Four Years Underwater: Tearing Down the 6L80E Transmission From a "Stolen" 2011 Camaro SS Pulled From the Ohio RiverA 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS spent four years at the bottom of the Ohio River after being reported stolen and dumped there back in 2020. When it finally resurfaced in 2024, the aftermath became a two-part investigation for YouTube channel I Do Cars, which first tackled the engine and now turns its attention to the transmission. In this teardown, host Eric, who runs auto-recycling business Importapart, pulls apart the Camaro's 6L80E six-speed automatic to find out exactly how much damage four years underwater and two more years sitting above ground actually caused.Inside, the transmission tells a story of mud, rust, and slow decay. Silt had worked its way into the valve body and case, and corrosion had crept across many of the internal components after years fully submerged. The most surprising find was the transmission's electronic control module, which still managed to communicate with a scan tool despite everything the Camaro had been through, a small sign of how tough some modern components can be even after prolonged water exposure.Flood- and water-damaged vehicles are a recurring headache in the used car world, and this Ohio River Camaro is an extreme example of what happens when a car sits exposed to moisture for years instead of being properly stored. For a look at how a Camaro from the same nameplate can fare when it is cared for rather than dumped, see our story on 1972 Chevrolet Camaro True SS/RS barn find, which spent decades in dry storage before resurfacing in solid condition.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis teardown is also a reminder of why proper storage matters, whether a car is a modern muscle car or a decades-old classic. Owners hoping to avoid a similarly ruined drivetrain can find practical guidance in our guides on how to store a classic car the right way and recommissioning a long-parked classic, both of which cover the moisture, corrosion, and mechanical issues that come from a vehicle sitting too long in the wrong conditions.It is also not the first time a car has needed a dramatic teardown after an unusual ordeal. Our coverage of a widebody Corvette C3 sealed inside an abandoned garage for 19 years and a toxic teardown of an abandoned 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt both show how differently a vehicle can hold up depending on what it is exposed to over the years, whether that is stale air and dust or, in the Camaro's case, an entire river.For now, the Camaro's 6L80E has given up its parts count, and the transmission will be broken down further for recycling rather than rebuilding. It is a fitting end for a car that likely never should have ended up in the river in the first place, but one that at least gave viewers an unusually thorough look at what water damage really does to a modern automatic transmission.