If you have a high-horsepower build in the works and are looking for a robust General Motors transmission to drop in it, then the automaker’s SEMA 2019 announcement may be of interest to you.
The automaker debuted its new SuperMatic 6L80E six-speed automatic transmission at the show, which it says “offers a technologically advanced balance of performance and efficiency when matched with Chevrolet Performance’s LS and LSX crate engines.”
New GM SP383 crate engine
This is essentially a strong, more robust version of the HydraMatic 6L80E transmission found in a number of rear-wheel-drive GM production vehicles, but “enhanced with specific internal components that contribute to a higher-output torque rating” of 650 pound-feet. This is a 45-percent increase over the regular-production six-speed HydraMatic 6L80E transmission, making it a good choice for high-horsepower builds, like those featuring one of GM’s supercharged Small Block crate engines.
The SuperMatic 6L80E transmission also features a “deep” 4.02 first-gear ratio, making it a good partner for powerful motors that may spin the tires easily from a standstill. The 0.67 ratio top gear also helps to reduce engine speed on the highway, preventing the engine from revving unnecessarily high and wasting fuel.
This transmission is part of GM’s growing family of “Connect & Cruise” systems, which are designed to easily pair with a wide array of Chevrolet Performance crate engines. A detailed chart in the Chevrolet Performance catalog outlines matched components and their part numbers, making it easier for shoppers to find an engine and transmission combo that easily pairs.
“Connect & Cruise systems eliminate the guesswork in selecting the right engine-and-transmission combination for your project,” said Chevrolet Performance director Kris Mayer. “Once you’ve selected the engine, our factory-matched combinations match it with a Chevrolet-recommended transmission and identify the necessary controllers, harnesses and other supporting components you need to help get it all installed and running quicker—and with the confidence it’s the right combo for your classic vehicle.”
The SuperMatic 6L80E transmission will be available to order from the 2020 Chevrolet Performance catalog.
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*HydraMatic 6L80E transmission shown
Comments
No doubt this is a byproduct of the eCOPO Camaro development with it having 600 lb-ft of torque, wonder what else is on it’s way down the pipeline?
Should keep GM’s crate business going strong for years to come!
Many people including myself and this site, have said that GM is considering the new design big block 8.0 liter that GM never installed in any production line truck. It can be an option in the Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD or 6500HD that Navistar is building for GM. those chassis cabs only offer a special version of the Duramax diesel and no gas engine option to compete directly with the Ford F-450, F-550, F-600, F-650 and F-750 medium duty trucks and able to offer a gas engine lower price. The GM big block gasser engine will have a bit more than 525 pounds feet of torque with a cam change or headers etc. Or, or GM could offer a stroked 6.6 liter new version gas engine taking the 2020 truck from 6.6 up to about 7 plus liters. Again, with just some minor mods, the torque of the 6.6 gasser at 7.2 liters, would be between 500 to 550 pounds feet of torque.
I was wondering when Chevy Performance would put the 6-speed autos in their catalog.
With all the trouble GM is having in their standard 6L80 maybe they should replace customer transmissions with these.
With as bad a transmission as the regular 6 speed is who would want one of these? And if this shifts better than the stock ones why cant GM make the stock ones shift like this? Just seems like a waste of money to me.
I’ve got a 2014 Z71 broke down now because GM used the POS 6L80 as it is…the torque converter is garbage. GM knew it, yet did nothing. New GM trans. 3600.00 but why waste the money on one with the same problem. I’m going with a local shop who uses a billet torque converter. I’ve always driven GM but I’m thinking of moving on to something else. Sad
I love the IDEA of the 6L80E and if it was built with Sonnax beefed up components it wood be a world class trans BUT why wood I trust GM any more -nothing would please me more to have a 6L80E with quality Sonnax parts behind my LS3 in my 63 Chevy ll however I am aware of the weak torque and other cheap parts in the 6L80 /so ease my conscience and tell me the parts that you have changed with clarity and no B.S.
I bought the damn thing and it still flares 3-4 and sometimes 2-3 or 4-5. Billet torque converter, but no sonnax kit to help the pump. I was told by chevy “do the sonnax kit. It won’t void the warranty”. Ohh.. when I got it said tested. Yeah right! Came with bad pcm from the start. Chevy warrantied that atleast. I feel it will take a crap before the Warranty is up. Hopefully they honor the warranty. It’s in a cammed 6.2 escalade pushing 420whp.
Does the 6l89e supermatic have a trans thermostat housing like the 6l80e hydramatic?
do i need to have PCM programed ?