The performance aftermarket takes your project to the next level with upgraded or advanced parts. Be it brake and suspension, engine and drivetrain, or even something simple like a great set of wheels and cosmetic mods to improve the looks. But when someone takes an aftermarket part and dives further to make it do something more than it was designed to, that is the definition of hot rodding. George Benson of Benson Racing is doing precisely that, pushing a Haltech VCU outside its comfort zone to control a 10-speed automatic transmission.

With a best of 7.05 seconds at 198 mph in the quarter mile, George Benson’s CTS-V is one of the fastest in the country.

If you have never heard of Benson Racing, let us get you up to speed. George Benson and his 2009 Cadillac CTS-V have been claiming records and wins for the past few years with a twin-turbo LS under the hood of his 4,270-pound luxury sedan at events like Cadillac Attack, TX2K, the Import vs Domestic World Cup Finals, and more.

Under the hood is a 388 cubic-inch LS built by LME with a Callies Magnum crank, MGP Aluminum Rods, and Diamond pistons. The heads are CNC LS7 heads from CID that is fed over 40 pounds of boost via twin 72mm Bullseye Power turbos and drinking M1 Methanol through sixteen 2200cc injectors all controlled by a Haltech VCU.

The LS is backed by a TH-400 built by Accurate Transmission with a Hughes converter sending power to a Ford 9-inch rear axle. George put in a lot of long nights to get this car to perform and the results are beyond impressive, with a best of 7.05 seconds at 198 mph in the quarter mile and a best trap speed of 208 mph.

The Haltech Nexus R3, R5, and Rebel LS VCU is a highly capable aftermarket computer.

Benson’s extensive knowledge of racing and the Haltech engine controllers led him to a new idea: is it possible to run a modern transmission, like GM’s 10L80e or 10L90e 10-speed automatic, with the Haltech series of VCUs? Haltech calls their Nexus and Rebel LS series VCUs (vehicle control unit) instead of ECU (engine control unit) because of its versatile capabilities compared to the completion.

The 10-speed automatic is a physically large transmission, but offers a gear ratio spread and torque capacity for impressive performance benefits.

The problem with this idea is how the 10-speed is controlled. The GM 10-speed automatic is controlled by a TCM (transmission control module) that only talks to the factory ECU for the Gen-V direct injected LT engines. While you can bolt one of these transmissions to an LS engine, the ability to control the LS and the 10-speed, especially with an aftermarket computer, is practically impossible.

The 10-speed automatic utilizes six shift solenoids in its valve body (the six cylinders seen here).

But a hot rodder like George isn’t deterred by this complication. He knew if any aftermarket control unit could allow the LS to reap the performance benefits of ten gears, it would be Haltech. It powered his record-setting CTS-V, after all. The Haltech VCUs are capable of transmission control, but only the older and more common 4L60e and 4L80e transmissions.

In OEM applications, the 10L80e and 10L90e is controlled by the T87A TCM. In the case of George Benson’s experiment, he is trying to control the 10-speed directly with Haltech.

The 4-speed autos from GM only have four solenoids in the valve body to control the gears. Two shift solenoids, a line pressure solenoid, and a torque converter control (TCC) solenoid. The 10L80e and 10L90e 10-speed transmissions on the other hand require six shift solenoids along with a line pressure solenoid and a TCC solenoid.

To make use of the capabilities that Haltech offers, when the VCU only offers the ability to control four solenoids, not eight, takes some very careful and specialized tuning. When we spoke to Benson, he told us “It’s still in learning stages. The wiring is simple, but the tune is the key”. George is keeping his cards close to his chest for the time being, as a challenge this momentous takes a lot of fine details to work out.

It’s still in learning stages. The wiring is simple, but the tune is the key. ­— George Benson

As of right now, this isn’t a service that George is offering, but it is for sure something to keep your eye out for from Benson Racing. The Haltech control units offers superior capability, so if any aftermarket computer can be pushed to do something it wasn’t designed to do, Haltech is the right one to start with. If the 10-speed auto can help a 6th-Gen ZL1 Camaro dominate the track and the drag strip, imagine what it could do for the LS platform.