Let's talk transmissions

I had mine rebuilt in October last year. I had just over 100k miles at the time, and the sun shell is the main part that was destroyed
The clutch bands still looked pretty decent. The spider gears in my rear end stripped out and locked up while I was driving, therefore it shredded the teeth on the sun shell. It cost me $2000 for both the transmission rebuild plus the spider gear replacement. That price was with all parts and labor, and included a new forged sun shell and planetary gears, and a new torque converter. I already had a vette servo in it and told them so and to make sure they leave it in.
They wanted $2000 just for the transmission alone until I need them down. I got a quote from a smaller shop for $1400 on the transmission and tried to get him to price match. They refused to price match but agreed to do the spider gears for free. I went with them over the cheaper shop mainly because of their superb reputation. The other shop was a lot farther plus I knew nothing about them or their reputation.
 
my transmission has 130,000 on it have money in the bank to get it rebuilt but might as well wait till it blows since it seems that the cost is all going to be the same since the price you pay is mostly for labor
 
Iv been though 8 in one year.
No cam, converter.

Check pinion make sure its right, if lowered make sure drive shaft isnt too long (my problem).
4l60e are hit or miss. Some people get alot out of them some dont.

Peyton ran his 200k plus mile 60e cammed and stalled and never missed a lick. Hes now running a built 60e behind a forged 370 and its holding fine.

First, i wouldn't tear into the tranny unless its broke. Id start with a vette servo and possibly a shift kit. However if your going with a shift kit your transmission settings in your tune must be stock (anther reason iv gone though so many) so make sure your tuner know if you have a shift kit and tell him to tune accordingly.

For a cam/converter combo I wouldnt worry much as long as What i said above is all played in the correct way. If your going with a stall (even stock) I would highly recommend a tru cool 40k cooler. Those converters build alot of heat and are one of the killers of a 60e.

Id start with a vette servo, do your cam, then tune.
Build the tranny with a shift kit later on if it breaks.
 
Ive got 145K+ on my stock 60E with a cam, servo, headers, heads, tune and a few other small things and the trans feels great and fluid is nice n red after 35k since the fluid/filter swap. Granted the engine mods just started to get serious in the past year or so, but I have felt no noticeable issues with the trans. I plan on rockin' it until it wont spin no more, but I will have the money saved just in case I need a quick rebuild - thats what id reccommend; dont fix what isnt broke, but be prepared if it does. By the time it gives it will be new truck time I hope...but if not, no big deal.

What Id really love to do is pick up a used tranny and rebuild it slowly myself, I could either put it in the 07 if it grenades, or the 01 when/if I swap a V8 into it.
 
One more tip. Run a trans cooler and good fluid. Don't use regular old Dexron III. Use Dexron 6 or AMSOIL or something like that. When I flushed my transmission and refilled it with Dexron 6, I noticed better shifting and it ran almost 8-10 degrees cooler. Strictly from upgrading to better fluid.
 
ScottyBoy said:
One more tip. Run a trans cooler and good fluid. Don't use regular old Dexron III. Use Dexron 6 or AMSOIL or something like that. When I flushed my transmission and refilled it with Dexron 6, I noticed better shifting and it ran almost 8-10 degrees cooler. Strictly from upgrading to better fluid.
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dam wish i knew that when i changed mine ...did that all about 6,000 miles ago now :roflsad:
 
ScottyBoy said:
One more tip. Run a trans cooler and good fluid. Don't use regular old Dexron III. Use Dexron 6 or AMSOIL or something like that. When I flushed my transmission and refilled it with Dexron 6, I noticed better shifting and it ran almost 8-10 degrees cooler. Strictly from upgrading to better fluid.
Click to expand...

I noticed the same in my grand prix, iirc dex 6 has a stricter refining process. The dealer I used to work got bulk dex 6 synthetic.
 
I'm going to change my fluid and filter this year, probably around 90k miles. If for some reason that caused it to "blow", I will have one built. No need to buy and swap an 80e really. Even if I do decide to mod. You lose mileage and have to do the conversion.
 
ScottyBoy said:
One more tip. Run a trans cooler and good fluid. Don't use regular old Dexron III. Use Dexron 6 or AMSOIL or something like that. When I flushed my transmission and refilled it with Dexron 6, I noticed better shifting and it ran almost 8-10 degrees cooler. Strictly from upgrading to better fluid.
Click to expand...

May upgrade fluid whenever i put a bigger converter in then.
 
Okay im going to bump this up; this thread got me thinking of buying a cheap 4L60e core from CL and getting it built/building it myself when my wallet permits. Then when it is built or when the Sierras trans (which is almost at 150k) goes boom I can just swap it in there. Dont know much about repairing/building transmissions, I stayed away from them when I was at GM. Here are my questions:

- What should I look for when going to check out used transmissions (i.e. where should I look for fractures, etc)?
- How hard would it be for me to learn to rebuild it myself (I worked on cars for years, just never gotten past replacing a valve body), and are there any specific tools that would be needed?
- What is the best online store to order performance and rebuild trans parts from?

Any other tips/suggestions would be helpful. I havent decided on what performance parts I want yet besides a servo and bigger stall - but I will worry more about that once I have a good use trans in my possession.
 
I helped a mechanic buddy of mine rebuild the old 4l60e in my old obs and it was a crazy to me..he knew what he was doing but I wad astonished at how many disks are in there
 
Well i got 278k on my 60e. it seems as if its the higher gears that are weaker. honestly i dont see built ones lasting too long either. Mine is great (knock on wood)
 
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