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I am new to automatic transmission rebuilding,but from the info I learned this is just not right. I bought a used MadDog stage II 4l60e that the previous owner told me the 3-4 was starting to slip. I picked it up for what I thought was cheap enough to rebuild and have a trans strong enough to live for my ride. Well ... I can't say I am very impressed with the quality of this transmission at all. I will try to post a video of the 3-4 clutch pack in operation showing .170" travel !!! I thought it should have between .040" and .080". Other things to follow. goto go
The 3-4 clutch pack is not going to have .040" - .080" clearance if the clutches are toast. It could have been set up with stock clearances which is around .080" then take all the clutch material off with torched clutches and you will get to .170" + clearances in no time lol.
I'm not talking "****" I am merely stating facts about this trans that was "built" by a company that stated it was a "stage2" 4l65e. My initial post stated 4l60e , Sorry. I disassembled the trans to find fwd and rear pinions are 4 pinion not 5 pinions . I thought 5 pinions was one of the items GM changed in the 4l60e for added strength along with a hardened sun shell and hardened input shaft. It looks like they used a Beast sun shell, and upgraded springs and accumulators and some valvebody work. The reverse input shell looks like someone used a grinder to resurface it. There are grinding marks in the metal running directions inconsistent with the band wear. It is quite uneven.
That is why I am a little miffed about this situation. I will probably not save any money doing it this way, LOL and certainly will not have any warranty. I just hope it lives without shredding hard parts.
Does this make sense....he's so stupid that he put a video out demonstrating how stupid he is. And what's with the red velvet curtain behind him. Is he in a victorian era theatre? Does he build his transmissions on stage wearing a giant white wig?
Another thing. If someone says they use Kevlar anything in one of these, they're either trying to make it sound good, or they're just stupid. Theres no use for kevlar anything in one of these. Unless it's a blanket to cover it so it doesn't come through the floor.
So i commented on one of his youtube videos and he responded with "well how have we been in business for 30 years if we scam people". Really dude? LMAO
MadDog even said in one of his (crazy) videos that a bolt hole in the 12 O'Clock position indicates its a 4L65E. It actually means it an LS-style 300mm input drum unit. I had to correct a dozen threads because of that wrong info. MadDog therefore sold every LS-style as a 4L65E. It was proof of how little he knows about these transmission and his tendency to over-promise and under-deliver.
If it seems that 01ssreda4 gets over-animated by any mention of MadDog, its because we had to deal with that guy for several years. I still get agitated too.
Yes, there are Kevlar bands, but pro builders have told me to avoid them as they take much more pressure to apply the same amount of friction as e.g. a Carbon band.
In my calculations, the 3/4 piston can apply about 800 lbs of pressure; the load release springs reduce that by less than 10 lbs and may help the frictions last longer if you drive a lot in 1st or 2nd gear. So no big deal and not worth worrying about. I keep them in and the Sonnax recommends using their special ones in their Smart-Tech input drum.
I have deleted all posts in this thread that F-bomb or call anyone other than MadDog an idiot.
The 3-4 clutch pack along with the backing and apply plates are coned pretty bad. The kit I have came with hi-energy raybestos frictions and new steels. Tonight I purchased Sonnax backing/apply plate kit 74140-01k. I hope it helps the 3-4 stay flat. I think there are 7 frictions and the steels are .095" thick. I also received the new AcDelco reverse drum today.
Does anyone have any experience with the Sonnax backing/apply plates?
MadDog even said in one of his (crazy) videos that a bolt hole in the 12 O'Clock position indicates its a 4L65E. It actually means it an LS-style 300mm input drum unit. I had to correct a dozen threads because of that wrong info. MadDog therefore sold every LS-style as a 4L65E. It was proof of how little he knows about these transmission and his tendency to over-promise and under-deliver.
If it seems that 01ssreda4 gets over-animated by any mention of MadDog, its because we had to deal with that guy for several years. I still get agitated too.
Yes, there are Kevlar bands, but pro builders have told me to avoid them as they take much more pressure to apply the same amount of friction as e.g. a Carbon band.
In my calculations, the 3/4 piston can apply about 800 lbs of pressure; the load release springs reduce that by less than 10 lbs and may help the frictions last longer if you drive a lot in 1st or 2nd gear. So no big deal and not worth worrying about. I keep them in and the Sonnax recommends using their special ones in their Smart-Tech input drum.
I have deleted all posts in this thread that F-bomb or call anyone other than MadDog an idiot.
Its honest to god not really against him personally, I think he scams people out of money, which i despise as a general character trait. I believe he preys on people and talks good to the unknowning. Scummy like a used car salesman. I would bet money his trans dont have all the parts in them he says they do either. So he is a liar and a thief as far as im concerned.
Here is a couple pics of the disassembled trans. 3-4 clutch was burned up and coned really bad.
The reverse input drum has some wear marks... no. It really looks like someone took a grinder to it. There are marks in the metal running different direction from the band wear! 3-4 clutch pack was burned and coned pretty bad
Wow, I see the .170" end play on the 3/4 clutch.
Curious, how many frictions were in it - 6 or 7?
I suspect the Sonnax Apply/Backing plates are just the thickest GM ones and that will reduce the coning.
It was built up with 6 frictions. Sonnax claims their apply and backing plates are stronger...I hope so because I spent quite a bit more on the Sonnax plates than I could have purchased heavy duty OEM plates!
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how was this even working? 
