4L85E in a 96 Impala SS

what about it?

Has anyone installed the 85E in their vehicle. If so tell me what you think. I bought a stage 3 4L60E and in 6 months started going south to burning up. (I didn't even make it to the tracks)The place I bought it from (I'm not mentioning any names right now) wants to upgrade me to the 85E. (They want 4K more with my full 3K credit towards it). I'm thinking on telling them to build the 60E to a stage 4 level and only have to pay a little $$ in the level 4 upgrade. I'll probably regret not putting in a 85E. Disisions, Disisions

if your car has any ass i would find a 200r4 it is basicly a turbo 400 with overdrive.get someone to build it rite and its a bad mofo.good luck

i dont think it will work anyway,with the wireing,computer and a stock trans and rearend.just my opinion,save your money and put the stock engine back in,with the money you are spending on this,you could get a good drag car.

the 200r4 was a garbage transmission. the turbo 400 with overdrive is the 4L80E. A built right 700r4 can be built to hold up to 700 horses. The 4L60E replaced the 700r4.

The x-mission guys up in Ohio ( I'll leave it at that )(They are in all the magazines also)(hint hint) say the 4L85E does work with a computer reprogram. They have done the R&D. They are telling me that the 4L60E never should have been used in my car due to the weight of the car. This to me is questionable. A stock 4L60E with a stock 96 LT1 works great.( I had the car for 5 yrs before I started my high perforance mods) Sure there are some weak links and bugs that can be ironed out or upgraded to make the 4L60E perform better with a stock LT1. I still have my stock 4L60E sitting in a crate in my garage. After modifing my LT1 (from within the engine all the out) I didn't dream of putting the stock x-mission back in. I went straight to the guys in (Ohio) and bought their Stage 3 4L60E x-mission. They also had a Yank 3200 stall torque converter in it. I never had my engine dynoed, I would have to guess with all the work I had done that I'm pushing somewhere around 450HP. If I decide to stay with the 4L60E, how "bad ass" can a 4L60E be built and can it hold up to the Horsepower and weight (4200lb) of my car. The extra $4k that the x-mission guys would want for the 85E is not sitting well with me. Keep in mind that I have already paid $3200.00 for the Stage 3. Their 4L85E is a $7k x-mission and they will give me full credit towards the 85E.

explain more if you can about the turbo 400 w/OD. This is different from the 700r4, right?

Michael8902, explain more if you can about the turbo 400 w/OD. This is different from the 700r4, right?

Papa, No disrespect, but the 4L85E is a x-mission, not a engine. I still have the original engine in my car just modified with high performance parts. You are right on with the $$ I'm spending or have already spent. Thanks for your feedback, I'm sure we can all learn from each other. I'm learning more and more about x-missions now because of the problem I'm faced with. That's how everyones trails and errors and knowledge can help others. If someone can help me save a buck or two and vice versa, thats the name of the game.

the 700r4 is based off of the turbo350. In the late 90's GM introduced a 4-speed transmission to be used in their HD work trucks (the 4L80E) which was based off of the turbo400. Commonly found in 1-ton chevy trucks.

The 4L60E is a good transmission. Able to handle between 400-500 horses in stock form, it was used in everything from FULL SIZE VANS to the CORVETTE. Your problem may lie in the stall converter you selected. 3200 is a bit high to be used as a daily driver. It would cause your transmission to run hot. The weight of your vehicle would intensify this effect. Have you installed a temp gauge for the transmission? Line cooler? Anything to help allieviate the extra heat for use of that converter, or monitor it?

ssballr,no disrespect taken,ive been doinging this for close to 30 years and learn something new every day.I thank you for the update.

sorry close to 40 years,the mind slips a little.

Michael8902, I will look more into the torque converter selection.Keep it under 3000, maybe somewhere around 2800. Since I last wrote, I've started doing alot of research on the 4L60E and have decided to stay with this platform. Yes, I have installed an extra x-mission cooler (driver side)(stock Impala already has a small one on passenger side) I may take the stock one out and put a better larger one in w/ a electric fan in front of both of them. I do have a temp gauge. I have the 3 pod a-pillar setup w/ VAC, TRANS, AIR/FUEL. Also I customized two more in the black plastic trim on each side of my steering column. VOLTS, OIL. ( I saw that in some mag. and I did it also, turned out really good!) Thank-you for your input and everone else. I'll take pics and post them for all to see and reply in my profile under my car with my x-mission update.

ssballr if you look at my cars in my profile, you will see that I have had one of these, mine was a 1994 SS, my best time in the 1/4 was 10.79 and I had it dyno'd at 655 (at the rear wheels). That cas was/is a beast. The b-bodies are awesome cars. But to get to the point, I had a 4L60E in the car, mind you it was done by John Moss, is was built to handle 800 horsepower, the only problem I ever had with it was a sticky 1st gear shift solinoid. I paid $5500 for it and $2200 for the torque converter, money well spent (I live in Canada, at the time it was $3500US). My next question it what warranty was on the tranny? if it went south that soon, it should be covered under warranty, but I would recommend that you up grade it to stage 4 (5 if they will). Good luck on the car my friend.

yes you are right.the 4l80e was built off the turbo 400 it is also electronic but does not have the straight cut planits like the 200r4 there for not as strong a tranny.the monty ss came out the factory cherping tires wich is one of the few cars you found this tranny and with a little tweeking to the valve body and innerds will be a bad ass tranny.i drive a 85 iroc z with a small block 400 putting 728 hp on the dirt.i put 4 rearends in it before installing a ford 9 inch.been driving it for 4 years 10000 rpm shifts and the tranny is still holding strong.far from garbage in my opinion

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Just to let people know, I mean no disrespect to you Bubba 29. But I an ATRA/ASE certified trans tech with 29 years experience and I have to let you know the 2004r is based on the week 200c 3 speed transmission. Yes the 2004R worked well in the Monte and the Buick GN cars, but they were at their limit already, and they did not come with straight cut planets. Straight cut planets are not as strong as helical cut planets by the way, I use straight cut planets in my 400 but only because I use a trans brake and figured the extra thrust forward or back wouldn't be good for horse power loss. Even the 350 is much heavier duty than the 2004R(the 700R4 is based on the 350 platform. The 400 and 4L80E transmissions are the heaviest Duty(next to the 4L85E)and have 4 pinion planets, straight cut gars are used in motorhomes to avoid loading the thrust washers too much because of the extra weight. The 5 pinion planets of the 4L85E are the best available PERIOD. curtesy of Larry @ Westshore Transmissions Ltd.

go to bangshift.com they have an article on this the 4l85e is a programmable trans the come a long way and the converter has allot ta do with ur problem 3500 stall means under 3500 the converter is slipping so ur trans is slipping change conv cruise in another gear jus do ur research check out raptor transmissions they buildem for up to 1500 hp u can make anyone work jus figure out driving habits how much daily driving u do etc jus do some research before u spend mo money!!

Hey guys can some tell me what rear end would be compatible with my 64 Belair with a ls2 engine and the matching transmission?