5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

[Rob Bell]

Just curious, is it possible to put a 5 or 6 speed auto in our cars and have it actually work? Since newer cars, even 4-cylinder ones, routinely come with 6-speed autos, I can see putting a 6-speed auto in my car someday when the transmission goes. Would the PCM have to be prograamed? Or does the transmission have a brain of its own? Is there a 5 or 6 speed version of the 4L60E that exists?

[WarShrike]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

You'd probably need a trans computer and then the 6L80E's are larger and heavier.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

I've seen people use the 6 speed autos in swaps, but never a 4th gen. Really not worth the time/cost/energy to make that work. It's not like the A4 is deficient in gearing.

[Rob Bell]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

What I'm thinking is using the higher gears of the 6-speed to enable 4.56 or higher gears and still keep the RPM's down at cruise and the acceleration up.

[ssms5411]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

In my 6.0 truck it has 3.73 gears and with the 6 speed auto its only at 2000 rpms at 75 mph, so its doing well with the gearing. It would be bad a$$ to see one in a 4th gen.

[WarShrike]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

If the bellhousing doesn't work with a 4L60E bellhousing for the V6, I'm willing to bet the Mal Wood T-56 bellhousing to V6 block adapter would work great with a 6L80E, but you'd have to deal with the added 1/4-1/2" of added spacing between and I'm not sure the 'verter would mount to the trans properly then. If you have the money to swing a 6L80E though, then you should be able to get your hands on the rest of the equipment. Getting it to play nicely with the rest of the car is another game entirely and it is still a big transmission.

[Rob Bell]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

Sounds like something that is probably not worthwhile then, unless you're really into fabrication. I was just wondering if this is something that, while not plug and play, would be not too complex. Good info though, thanks folks.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: 5 or 6 Speed Auto Possible?

Also - I dont believe 6th gear in the 6L80E's will save you much more in fuel than the 4L60E's, the 6th gear is still much taller than the 6th gear in their manual counterpart. I believe they were built to keep the engine within closer range of its tourque curve more than anything else.