Trans Suggestions

[Nick-G]

So this winter I am going to be dropping a built 3400 into my 2002 grand am gt the 3400 was tejohnsons if any of you remember seeing the for sale thread and it is currently sitting in my garage.

My question is what would you suggest for my transmission? This 3400 was pushing 13's before it was rebuilt and sold to me and im planing on going into 12's.

I would really like to have a transmission that can hold all of this power without any issues so should I rebuild my stock trans or posibly swap a 6 speed any suggestions or advice would really help alot.

[Nick-G]

Anyone?

[TurboGTU]

theres some Raybestos blue clutches for the 4t45. DHP tunner to firm up the shifts and LSD from EP. Unless you wanto go swap a 4t65 or 5spd.

[kwhauck]

Well you definately need something to handle that motor, tejohnson did a very good job, even with a 6-speed swap, i think you will need to upgrade......

me personally, i will be running 12s, hopefully 11s and am swapping to a built 282

[Superdave]

HM282, Just learn how to shift fast.


mine has over 140K on it and still looks like new on the inside, it handles hard launches like a champ.

[kwhauck]

superdave - what kind of final drive ratio do you have and what do you think the HP limit is before axles and or intermediate shaft start snapping......

[Superdave]

i'm running the stock Jbody 3.61 FDR The tranny will take 350-400 HP easy, if you abuse it of course bad things could happen though. Having one rebuilt with new diff bearings and shimmed propperly would be a good option if you plan on beating the hell out of it.. lol

the stock GM CV's and intermediate shafts will take alot of abuse, the aftermarket CV's are hit and miss... Mine are the originals from '91, the Intermediate shaft came off of a '88 Beretta so everything has quite a bit of miles on it.


your car does weigh like 500 lbs more than mine, that will be some additional stress on the axles as well...

[kwhauck]

ok, well I have the 3.94 FDR, gleason-torsen LSD, everything inside the tranny has been cryo-hardened, 94 slave cylincer, shafts would be aftermarket, clutch is a clutchmaster- one step below their drag only clutch, fidanza flywheel, i will be using DRs, possibly slicks,................hopefully this will hold 400 or 500 whp?

[Superdave]

the weak link is always the axles.. www.driveshaftshop.com

[Nick-G]

So you guys think the getrag 282 would be my best option? Im not that familiar with this transmission but I see quite a few topics here about it I will for sure read into it

[kwhauck]

for you stick with the 4t45 and beef it a little bit.....

[IsaacHayes]

282 would be strongest best option, or one of the newer getrags that bolts into the n body.

Not sure how much power a 4t-45e can take before it blows, or how much money you have to spend to make it hold, and even then not sure if it can be made bullet proof. Possibly, but the $$ would add up very very fast.

[Nick-G]

Im really reading up on the 282 I really want a transmission that can take the power without me having to worry about breaking anything and having a manual would make driving the ga so much funner.

If I could get a used 282 what would you suggest me doing to it first to help it hold the power? Where would I find aftermarket 282 parts? And is their anyone else around here with a getrag 282 in a 99 and up grand am?

[Barry]

Theres not much you can do but have it rebuilt and hope for the best. Ill be beating on mine daily, so I have a spare for parts.

[IsaacHayes]

Just a strong clutch and some OEM axles and that's about it. Make sure axle alignment is correct and use the aluminum axle jack shaft intermediate shaft thing.