I wanted to give this topic its own thread.

The new Caddy STS-V has the GM 6L80E trans. The gear ratios are:

- First 4.02:1 - Second 2.36:1 - Third 1.53:1 - Fourth 1.15:1 - Fifth 0.85:1 - Sixth 0.67:1

Eventually this trans will be found on other GM vehicles such as their trucks and SUV. Also, on the Corvette.

Here's a link:

http://www.automotivearticles....shtml

Here are some of its features:

- Torque capacity up to 520 lb.-ft.

- Shift speeds up to 7000 rpm

- 32-bit intelligent controller, located inside the transmission.

- Wide 6.04:1 overall ratio enhances performance, fuel economy

- Innovative clutch-to-clutch operation reduces the number of torque- handling components while simultaneously improving shift quality and overall refinement



Eventually, these transmissions will be plentiful enough that you can get them on eBay. There should also be aftermarket controllers available so that you can connect the 6L80e to any engine you want.

Do you think it would be a good match with the VH45DE?

With an auto transmission swap, you avoid the problems of fitting the clutch pedal assembly and also the shifter.

You do have to deal with the transmission controller, but as I said before eventually aftermarket controllers will show up. There are a lot of hot rodders out there that are drooling over this transmission and can't wait to install it in their older cars.

There are obstacles to swapping any transmission into the Q45. I am just throwing this out for discussion.

I want it - badly.

I suppose my OBDII makes it even harder ... sigh.

I'm gonna need a tranny in the next year or so - a beefy 6 speed auto would be an ideal replacement.

96Qowner wrote:I want it - badly.

I suppose my OBDII makes it even harder ... sigh.

I'm gonna need a tranny in the next year or so - a beefy 6 speed auto would be an ideal replacement.

From what I understand, the ECU doesn't care about the transmission. So that means you will not be messing with your OBDII stuff.

Anyway, here is a bigger picture:

Here's another pic:

If my tranny died, I'd be all over that like Margaret Cho on kimchi.

Here are the max. speeds per gear with the stock 6900 rpm limit, 215/65-15 tires and the stock 3.54 diff:

1st - 38 mph

2nd - 64 mph

3rd - 99 mph

4th - 131 mph

5th - 177 mph

6th - 225 mph ( this is on paper only)

The engine speeds in sixth gear:

@ 60 mph = 1840 rpm

@ 80 mph = 2453 rpm

sijoko wrote:The engine speeds in sixth gear:

@ 60 mph = 1840 rpm

@ 80 mph = 2453 rpm

You sure? As is, I get 70 mph at 2250 in 4th. According to your numbers, it'd be 2147 at 70 mph in 6th.

sijoko wrote:Here's another pic:

So sexy I would do some heavy pimping for that tranny.

96Qowner wrote:
You sure? As is, I get 70 mph at 2250 in 4th. According to your numbers, it'd be 2147 at 70 mph in 6th.

The Q has a .69 top gear vs. the .67 on the 6L80E, so there is a slight reduction in cruise rpms.

I got the numbers from a transmission calculator at this site:

http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/

You can plug in the numbers you want and it will show a nice graph with gear speeds.

Ok, I see now - just didn't think the final gearing would end up that close.

Actually, after thinking it over, that's pretty damned nice - 100 rpms lower is probably close to perfect.

Gawd, what nice deam candy!

Just throwing this out - the trans looks a lot taller than the Q's.

66mgb wrote:Just throwing this out - the trans looks a lot taller than the Q's.

Yeah, dimensions would be nice, as would weight. Driveshaft is always critical.

Wonder when the JATCO 6 speed is coming?

maxnix wrote:Yeah, dimensions would be nice, as would weight. Driveshaft is always critical.

Wonder when the JATCO 6 speed is coming?

The only thing I found was the weight at ~ 230 lbs. As far as lenght, it is supposed to be near the same size as the current GM 4 speed autos.

Most likely, you would have to get a new driveshaft with any trans swap. Good opportunity to get that Carbon Fiber Driveshaft that everyone is dreaming.

To do a swap like this would require some skills. I would find a good drivetrain shop that has already built custom bellhousings for swaps.

There seems to be plenty of them in Australia. In the States, there are some good companies too.

Of course, if you had the right equipment and knowledge it can be done with the help of a good machinist.

Anyway, all this stuff is speculation right now. I just wanted to see what you guys thought.

I would be perfectly happy with a T56 in my Q45 if the price was right.

6 speeds are so passe 7-8 speeds are now the bomb..........good more cheap old 5-6 speeds on ebay/wrecks.

Dennis: With respect, I have to insist that 'the bomb' is circa 1997.

Would be nice to have DSG in the Q, but I suspect the electronics involved would make that pretty darn impossible.

The 06 Corvette has the 6-speed auto, with paddle shifters on the wheel.

So what really is the ultimate transmission for the Q? What info do we need so that I can volunteer some of my time to come up with a real solution?

Not to be a nay sayer, but why a GM 6 speed auto tranny is feasible when no one has been able to put a Q 5 speed tranny in a G50? Wouldn't an Infiniti tranny be more compatible than a GM one? Is there something to the GM trannys that would make it more compatible to different applications?

Jeff Williams wrote:The 06 Corvette has the 6-speed auto, with paddle shifters on the wheel.

What the Vette needs is for GM to developed an SMG auto tranny. No torque converter to mush things up. If they want to compete with the super cars of the world, you need to give it the same things. I drove a C6 that was a manual and that was sweet.

louiegz wrote:Not to be a nay sayer, but why a GM 6 speed auto tranny is feasible when no one has been able to put a Q 5 speed tranny in a G50? Wouldn't an Infiniti tranny be more compatible than a GM one? Is there something to the GM trannys that would make it more compatible to different applications?

The problem with the newer 5 speed auto for VK45DE is that it would not work well with the 3.54 diff on the G50.

The new M45 with a 3.36 differential is already reving at ~ 2300 rpm @ 60 mph. Now imagine what kind of rpm the engine would be doing with same transmission feeding a 3.54 diff.

Technically, you can use any transmission for a swap, but what is the point if you don't gain any mileage. I have the 4.08 diff in my car for performance. I had to give up some mileage for the benefit of better acceleration.

With the 6L80E, you would not be giving up highway fuel economy and still gain better acceleration. It is the "Best of Both Worlds" type scenario, if it can be made to work. Right now, it is just speculation.

Anyway, I used the 6L80E as an example because it is destined to be a common transmission in the future and it has a top gear that is very close to the RE4R03A in our Q45s.

So that means it will be relatively affordable to buy and fix. I have no problem installing a GM transmission in my Q. The older Rolls Royce/Bentley models used a GM trans, so did some of the older 5 series BMW.

Older V12 Jaguar also.

All modern automatic trannies signal ecu to reduce, then cut to zero, then resume ignition advance prior to, during ,and ramp up after shift to get the high torque ratings they promote...................there REAL torque rating is tiny without this control function........why they are able to make them so light weight. The clutches only handle power during the shift.

Creating the software to talk to ecu.

Q45tech wrote:6 speeds are so passe 7-8 speeds are now the bomb..........good more cheap old 5-6 speeds on ebay/wrecks.

MB still uses beefed-up 5 speeds on boosted AMG engines as new 7 speeds aren't up to all that torque.

sijoko wrote:The problem with the newer 5 speed auto for VK45DE is that it would not work well with the 3.54 diff on the G50.

The new M45 with a 3.36 differential is already reving at ~ 2300 rpm @ 60 mph. Now imagine what kind of rpm the engine would be doing with same transmission feeding a 3.54 diff.

Technically, you can use any transmission for a swap, but what is the point if you don't gain any mileage. I have the 4.08 diff in my car for performance. I had to give up some mileage for the benefit of better acceleration.

With the 6L80E, you would not be giving up highway fuel economy and still gain better acceleration. It is the "Best of Both Worlds" type scenario, if it can be made to work. Right now, it is just speculation.

Anyway, I used the 6L80E as an example because it is destined to be a common transmission in the future and it has a top gear that is very close to the RE4R03A in our Q45s.

So that means it will be relatively affordable to buy and fix. I have no problem installing a GM transmission in my Q. The older Rolls Royce/Bentley models used a GM trans, so did some of the older 5 series BMW.

Well its just as easy to swap in the 3.36 diff (or 3.13 in the Q45/M45 (F50/Y34))

My 99 C43 AMG has the VERY beefed up 5speed from the V12 for that very reason when you shorten the shift time the software get so complicated and the rpm decline time from the advance cut.......how long it takes for the engine spin down when you **** at 6500+ rpm back to torque peak [4500 rpm].

The Q worked because the engine didn't smack the clutches with 300 lb/ft at initial engagement [after the shift] but almost a second later the rpms has climbed to where it might be down to 250 lb/ft.

Use a Consult to view the ignition advance befoe during and the slow rise after the shift............28 [26stock] at shift dropping to ZERO then slowly rising to 22-24 in small steps as things get stablized.

Without this software I'm sure you could quickly destroy a swapped brand SUPER tranny even with the mild toque of the Q.

I never investigated where the shift timing was stored exactly nor where the sloped upramp was created.

Q45tech wrote:My 99 C43 AMG has the VERY beefed up 5speed

Hey Dennis, you have an AMG Benz? Cool. I thought you only drove your old Q. So is there some Benz forum out there getting the wealth of knowlege from you that we get here at NICO? How about some pics.



NICE!!!!

What in God's name convinced you to buy a 96+ DaimlerBenz product?

We needed a spare car and it was a find [at a steal private 1/3 rd of new sale price with 80k]. Great for 80 year old mom to drive to church..........she was told that AMG stands for ALL Mighty God, her friends love to take it to Picadilly...........luckily they're all tiny.

Really no faster than ecued Q except to 60: 3450 pounds +16.4 gallons1/4 Mile ET: 14.773 1/4 Mile MPH: 97.410 1/8 Mile ET: 9.672 1/8 Mile MPH: 76.000 0-60 Foot ET: 2.403

Q45tech wrote:...she was told that AMG stands for ALL Mighty God, her friends love to take it to Picadilly

That's good stuff! I can't help thinking about that episode in The Sopranos with Paulie's mom and friends piled into that old blue Dodge... Leave it to Dennis to make sure his mom is in style

Q45tech wrote:We needed a spare car and it was a find [at a steal private 1/3 rd of new sale price with 80k]. Great for 80 year old mom to drive to church..........she was told that AMG stands for ALL Mighty God, her friends love to take it to Picadilly...........luckily they're all tiny.

Really no faster than ecued Q except to 60: 3450 pounds +16.4 gallons1/4 Mile ET: 14.773 1/4 Mile MPH: 97.410 1/8 Mile ET: 9.672 1/8 Mile MPH: 76.000 0-60 Foot ET: 2.403

Wow, I expected the car to be faster than that. Thats a lot of motor for that little car.