the retune for the other things.
 
#4 ·
Would I be right on the size of converter to go with and would you choose one of those transmissions or look somewhere else? I definitely want to buy a new one that way there is some kind of warranty with it. I'm new at doing bigger projects like this so it's all COMPLETELY new for me. The only other job that I've had help with/did myself is the rear end. I have the help with installing but most people are dirt track racers so not so much towards programming and computers. I can't do ANY tuning myself. That's where I'm going to have trouble and probably going to have to fork out some money to have done.

Which would be the better one? It will only be a N/A car.
SS Series Converters
Street Edge LT/4L60E [SE-4L60E] - $545.00 : Edge Racing Converters, More Horsepower with More Torque Guaranteed!

So by getting the vacuum modulator installed on the new tranny when I buy it I will be able to adjust the points myself? If I get it without that modulator and have the pcm tuned to stock will I be alright? <--Can I do that or is someone going to have to tune the pcm no matter what?

Sorry if some of these seem like repeats ?s but I wanna make sure I get EVERYTHING right. Hopefully Uncle Sam treats me well this year :hope:
 
#5 ·
I should have been a little more clear, Dana who built my tranny is the guy who's trannies you linked to, I would absolutely trust him again.

On the converters the two you link are exactly what I would suggest you choose from. I have been happy with the Edge converters I have bought. In a 9.5" converter like this 2800 is about as low as is practical for them to be built, you might go say 3000-3200, a friend's wife has a 3200 Edge in her daily driver, and keep in mind that as you add power down the road it will push the stall higher so I think if you go 3000-3200 now it will continue to match engine upgrades well into the future.
I know when I went from a 2800 stall with a near stock engine to a 3400 stall with the first heads and cam setup Andre told me that on their end it was actually only a one level change in the hardware in the converter, most of the change actually came from the extra power.
 
#6 ·
Out of the 2 tranny links I suggested which should I choose?

So by getting the vacuum modulator installed on the new tranny when I buy it I will be able to adjust the points myself? If I get it without that modulator and have the pcm tuned to stock will I be alright? <--Can I do that or is someone going to have to tune the pcm no matter what?

^ This is my main concern now then. The tuning required for ANY of this to be done.

I will probably be going with the Edge 3200 stall. On the page where it's linked it asks about my car.. If I plan on doing things in the future should I write in what I have now or leave that out? I also have different sized tires that I use, the stock size and some smaller ones as well. What should I write in there? I'm guessing 'Andre' works for Edge??
 
#7 ·
Andre owns Edge.
Far as which tranny I don't really know what is different and would just trust Dana.

The vacuum modulator just controls shift firmness and is setup when the tranny is built, everything else is still pcm controlled, and there is actually free programming software for the LT1 so you can learn to tweak things yourself. Even if you pay for software and a datalogging program plus a cable to connect the total for all three is only like $250 and once you have the $100 Datamaster program you will wonder how you ever maintained a car without it.
 
#8 ·
What else should I look into replacing when I have the transmission out? When you order the transmission do you send in yours and they rebuild it or is it all brand new?
 
#9 ·
I know I'm butting heads with Dwayne on this, but there is a guy in Watertown, WI who builds these transmissions (700R4s and 4l60e, also swears that they are one of GMs best transmissions if built right) up and races them in his offroad trucks. I got mine totally rebuilt for 1600, and got a 3 year unlimited mile warranty that comes along with every transmission he does.
 
#11 ·
Uh, no not any that I or Dwayne would trust. Both he and my dad have had bad experiences with most other trans shops here in WI. Trans masters is the only place we've found that while they work on every transmission they specialize in the 700R4s.
 
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