2000 camaro z28 "built" 4l60e with PI 3600 stall, recently got the car, drove great no issues decided to do a small pull on the highway everything seemed fine down the road I started smelling a smell like burnt clutch, stopped at O'Reilly checked the fluid looked nice and red/pink. Parked the car for the night next day drove car and had no 4th/OD, rpms act like they are in 3rd gear based on mph and rpm. Computer does show 4th gear being commanded but rpms act like they are in third even if pcm shows 4th. Converter does lock up changed lockup to 3rd confirmed. Other than that car seems to drive fine and shift all other gears, no codes related to transmission only have an evap code. Decided to drop pan and change fluid and filter to my surprise I found long thin bands/friction material in the pan, not the gasket as that came out in one piece and is a different material.(maybe previous owner left it in there not sure) after changing filter and fluid same issue no 4th/OD and when going wot from a dig car goes then seems like rpms stay at 4500/5k while mph catches up. Car feels slow. I've attached images of what was in the pan. Pieces seem way to long and big to have vcome from anywhere(like maybe somehow someone left them there)? I'm 99% sure I'll need a rebuild both the trans and converter but looking at any possible temporary fixes as I'm on a budget at this time before i drop the trans. Thanks

 

That looks like the lining came off the band.

 

Yeah I was thinking that was a possibility just surprised it was in such big pieces in the pan. Would explained the no 4th gear/OD no?

 

That is the only place that I can see that large of a piece falling into the pan. A piece of friction coming from any of the clutch packs would get ground up before reaching the pan.

 

Yup band delaminated . This can happen due to a bad bond during manufacture or if the unit sits a long time in area with high moisture and band was not soaked in oil. Moisture can leach to it and cause separation, Lining is bonded by a water soluble glue . Not sure about a whole rebuild but certainly big cleanup and band/drum replacement, But that far in I would just rebuild.

 

That makes sense the car did sit for years in south Texas, its humid as hell here. Would explain that. We'll time to drop it and either get a new unit or rebuild this one in the meantime!

 

Keep in my that many JY/Used 4L60e are in bad shape and the cheap "rebuilt" ones rarely last even a year. So a quality rebuild should be considered and will cost $1500+.
If you do opt for a "new" (used) unit, consider a 4L65E from 2003-2006; fully compatible and will have some of the factory upgrades such as a stronger sunshell.

 

Yeah I was going to get a used built 4l60e from a 2002 camaro for $450 but decided not too as I don't want to go through this again and never know if it'll last or not, have a local shop that's known for good work, quoted me $1500 for a rebuild with warranty, installed. Going to go that route and while it's out I'm having the pi converter rebuild as well.