I am building a 1968 Chevelle some what of an SS clone full interior car and the body is all most done and frame and chassis are complete . Originally it was to have a 435 horse 396ci, I experienced cylinder scoring and had a new motor built, a stroked 496 13.5 to 1 comp to run on E85 with 656 torque at 4800rpm and 657hp at 600 rpm on engine dyno. Everything I had set up on the chassis was for a 700r4 and now even Rosslers Trans is telling me they will not gaurentee a 700R4 with that power and that heavy of a car. Spoke with other builder of 700R$ and told me the best I could hope for was a year and I need to learn how to rebuild them. Every one it directing toward a 4L80E (6500.00) Have any of you installed the 4L80E and is it worth it my rear end ratio is 4.10. Really I guess I want to know what dirrection to go because I got in over my head with the power of the motor. I want a really fast car but everyone is saying with that gear I will never get it to hook and if I did I would blow the 700. I did grind out all factory welds and reweld and boxxed in the frame for rigidity. Any help would be appreciated

For the sake of durability, I'd go with the 4l80e. I KNOW that you can get a stout trans, converter and controller for less than $6500. Contact Jakeshoe in the transmission section, I believe he has a website and get you hooked up for about half that amount. Even a stock 4l80e should be able to hold the power your car is making and it won't have the overly steep first gear, making it a little easier to hook, while retaining the overdrive that you are going to need with those 4.10 gears to drive on the highway. good luck and keep us posted!

Andy,
It seems obvious that it's not a cruiser ... Why not consider a really well built 400TH?
I've got 700R4 with peppy smallblock and not confident of long term durability with my heavy foot and you can't enjoy that cannon with out getting in to it some. Spend some dough and research on the chassis set up an you not only can hook but STAND!!!

Good Luck

There are several builders who can build a 2004R that will hold your kind of power. Maybe call the real Art Carr at California performance Transmissions? I've got his trans behind my 540 with similar torque and a little higher hp numbers and so far no issues.

If the 4L80E is costing $6500, I would go with a TH400 and add a Gear Vendors overdrive, that would costs less and no computer to deal with.

fwiw....I have a 496 motor - 600hp - 627 ft/lb in my 67ss. a local builder built my 1991 700r4 trans and guaranteed it to 650 ft/lb for $750 including all of the high end hd replacement parts and a corvette 2075 rpm converter. you can go the fancy route if you like but please check your local man first - can save you a bunch of dough. my whole swap was around $1300 with a brand new driveshaft and cooler. I was fortunate to know this guy from the past and he has a home shop. I really like the low end gear and the overdive gear for my mostly street car...3.42 rear gears 26.1 tires = 70mph/2100 rpm....

Guys I really appreciate al the input I am still unsure gonna check out the 1/2 price4l80E and then the 200r4 I have had some of the most notorius builders push me away from the 700r4 they said real dyno numdbers (which mine is fresh off of) it wont hold up (with my very heavy chevy)and they are only gonna get me for 800 more for the 4l80 than the best 700r4 I have to think there is a fault in that tranny this kinda power is gonna find. I am still looking for a 700r4 builder who will warrenty me.
Again Thank you very much
finally1968

There are several builders who can build a 2004R that will hold your kind of power. Maybe call the real Art Carr at California performance Transmissions? I've got his trans behind my 540 with similar torque and a little higher hp numbers and so far no issues.

Yup...his is about $2000-2400 "depending" I think all done up. Nice gearspread and strong

I also vote for the 200-4R.
You can get a strong one for a lot less than $6500.

Regards,
-Greg

I have a 496 an opted for the well built 700R4. Needless to say, it lasted 2 years. I now have a 4L80E. $6500 sounds about right if your paying someone else to put it in. I looked into the cost for parts and satarting from scratch with a busted 700R it was about the same to get a built TH400 and gear vendor as the 4L and electronics.

and no computer to deal with

This is the fun part. You can control how hard it shifts and at what speed vs. % throttle position it shifts. For putt putt cruising I have it shifting around 2500 rpm like my DD, Once I start laying into the throttle I start rapping it out in the 4000's and up.