Gearstar tells us that every 6L80E that comes out of their shop is custom built to the specific needs of the customer. A custom billet 10" or 11" converter is also included with the 6L80E.

As easy as it is to make power with late model LS engines, it can be pretty difficult to find an automatic transmission that can keep up. In fact, with just a cam and an array of bolt-ons to your 5^th Gen Camaro or GM SUV, you could easily be pushing your 6L80E beyond its capacities – leaving you in a “it’s not if, but when” scenario for a transmission replacement.  

Every transmission build at Gearstar is handled by one tech, from beginning to end.

Up until now, anyone who was truly serious about keeping an automatic overdrive transmission in a performance application that originally came with the 6L80E was forced to start looking at 4-speed options like a built 4L65E or 4L80E. But we recently learned that our buddies over at Gearstar Performance Transmissions have begun to offer their own custom built performance 6L80E transmissions.

“We do quite a bit to beef up the 6L80E,” says Larry, Shop Manager at Gearstar. “We replace all the friction materials with heavy duty Raybestos Performance frictions, and we weld up the hubs for extra strength. After we weld up the hubs, they are then sent off to be cryogenically treated and hardened. We also replace the 4, 5, and 6 intermediate shafts with hardened billet units.” The Gearstar 6L80E package comes complete with either a 10″ billet, or 11″ triple disc billet converter. So, how much power can the new Gearstar 6L80Es handle? The transmissions don’t have a power rating just yet, but the guys at Gearstar gave us an admittedly conservative estimate of 500 rwhp.

Probably one of the most appealing features of the Gearstar 6L80E is the fact that it doesn’t require any special controller or electronics the way a 4-speed swap would in a car that originally had a 6L80E. Larry tells us, “The TCM is right inside the transmission. You reuse all your factory wiring, and all the harness connections clip back into place.” Every Gearstar 6L80E comes with a TCM tuned specifically for your application.

Another interesting aspect about Gearstar transmissions is that they are all built-to-order for each individual customer based on their needs. “One tech handles each transmission build, from beginning to end,” says Larry. “It’s one of the ways we can ensure that every transmission we produce is the highest quality possible.”

For more info on Gearstar’s new 6L80E transmission, or any of their other bulletproof GM automatic overdrive transmissions, check out their website or give them a call at 330-434-5216.