Suggestions on transmission

[Longhorn Man]

You are trying to get the best of both worlds, and it isn't cheap to do.
You want to launch outta the hole hard enough that the tailgate wants to fall off, yet, you want to go down the freeway at a step over idle. (I'm obviously exadurating on both ends) It can be done, but it won't be cheap.
The gear vendors is a tough unit. You will never break it.
As for GM auto/overdrives, there are a few options;
200 4R ... you'll kill it in no time with a $2k budget
700R4 ... It'll probably last a tad bit longer than the 200 4R... but not by much with the $2k Budget
4L6E ... Same as the 700 R4, but much more expensive to set up.
4L80E ... may hold up for quite a while, but you probably won't be able to do it for the price cap.

The 4L80E would be very expensive to aquire, and to rebuild. Plus, on top of all that, you'll need a computer to controll it. There are aftermarket stand alone computers with the sensors and stuff you'll need, but it'll make you cry if you price it. There is also a one year only, that GM used this tranny in 6.5 liter trucks, where it has a factory stand alone computer. I want to say it was like 92 ... maybe 93. IF... and that is a huge if, you can locate one and get the whole harness and computer and all sensors it is hooked to, esp if you see this in a junk yard... then, you may be able to do the 4L80E for less than 3K. This includes getting the tranny, having it rebuilt by a good shop, a new converter, and you installing it.
Don't forget the drive shaft mods you'll need to do...that goes for any OD tranny you go with.


This is why I mentioned getting a good freeway gear, and aim for gobs of low end torque. There's guys with the cad 500 big blocks, that run 2.73 gears on the strip and running absurd times... like 12's in full size vehicles... and turning 1800 RPM on the freeway with a TH400.