Stock 6-spd Vs Custom Tuned 4-spd

[music]

There are many threads talking about the 6Lxx vs the 4Lxx transmissions, and I don't want to start that comparison here. They are different machines, work/behave differently, respond in their own ways. Neither is bad (to me), but the 6-spds have the performance/efficiency edge.

 

What I am curious about is how folks feel that have driven a 4-spd with a custom tune, and then switched to a 6-spd, with basically the same motor (i.e., 5.3 to 5.3, or maybe even a 6.0 to 6.2). Curious how the stock 6-spd feels vs a tuned 4-spd. I'm driving a stock 5.3/4-spd, and have driven a few stock 6-spd trucks (5.3 and 8.1), but I've never driven a tuned 4-spd.

[RyanbabZ71]

Can you wait until 2011? I plan on having the Tahoe possible tuned early next yr.

[L76PWRD]

I have a 2007 V-Max 6.0 L76 tuned by Black Bear Performance. I have driven a 2010 Silverado LTZ extended cab same as my truck only difference is the 6.2 with the 6 speed auto. The stock 6.0 with 4 speed is terrible, tons of torque management, delay in power when going WOT, speed limiter is limited at 92mph. But tuned it is completely different performing transmission. Ive driven a stock 6.2 with the 6 Speed Auto and it is way better than my stock 6.0 with the 4 speed auto. It still has a delay and torque management, but it is way better stock for stock. A tuned 4 speed is way better than the stock 6 speed IMO. But a tuned 6 speed should be sweet.

[ridnlow]

I have driven both old truck was a 99 with 6.0 swap, built transmission with no torque management.. New truck is 2011 6.2 with the 6 speed and Im still getting used to the 6 speed.. It has WAY more delay than my 4spd did.. I like closeness of the gears in the 6 speed (better shift extension) than the 4spd.. I am about to get my new truck tuned so we will see how it does after that.. The torque management is pretty bad in this 6.2.. I cant wait for it to be gone.. I also liked the tuned 4spd vs stock 6spd but I am sure that will all change after I get it tuned..

[tonygxp]

owned all of these brand new:

'08 Siera ext cab 5.3 4spd tuned

'09 tahoe ltz 5.3 6spd tuned

'10 Yukon Denali tuned

 

owned the sierra for a year, the tahoe 6months and the YD almost a year. there is no comparison between the 4 spd trans (i've owned many 4 spd autos Gm, late model ('05 Grand Prix LS4 5.3, '06 TBSS, etc.) and the 6spd. the 6spd (once you put about 200 miles on it so it can adapt to your driving style) is hands down a much better daily driver, performance in every way, transmission. in my sierra it was a Dog (3.73 rear) at 40mph if you had to pass someone it was gonna take a while to say the least. in the Tahoe you could hit it anywhere and feel confident it would get you around whatever needed to be passed without anxiety. The 5.3 (and this tahoe had 3.08 gears) really wakes up with the 6spd. I would have to guess the 6spd with the 3.42's is a real nice low15 second truck which translates to better passing, towing, hauling, etc. than the 3.08's, which only raises the benefit of the 6spd trans.

 

Having said that a tuned 6spd really wakes up even more than what i described above as the TM is removed and shift points adjusted. there's no comparison, especially not with strength and longevity. i have sen unbelievable feats of strength performed by stock tuned 6spd transmissions on my friend's AWD Mustang load bearing Dyno to the tuned of almost 700 horsepower to the TIRES... try that in a 4L70e and let me know how long it took to clean up lol.... good luck, you'll want a 6.2 6speed in the end, if you drive them all, i am sure of it. question is whether it can fit your budget and lifestyle.

[uh6tdrvr]

I havn't had a tuned of either (yet) but will tell you that the stock versions, i will take a 6, even with its double down shifting (6-5-4) its still a better and more linear shifting trans. If you are on the line between a used with a 4 and one with a 6, GO 6! Yes it shifts more often, THATS WHAT ITS SUPPOSE TO DO!

[nickvrebel]

I went from a 4.8L 4 speed with 3.73 custom tuned by yours truly

to a 5.3L 6 speed with 3.42 rear, also tuned

 

I have the full HP Tuner package, I can tune until I'm blue in the face if I wanted to.

I had tuned like crazy on the 4 speed and got MY transmission to act exactly like I wanted it to.

I HATED the 6 speed the first 2 weeks I had it, but I wanted to leave it alone until I started messing with it... after about 3 weeks I realized that it really didn't need much tweaking. It doesn't shift as firm as my 4 speed, partially due to the torque converter used in the 6 speed, but I'm ok with that.

 

Overall

- I would not have a 4 speed untuned, it's a miserable transmission and very sloppy in stock form.

- I'm perfectly satisfied with my stock(ish) 6 speed.

[MS3DALE]

I have a 2007 V-Max 6.0 L76 tuned by Black Bear Performance. I have driven a 2010 Silverado LTZ extended cab same as my truck only difference is the 6.2 with the 6 speed auto. The stock 6.0 with 4 speed is terrible, tons of torque management, delay in power when going WOT, speed limiter is limited at 92mph. But tuned it is completely different performing transmission. Ive driven a stock 6.2 with the 6 Speed Auto and it is way better than my stock 6.0 with the 4 speed auto. It still has a delay and torque management, but it is way better stock for stock. A tuned 4 speed is way better than the stock 6 speed IMO. But a tuned 6 speed should be sweet.

 

+1 To everything Walt said!

[music]

+1 To everything Walt said!

 

Rich: You've probably driven a few stock 5.3 6-spds and 4-spds. Much experience driving a tuned 4-spd, and any input there?

[KMGZ400]

i have a obviously have 4speeds in all of my GMT-800's. my 2001 is superchipped and i am way happier with it tuned. it shifts waaaaay stronger and crisper and shift points are way better. makes my other 2 4 speeds seem like shit. i dont have much time behind a 6 speed but the shifts were crisp it just seemed to shift too much for my liking. i really want to spend some time with a 6 before i get a new truck to see it i like it.

 

i personally like to have the 4 gears for heavy towing... drop it into 3 and tows great on the highway loaded down.

 

another thing i question about the 4 speed it the reliablility. i had a 4 speed go out at 120k and am a tad worried about my other 4L60's rapidly approaching 100k. i am hoping the 6 speed is more reliable....

[kdixer]

I prefer the 6spd for everything tuned or untuned. It is alot better than the 4spd in virtually every way. Sure it shifts more but that is the point. With two overdrive gears you are going to have that. A granny low to get you off the line fast is especially handy for loaded situations. It is a far superior to the 4spd in every way, even shift quality.

 

The 3.42 is a great all around ratio with the 6spd. A 3.73 6spd combo will tow great and have plenty of pep for daily driving, but gas mileage and drag times will suffer a tad. Chances are the 3.73 combo will shift more times in the 1/4 mile than the 3.42 combo. But only a small crowd is concerned by that, certainly not me. But the 3.42 ratio gets my vote for all around performance and fuel milage. 3.08 gears are too tall for my uses and location. I am sure mileage is great in flat country but I seldom drive there.

 

The 4 spd might be better for racing applications if it can hold up. But the 6l80 should be better suited to do just about everything else better. The 6l80 is used in a lot of vehicles ranging from the 6.2 trucks, Camaro SS, older model vettes.

[music]

To clarify, if I were buying a new truck, it would have the 6-spd (whether I wanted it or not, but I would). The reason for this thread is really just to get input about tuning the 4-spd and trying to get a feel for how they perform vs the stock 6-spd. I've only driven stock 4-spds and stock 6-spds, so I really have no "feel" for a tuned version of either. It may be that it's just a dumb question, but folks seem pretty enamored with their tuned 4-spds vs the stock form, with less noticable differences on the 6-spds. I've driven a few 6-spds, and understand the differences there (including construction), so I'm not debating that. It's almost like driving an "automated manual 6", with very little TC action. I really don't notice much difference with the way that I drive, but would expect to notice a significant change when towing.

 

I could buy a truck just like mine with a 6-spd, but it seems a waste of $$ for how I use it (maybe not, but that's my take). The only instance where I would really notice the extra gearing is when towing the camper. Pulling a grade and accelerating would definitely benefit from the 1-4 gear spread on the 6-spd, but not so much that I would write a check for $5k+ FWIW, 6th is useless towing, and I've never needed a deeper 1st gear. IMHO, I'm better off putting the money into optimizing what I have, which will include good LT tires, a bit of suspension improvement, and possibly tuning. I understand that if you already *have* a 6L80, that you wouldn't go back to the 4-spd just for the heck of it. If you have a 4-spd, the question isn't "which is better", but "how much better can the 4-spd be with tighter tuning", and how does that compare to the stock 6-spd (which I've driven, and can compare to).

 

Sorry for the ramble...

[nickvrebel]

well, in addition to what I already posted, if you want an idea of how a tuned 4 speed feels - imagine the shift characteristics of your stock truck when in "tow/ haul" mode, except shifting at a normal time instead of at different points in the rpm band. The shifting will be firmer and "sharper"/ quicker.

[music]

Can you wait until 2011? I plan on having the Tahoe possible tuned early next yr.

 

Missed this one... sorry about that. I'm in no hurry, and will definitely be interested to hear your take on it.

[kdixer]

The thing is the comparison is hard to make because of the nature of the transmissions. The 6spd is a clutch to clutch design so the gears handoff to each other. The 4spd uses sprags where the next gear starts pulling to the point the lower gear is no longer felt. The design difference alone makes it really hard to compare. They are completely different animals. Almost like comparing diesel to gas. And that is compounded by the programming differences. The 6l80 is a "smart" transmission.

 

Any tuned 4spd will feel like it is more suited for a performance application due to the limited parameters that can be changed. It will shift faster and harder than stock. I do not consider this ideal for towing. And most tuners will advise you to just use tow / haul mode when towing.

 

There is a ton more stuff on the 6 spd. You can literally fine tune it to your exact liking and the transmission will always "learn" how to optimize the shifts. You can change the characteristics in a "non abusive" manner.

 

Like you, I do not think I would necessarily upgrade trucks just for the 6spd until I was ready for a new truck anyways. But when the time or opportunity arises, you would not be sorry.