I hope some of you tranny gurus can help me out. Last summer I installed MMS Stage IIX Heads and 224v3 cam (400.9 rwhp and 450rwtq on motor). During that time I had a local guy rebuild my tranny. This guy has done 98 SS 877s tranny and it has worked flawlessly (many 10 and 11 sec passes). Anyway, he put coleen steel clutches, steel sprague, etc... Some very good components. Well since that point my tranny had broken 7 times after him rebuilding it each time. Thought it was the converter, went through 4 brank new PI converters. Then 2 new Yanks, same thing. The car will just loose 3rd and 4th gear. I have a tranny cooler 24,000gvw. So loosing all faith in this guy I purchase a brand new stock tranny and figured I would just leave it alone. That is what I did. Aside from driving 400 miles every weekend the car is untouched during the week. Just recently the brand new stock tranny went. Same thing 3rd and 4th. Well I exercised my warranty on the tranny and got a new one. Sent Mike (Yank) my converter back to have it cleaned and installed it (Last thursday to be exact). The tranny is acting weird. It seems like 3rd flares up or isnt engaged all the way. Same thing it does right before it goes. Also my converter constantly chatters and vibrates the car under part throttle while accelerating locked up. This being the 3rd yank in the car I can say this is normal since all of them did it both old and new tranny. My worry is that the tranny is gonna go anytime now and it has been less than a week. I do not use the HPPIII shift firmness setting and my fluid level is always fine. My rebuild tranny had a vacum modulator and put out around 235 psi so pressure was not an issue with that. I have spoke with Mike at Yank and Chuck at FLP. Both are clueless of what it could be burning up the trannys. If anyone with any knowledge could help it would be greatly appreciated. I have swaped the tranny out 9 times and have had 7 new converters in the car (All trade ins with PI and Yank) $6000 later I am going broke and I am loosing my mind. Please help.

John

P.S. All lines are always flushed and the tranny cooler has been replaced.

 

so you don't use the HPP3 shift settings?

[ February 06, 2002: Message edited by: Paul D. ]</p>

 

Hate to say it bro but it don't sound like you drive the car that much, so if it was me when the first tranny broke I would have gotten a th350, why keep spending money on crap, I mean junk in and junk out. I am by no way or means trying to be sarcastic but you get what you pay for and the 4l60e is not made to handle the power you have.

Get it over with and do the conversition and keep your money to mod the car more, instead of rebuilding a tranny that has not worked 9 times
your tranny has had its nine lives now move on to bigger and better thing

JET <img src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

No. During one of the trannys I used them. I used to adjust the shift points.

 

ttt

 

If Mike & Chuck are clueless, maybe its time for a conversion to something stronger.

Maybe it is PCM related. Have your tranny man put a line pressure guage on and go out for a drive. Measure your pressure at part throttle and at WOT.

Has your car every been wrecked? any reason why your drivetrain wouldn't be properly aligned? Just guessing here, but 9 trannies is a lot to be killed by an S2 H&C car.

 

I am with Jet....go to a TH400 or 350, maybe the 4L70E from Yank

 

I'll get a hold of my tranny guy (he did a lot of the R&D work for some of the fixes we now use) and see if he can help. I happen to have the same horse power level your at with 3800lb race weight (LT1 car). We took apart my tranny at the end of a full race season to see how it faired. We only had 1/3 of one side of a clutch burned, and that we believe was caused by a computer problem that was causing me to shift from 1st to 3rd. I will also tell you that, a stock tranny will in no way handle that horse power. While doing some troubleshooting on my car, we took all the tranny tricks out except for a 7 clutch, 3/4 clutch pack. On the floor, the first time, and it started slipping a higher revs. Hopefully I can get you some help! Of course, you may have answered your problem yourself....Chatter bad....3/4 go booommm fast! (cam surge at low rpm, I assume) What's your lock up speed in 3rd?

Jim <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[Burnout]" />

 

Jimbob the help would be greatly appreciated. My converter locks up at about 35 mph. The car has not been wrecked and the driveline and suspension are all stock. If it is PCM related I wish that I could take the PCM out of the picture and controll it via something else. Anyway any help from anyone would be appreciated.

John

 

I just bought a TCI tranny computer that takes the PCM out of the loop. I'll let you know how it works out. Have MMS or another tuner raise the line pressure in the tranny might also help.

 

Has it been the same driveshaft throughout the entire ordeal? From what I read it seemed that your trans was ok but you wanted to freshen it up before it saw the added power. If that correct than I would same if the D/S is just a little too long and pushing the output shaft into the back half of the trans.

Its something to check before you decide to get a t-braked th-400 <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0"> (don't know if you'd go that route but that's what I want eventually <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> )

LAter <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

 

Hey TRYMYZ shoot me some mail <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

 

I guess you just thought, you wanted tranny help!
<img src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" border="0" alt="[judgement]" />

Jim <img src="graemlins/camaro.gif" border="0" alt="[Chevrolet]" />

 

4L80E, period!

It should be the last tranny you ever need. I have been researching it and it seems like the best way to go. It's a TH-400 with a computer, lock-up and OD.

http://hughesperformance.com

 

Terry the T-Com is a EXCELLENT Piece
I had one in my 10.50 N20'd Firehawk along with a PI 3200 and JG built 4L60E back in Feb 98.As long as u know how to setup the PSI,shift timing,LU it will work very well and keep your trans alive for a longer period of time.I've thought about buying one again too.

But it looks like I'm doing well with the new trans JG built me.I talked to Dave friday and he's driving the car,breaking in the clutches,verter.
My New trans has some hardened parts,all the Trans go stuff (Kit,Vacum Mod,HP Pump kit etc.) along with the better clutches,steels.

Hopefully it'll last a solid season/driving.If not I'm going T400 W/Brake.

JS
Fat Boy Racing

[ February 10, 2002: Message edited by: JS ]</p>

 

How much more does a 4l80e weigh than a 4l60e ?? Do they have and adapter for the LS1s ? BTW does anyone else have any other ideas about my problem ?

TIA

John

 

[quote]Originally posted by JS:
<strong>My New trans has some hardened parts,all the Trans go stuff (Kit,Vacum Mod,HP Pump kit etc.) along with the better clutches,steels.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Sorry.. but that sounds just like the first 7 Trannys he replaced

 

Um???? NO its not the same.
My buddy has been building 10 Sec 4L60E's for 4 yrs now.Has alot of them behind some 500RWHP LT1 cars.Mine is working fine...

JS

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TRYMYZ:
[QB]How much more does a 4l80e weigh than a 4l60e ?? Do they have and adapter for the LS1s ? BTW does anyone else have any other ideas about my problem ?

TIA

John
__________________________________________________

I think Hughes said 50 more lbs.

It will fit in the F-bods with a little work.

 

someone always has a builder that can build this magical 4L60E/700R4 behind 9 second cars, etc.

sure they go on a trailer to the track make 2 passes, come back home change fluid, maybe do it again next week.

not a flame but i really don't see a good option out there if you keep having problems with them.

good luck to all you that want to run insane #s, drive it daily over say 40-50 miles and think it will last honestly 1 good year