L99/V8 Automatic reliability issues with 500 rwhp+

[Louis @ LG Motorsports]

How many people here have 500+ rwhp with the automatic transmission, and is it living?

How much RWHP?
Does it shift properly?
Have you broken one in the past?
Who tuned it?
What tuning software was used?

Im trying to gauge how reliable these transmissions are, how well the calibrations are done, and how they perform.

The vettes have basically the same transmission, and we have a lot more control over them, the shifting, and their performance. There is something lacking with that same transmission in the Camaro, and we are trying to figure out the issue.

Louis

[camaro1]

i would think mine would be close to that, i have just over 5000 miles on mine with really no issues, shifts are pretty firm for a 3200 stall converter, i also have a large trans cooler with its own fan, using hp tuners , they are trying to get all the trans pressure tables figured out, seems like there is still something in the tcm that is limiting the line pressure

car is put away for winter now but when i bring it back out im going to put a pressure gauge on the trans and do some runs and see if the pressures are coming up high enough for when the small nitrous kit and gears going on in the spring

there isnt a lot of trans tuning info out yet for the camaro 6l80e with a stall,, i just did a bunch of trial and error tuning and seeing what the vette and g8 guys were changing, and it seems a lot of the trans tables really dont do anything for shift feel or pressures, the camaro tcm tune is totally different that both those cars.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29240

[Louis @ LG Motorsports]

The changes made in a C6 to get the shifts right do not equate to the same result in the Camaros. I do agree, even basing some of the knowledge learned on the other 2 platforms, there is definitely something lacking that we cannot account for.

[Slowhawk]

We have a 600rwhp turbo car.Tranny was a bitch.Seemed like the best fix was to have some TM put in to drop power on the shift.

[carguy]

Originally Posted by Louis @ LG Motorsports

How many people here have 500+ rwhp with the automatic transmission, and is it living?

How much RWHP?
Does it shift properly?
Have you broken one in the past?
Who tuned it?
What tuning software was used?

Im trying to gauge how reliable these transmissions are, how well the calibrations are done, and how they perform.

The vettes have basically the same transmission, and we have a lot more control over them, the shifting, and their performance. There is something lacking with that same transmission in the Camaro, and we are trying to figure out the issue.

Louis

I haven't had mine dyno'd but I have a magnusun SC with AR headers and flow thru cats. with complete Corsa exhaust. It has the canned Magnusun tune but doesn't throw any codes so I assume its fairly close. I am sure it could be tweaked but I have magnusun warranty and its void if I mess with the tune. 3 years.

Any who...I have had no problems as of yet.

I might not be at 500RW but gotta be close. Especially when it cold here.
Man that thing runs alot better when its 10 degrees outside.

Although getting it to hook on cold pavement is a different problem.

I got my fingers crossed. ( on the tranny)

Put away for winter got 15 inches of snow a couple days ago and that would be that. Back to the Truck. Bummer

[spinetexas]

Hey car guy does the warranty cover the trans? Thought it just covered the Supercharger. I have the same supercharger set up, dyno at 525 rwhp, tranny good so far.

[speedster]

Originally Posted by Louis @ LG Motorsports

How many people here have 500+ rwhp with the automatic transmission, and is it living?

Louis

Late Model Racecraft has been running with close to double that peak power to the wheels and theirs seems to be holding up so far.

[camaro1]

Originally Posted by spinetexas

Hey car guy does the warranty cover the trans? Thought it just covered the Supercharger. I have the same supercharger set up, dyno at 525 rwhp, tranny good so far.

im sure it is just the supercharger they warranty,, no supercharger company is going to take over the entire powertrain warranty that is now void by gm

[The_Blur]

I'm almost certainly getting the automatic, and this thread definitely raised a red flag. The tune and the gearing in the auto have made the stock version keep up with the manual, but it would make sense that it might not be quite the same as in a Corvette. For that reason, I have a couple of suggestions I'd like to see tried before I get into a car that's going to produce disappointing shifts when I start making some really great horsepower numbers. Yes—my suggestions are crazy and reflect that I need to do some more reading on the subject. For this I apologize.

Have you tried using the computer from a Corvette on a Camaro? I know nothing about the computers on cars, and each one is different; however, my hypothesis is that the engine and transmission might act differently if they thought they were powering a Corvette. The only way that I know to do that would be to use Corvette parts in a Camaro. I suggest this drastic option because I doubt that simply putting a Corvette tune on a different computer made for a Camaro will work.

Have you tried using an aftermarket transmission? This is an even more ridiculous option, but I thought I'd throw it out there in case all else fails.

[ffrcobra_65]

Originally Posted by camaro1

im sure it is just the supercharger they warranty,, no supercharger company is going to take over the entire powertrain warranty that is now void by gm

you are wrong. Magnuson SC is covered under the standard Magnuson warranty but you can buy the OPTIONAL Powertrain warranty and it is good provided you abide by the requirements (use Magnuson tune, no other mods, valid from vehicle purchase date not SC install date, etc)

[axis]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

you are wrong. Magnuson SC is covered under the standard Magnuson warranty but you can buy the OPTIONAL Powertrain warranty and it is good provided you abide by the requirements (use Magnuson tune, no other mods, valid from vehicle purchase date not SC install date, etc)

Don't forget the fine print, NO RACING.

[camaro1]

Originally Posted by axis

Don't forget the fine print, NO RACING.

exactly,, they are not going to be paying for rear ends and trans,, and any abuse, good luck getting them to pay for anything.

[VADER SS L99]

Originally Posted by Louis @ LG Motorsports

How many people here have 500+ rwhp with the automatic transmission, and is it living?

How much RWHP?
Does it shift properly?
Have you broken one in the past?
Who tuned it?
What tuning software was used?

Im trying to gauge how reliable these transmissions are, how well the calibrations are done, and how they perform.

The vettes have basically the same transmission, and we have a lot more control over them, the shifting, and their performance. There is something lacking with that same transmission in the Camaro, and we are trying to figure out the issue.

Louis

LS1 Speeds' (Speed Inc) car is doing 10's on the stock trans I think. Never mind, pretty sure thats a stick. There are more cars than LMR's car that is putting down some serious power through the auto. I just cant think of them right now.

[Louis @ LG Motorsports]

Originally Posted by speedster

Late Model Racecraft has been running with close to double that peak power to the wheels and theirs seems to be holding up so far.

Thats not the info I got. From what I know, its been through a lot of transmissions, and they can only get it to shift right with the paddles, it will not shift right when left in D....


I do not have the ability to take different parts of PCMs and swapping them between platforms. That would be best for someone who knows the proper code and can segment them.

Having said that, has anyone had a solenoid failure? IE car shifts with the techII, but will not shift otherwise?