Transmission

Tech discussions on the 3.6L V6 motor (LFX) used in the 2012 & up Caprice.
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storm9c1
Posts: 418
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:47 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Transmission

Post by storm9c1 »

Since I know the least about the V6 cars, I've been doing some reading. I just learned that the V6 cars have a 6L50E transmission. I always assumed it got the same 4L80E as the V8. Apparently not.
Tom (AKA: Storm)
2011 Caprice 9C3: L77, 8K miles, first-owner, purchased July 2011.
1995 Caprice 9C1: LT1, 178K miles, summer car.
1995 Impala SS: LT1, 21K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 62K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 128K miles. Rust In Pieces
1994 Caprice 9C1: LT1, beater winter car.
1969 Chevy C30: 383ci stroker, 4L80E, rollback car hauler.
1972 Chrysler Newport: 400ci big block, survivor 27K miles, 2-door hardtop.
1969 Dodge Charger: 383ci big block.
Hendo
Posts: 36
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 4:36 pm

Re: Transmission

Post by Hendo »

You mean 6L80 right? It a 6L80 trans in the V8. The fact that it has the weaker trans makes the fact that the 3.6L cost the same new even worse.
StevenJay
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:43 pm
Location: Lake County Illinois

Re: Transmission

Post by StevenJay »

The V6 whines out at a much higher RPM than the V8; to 7,200 RPMs which I believe is part why it has a different trans. V6 and 6L50 is lighter. My Dad can beat up your Dad.
Steven J.
-2014 Chevy Caprice PPV Pre-Production Pilot vehicle RPO code-Switchblade silver metallic purchased 11/2017
-2017 Chevy Caprice PPV- Switchblade silver metallic-GM Show Car RPO code. purchased 1/2018
9C1fanatic
Posts: 430
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 8:58 pm
Location: Texas Hill Country

Re: Transmission

Post by 9C1fanatic »

I think all car companies do this. They put the "weaker" trans" in the V6 vehicle to save fuel economy. The V6 has significantly less torque than the V8 so it would be a waste of energy for it to push the beefier (heavier) internals of 6L80E. This is the same concept as my old 1991 C1500. It originally came with a 5.0L V8 with manual trans. When I upgraded to a 350, I discovered that the 5.7L trucks utilize a 12 inch pressure plate where as the 4.3L and 5.0L use an 11 inch. Less rotating mass equals less power loss to the wheels. Another example is the 94-96 Caprice sedan. Non 9C1 cars got a smaller 7.5 inch rear end with L99 V8 where as the LT1 cars got the 8.5 inch rear.

To take it even older, a 1976 Impala with a 454 would have a turbo 400 trans where a 350 Impala of the same year likely had a turbo 350 trans.
Garner Ames



1975 Pontiac Grand Am L77 - 14.82 @ 92.89
1991 Chevrolet C1500 L31 Vortec/5 Speed
2002 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LM7
2014 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 L77 - 13.60 @ 105.87
2019 Chevrolet Express 3500 L96
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