30th droptop

iTrader: (-1)

I have a 1999 Trans Am with 90K miles. The first thing I did when I bought the car a year ago was change the tranny fluid. It was not burned and there was no material in the pan. It seems to shift fine.

Now I'm getting ready to install a 3200 stall converter, and I'm left wondering if I shouldn't go through the tranny at the same time. I would hate to put an expensive converter into the car, then have the tranny fail and mess up the converter.

I was wondering if there's any consensus on how long these trannys last. The car is staying pretty much stock and won't be taken to the track.

Thanks for your input!

Roarin_8

iTrader: (5)

If you have the money for the tranny, I would do that as well. Don't forget a cooler and tranny temp gauge while you are at it.

ChevyGoldfinger

At 90k your clutch packs probably are getting worn down. You might as well see if you can find a good performance trans shop in your area (ask around and find a shop with a good rep among racers) Have that shop install your converter, and at the same time have the "soft parts" in the trans replaced. At the same time, you would be wise to get a TransGo shift kit installed to get crisp shifts and save your new clutch packs. The trans cooler is a MUST and the bigger the better.

The suggestion about a trans gauge is a good one. If you have a high stall vert, you really need to keep an eye on the oil temp. (it will pay for itself if you catch it getting hot)

Good luck, and you will really enjoy your new performance with the stall converter.

30th droptop

iTrader: (-1)

Thanks for the input!

FILE

iTrader: (5)

I have seen go past 150k.... then I have seen fail as early as 30k..

white_ta

Mines at 121000 and going good. I have had a transgo shift kit since 45000 miles. No stall converter though.

RoysTransAm

74K here and the 3-4 pack is shot at WOT.

30th droptop

iTrader: (-1)

Great info. I think I'll probably rebuild it as long as it's out.

1QuickT-A

iTrader: (12)

Call TCI and order a rebuild kit with a new set of Heavy Duty clutches & steels.. Also get the heavy duty drum and both billet servos. Then get a TransGo Heavy Duty Shiftkit. That will probly run you $400-$500 dollars if I remember correctly..

There is no point in pulling the trans out and not getting it rebuilt with 90k miles on it. Mine has 110k on it and its taking a **** as we speak.. So, I've already got all the parts sittin here and I'm about to pull it in the next 2 weeks to get it built...

Sandmann120

iTrader: (1)

Mine died at 55k, and the car was COMPLETLY stock up until that point. It hadn't even been down the 1/4 yet.

blkZ28spt

Lost my 3-4 clutches at about 57k miles. I owned the car nearly four years and 25k miles with a lot of 4-2 downshifts, burnouts, donuts, etc but it was near stock for most of that and I kept the temps down once I got the converter/cooler/shift kit/gauge in there.

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

From Ragtop 99: "Personally, I hate messing with any working tranny. Seems like that half the time, once someone opens one up, the evil spirits creep in."

I'm also of the "if ain't broke, don't fix it" school. You read about plenty of guys rebuilding their 4l60e's three and four times in a row. Your tranny might give up the ghost in 2k or last another 50k. It's not worth trying to save the hassle or cost of R&Ring it if you really don't need to rebuild it in my opinion. It's not that expensive or that big of a job. So, if it's functioning perfectly, I'd leave it alone.