Max what's your take on derale coolers?
I listed my observations on coolers quite a few posts back in the thread. It depends on the type: plate and fin are best (i.e. Setrab, or the ones CX Racing sells). Stacked plate are next by a wide margin (Long makes the typical stacked plate cooler, which outfits like B&M resell). Finally, tube and fin come in last by an even wider margin. Post a lonk on the Derale cooler and I can tell you what type it is.
Yea a temp gauge will work with a scan gauge and an alpha. It is very possible heat is causing the issue. I have been researching transmissions lately and a lot of people bag on the 4l60e as a pile of **** trans and others don't mind them. I will say heat is what kills my trans. When it's cool it's great.
The main problem with the 4L60e is that GM uses it where they shouldn't. It has limited clutch area, poor oil flow over the clutches, poor oil flow to the planetaries, and is in general a light duty design. In a passenger car behind reasonable HP it is fine, but it has no place in a truck or SUV. Heat kills any transmission. The issue with the 4L60e is that it gets hot FAST in heavy vehicles or when you get anywhere near it's rated torque capacity.
You must remember your putting out DOUBLE the power I am, I wish I had that power but with that said your power with the V8 and supercharger can kill a trans quickly. When you do a rebuild I would definitely go with the raptor kit from PATC. All the plastic parts in a trans are replaced with billet parts and upgraded servos and bands and the list goes on. You can build a 4l60e to handle 500 hp it's just stock they won't last as long as it would with less power.
It also will only handle that 500HP in a light weight vehicle, like a Camaro. Put it behind a 500HP engine in an H3 and it will last about as long as a fart in a hurricane.
I'd love a 4l80e but it is bigger and requires modifications to the trans tunnel and computer mods. I think a built 4l60e will do the job just don't leave it stock when it's time for a rebuilt and the cooler the better, I've heard that running a trans at 240 daily compared to 170 will kill a trans life in half.
I know that was a long winded response but I need to know more about your trans issue first. What's going on?
I'm pretty sure a 4L80 will fit in an H3 tunnel. Computer mods are limited to swapping a couple pins in the trans connector and reprogramming your shift points and timing - no big deal. The main problem for you is that you have an I5. The Atlas engines have a unique bellhousing, and 4L80's were never mated to them, so no 4L80 case exists that will mate to the I5. An adapter plate would be needed, but even that is problematic due to the starter location.
The best way to adapt a 4L80 to an I5 H3 is to bolt an LS motor onto the front of it and stuff the whole combo in the engine bay
