[camerjeff]

Thanks, I hear what you are saying about the stock trans and rear axle. I was concerned about it also, but the only owners that seem to have issues with the stock Aisin trans are cars that either have LS7's, or 500 plus HP LS2's or LS3's. The only other owner that had an issue was a hopped up 5.3 iron blocked car, the owner had 50 plus 1/4 mile passes with Slicks. So between the extra 80+ lbs of the iron block, and the extra stress of the slicks? Would I rather have a T56? You bet!!!!! But that wont be in the future unless there is an issue with the original trans.
More likely I will be looking for a CTS 3.23 LSD center section to replace the 3.93 LSD stock unit. Between the steep 1st gear of the Aisin trans and the 3.93 axle ratio 1st gear is only good to around 7mph.
As for weight the manual trans version of the LS2 weighs 450lbs dressed, the manual trans version of the stock 2.4 L850 is 331lbs so the LS only weighs 119lbs more. The suspension modes done to my car supposedly take 12lbs off the car so that brings the increase down to 105llbs. Not a lot. According to everything I can find the lower center of gravity of the LS engines actually improve the handling. I did weight the car at work when I got it, with me in it (225lbs) and around 10 gallons of gas ( 62lbs ) the car weighed in at 3286lbs so it weighs just over 3000lbs empty. Stock the closest numbers with all the options my car has would be around 2850lbs so my estimate is the mods added around 150lbs to my car for 230 extra HP.
My fingers are crossed for the life of the trans also.