Tranny in 2001 1500? Horsepower?

[ridin'dirty]

What transmission is in my 2001 silverado single cab 5.3L?
and also does anyone know how much horsepower that tranny will safely handle? thnks for any help:rocking:

[mabutler]

4L60E and it will barely handle stock horsepower. Tranny upgrades are always good, and if you take care of it you might be able to make it last with some peformance mods.

[AlienTranz]

If you do them right it's not crazy to expect 200k out of one.
They can handle some high horsepower, it's the torque that is iffy with them. I saw the output shaft break on a 5.3l with a whipple supercharger. I think that was actually driver error that broke that shaft, I'm sure it would have held up just fine if he had it properly tuned and didn't drive it like a 16 year old trying to impress his freinds. I bet someone makes a hardened output shaft for high output engines.

[ridin'dirty]

what mods would you recommend for the tranny to make it hold more HP/TQ? right now the motor is basicly stock, i'm thinking of maybe a charger or some heads and cam, or both.

[AlienTranz]

First off I'd get a good external transmission cooler and run synthetic transmission fluid, or even just half synthetic. Then of course the big blue box transgo shift kit hd2.
Whatever stall you decide with a torque converter make sure you get it built with a heavyduty bearing and furnace brazed turbine. That's going to be an important part, so make sure you get a torque converter from a reputable company. A blown up converter may just leave you stranded if you are lucky, but if you aren't lucky it will destroy everything in the transmission. Very expensive repair. So just get your heat and shift quality in check before you start getting crazy with internal upgrades. How much power are you planning on running?

[ridin'dirty]

well when i originaly posted this i had not driven the truck yet, now ive bought it and see that it has a shift kit(don't know what kind) headers w/ magnaflows. I'm not wanting to go crazy on power,at least until its not my daily driver anymore. maybe 400rwhp. how much is a good transmision cooler and how can i tell if it has one allready or not? Thanks

[redvett01]

I am currently using a 4L60/700R4 in my 90 SS454 with a 572ci for 10 years and the built up trans is holding up nicely.

[NEUMANNZZ]

well when i originaly posted this i had not driven the truck yet, now ive bought it and see that it has a shift kit(don't know what kind) headers w/ magnaflows. I'm not wanting to go crazy on power,at least until its not my daily driver anymore. maybe 400rwhp. how much is a good transmision cooler and how can i tell if it has one allready or not? Thanks
look in through the front grill you will see a little radiator
(1'x9") in the middle with hoses coming down from it, if it came from the factory that way.

[ridin'dirty]

I am currently using a 4L60/700R4 in my 90 SS454 with a 572ci for 10 years and the built up trans is holding up nicely.

forgive me for being trans. stupid but when you say 4L60/700r4, what typ of setup is that?

[redvett01]

forgive me for being trans. stupid but when you say 4L60/700r4, what type of setup is that?

The 4L60 is the early 700R4 overdrive trans that was converted to the 4L60E electronic trans in 1993. With the proper performance kits either trans can handle a lots of HP & torque.

[TEE]

Sunshell is the weakest link