When is it time to build the trans?

[LREhp]

So this winter I am gathering my parts, so in the spring when I can ride my Busa or drive the GTO everyday I can strip the truck down for a few weeks..

So I am doing head studs, gaskets, SCT, edge insight monitor, 6.4 banjo bolts, thinking about doing the 58v FICM too.. Also my turbo is getting sent out to Reed@ Work Turbochargers to get modded...

My question is this, at what point will I get stunk on the side of the road because my converter exploded or I killed the clutches?
I am trying to find an inexpensive core to have my trans builder go through for me, and then go with a nice billet converter. B
But how long will the stock one last?

Any other mods I should look into doing, especially in the cheap/free department.. So far the truck just has a 5" exhaust...

Thanks guys.

[kdogg85]

With what you have there, you will be fine with the stocker, unless you drive like Richard Petty everywhere. The consensus is around 500hp is what these tranny's will take and live. If you ever decide to get injectors over 155cc, I would get the transmission gone through.

This is one place it pays to go overkill. You want the tires to be the weak link in the driveline. Buy the toughest baddest parts you can afford and have a reputable shop put them in and never worry.

If you haven't already, do a coolant flush and swap over to cat ec-1 elc(extended life coolant). While the truck is torn apart, rebuild the oil cooler, new stand pipes and dummy plugs and an stc fitting(if it's 05-07 model)

some will say that unless the oil and coolant temps are over 15* apart, don't fool with the oil cooler, but it's 250 bucks or so for the kit and not very hard to do.

[windrunner408]

Yea basically what he said. Driving smart will allow the stock tranny to hold all you can throw at it unless you upgrade the injectors and turbo.