Question: 6L80E rebuild kit for more power?

[frankenstien]

I am in the slow process of LS swapping my 74 gm truck. I am using a Gen4 5.3 LC9 paired to a 6L80E. The truck is 4x4 with 4.56 gears and 35'' tires.

I am looking to do the usual 5.3 turbo build, cam, springs, trunions, gap the rings, pt7675 etc, shooting for 6-700rwhp

I am looking to see if anyone here has built a 6l80 for more power in a heavier vehicle (6000lbs) I am looking for more of a kit.

I have found one made by PATC, however reviews on them seem to be all over, and i have sent an email to Circle D to see if they sell kits, their website does not show a kit.

what does the trans need to live at this power level? i have been reading on some of its weak points, hoping someone has some expierience with them

Thanks

 

[PureHybrid]

What are the supposed weak points people find?

FIL wants to procharge his Camaro, but unsure about the trans in that too

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

Just run it stock with a good tune. They are good to 700 rwhp in lighter vehicles. I'm running about 700 crank or more thru mine in my reg cab and its fine, just run Amsoil in it.

 

[frankenstien]

What are the supposed weak points people find?

FIL wants to procharge his Camaro, but unsure about the trans in that too

Circle D's website states, that if your 6l80 is PRE 2010 they will need to replace the pump with a factory upgraded one and a 3-5-R drum. They also tig weld 2 of the "baskets" for added strength.

There's an apply piston that can also "cone", as well the pump rotor does not like hard sudden acceleration.

Most of the posts and some if the builders stress that a good TCM tune Is a must if you want it to live.

There's a company called Sonnex that make some misc small parts to help boost line pressure and a fee other things, they also make a piston kit that's supposed to fix the coning

This is just what I have dug up from a couple builders sites and the googles, I do not have any 1st hand with their common failure items

 

[frankenstien]

Just run it stock with a good tune. They are good to 700 rwhp in lighter vehicles. I'm running about 700 crank or more thru mine in my reg cab and its fine, just run Amsoil in it.

How much does your reg cab weight?

I am concerned with the weight and large tires, as I also considered just throwing it in and see what happens.

Who does the tuning for yours? just read your sig, ill have to check them out

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

Mine is a fat little bastard. Lol. She weighs about 6k and swings 22" OEM Denali wheels (heavy as fuk) with 33x12.50 mt's plus, it's my work truck so it carries around a lot of tools and such. So I guess up you could say I'm not easy on it at all. I've considered building mine but you can get a GM fresh one for 2500 and swap it out yourself and go at it again with a warranty... :spit:

Tuner is Mayhem Motirsports Raleigh nc

 

[frankenstien]

and the trans is 100% stock? just tcm tuning?

i mean its not my DD so I am up for a gamble, but its also sitting on the garage floor, so throwing a few parts in it to help it out isn't a big deal, but if it lasts 1 or 2 summers as is i am also up for that

how many miles on that trans with the power put to it?

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

Completely stock, she's spinning on the dyno at 510rwhp but torque is 525 when it happens so it's higher. Crank power should be about 700 to 750. 65k mikes on the clock...

 

[frankenstien]

Well shit, might throw the dice on that.

Might just do the factory upgraded pump and clutch drum and see how long it lasts, that's pretty crazy to me to get that kind if power out of a stock trans.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

It's nuts how much a 6l80 will hold, but remember GM put them behind the Duramax in the vans. Mine is a 10 so it's got the upgraded internals, I'd just find a 2010 or newer and go with it...

 

[Mike L.]

Don't know about the vans, but the Cad CTSV didn't get the good internals till 2012.

 

[JoshH]

They actually used the 6L90 behind the Duramax in the vans.

 

[$chultz38]

They actually used the 6L90 behind the Duramax in the vans.

2010 and newer got the 90

 

[frankenstien]

Well the one I have is out of a 2009, so no upgraded internals for me.

I did find a tsb for the issue with the 1-2-3-4/3-5-r, it provides the p/n for the upgraded drum fully loaded with all seals, piston, clutches/steels etc and the updated pump, which runs about 500$, which I'm not opposed to swapping in those before it goes in the truck

Does anyone know what else was upgraded in 2010?

I know the 90 is stronger, but its more work to adapt to the np205 transfer case so I went with an 80