Strengthening our Transmission? Any ideas

[Trailblazin]

Any Ideas about how this could be done?? Other Plug and Play Torque Convertors, Clutches, Servos. Please let me know any information you have regarding this post title. I don't want to spend another $500 on overhauling my transmission, next time I might even have to pay for a whole new Transmission which will cost me double!!!

Thanks


*EDIT*
Found this website, looked at it, but I don't know anything bout transmissions so not sure if this stuff would help at all
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4L60E.htm

[IceN]

Any Ideas about how this could be done?? Other Plug and Play Torque Convertors, Clutches, Servos. Please let me know any information you have regarding this post title. I don't want to spend another $500 on overhauling my transmission, next time I might even have to pay for a whole new Transmission which will cost me double!!!

Thanks


*EDIT*
Found this website, looked at it, but I don't know anything bout transmissions so not sure if this stuff would help at all
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4L60E.htm


well if u want it never to break again id go with a finish line performance tranny, but thats gona cost u more than ur willing. Depending on how much power u wanna make.

[POWERFREAK]

If you don't already have one...how about a tranny cooler? It wont make it stronger, but will make it last longer.

[Trailblazin]

If you don't already have one...how about a tranny cooler? It wont make it stronger, but will make it last longer.

could this actually be done on our auto??? If it can then im sure i would love one.

[glfredrick]

Becasue I'm looking to use my TB as a tow rig for my other off-road trucks, I have been looking into mods for the TB auto that will strengthen the trans.

What I've found to date that seems doable and that will help is:

1. Replace the accumulator with a pinnless variety -- under the valve body, can be done without pulling the trans. This stops accumulator leaks and wear, one of the major issues in this trans. (The accumulator applies shift pressure to the ports during shifts, and leaks here lead to soft shifts, which lead to excess heat and wear.)

2. Add a cooler -- coolers can be added to any vehicle and auto trans. Do not disable the factory cooler inside the radiator, but plumb the cooler lines from the factory cooler to an additional cooler that is preferably located in the air flow (under the grill, and spaced about 1" from the evaporator core for air flow), and then back to the transmission.

3. Add an auxillary filter to the transmission -- this will catch the fine particles that come off of the bands and clutches that normally pass through the screen installed by the factory. This prolongs oil life, and also stops passages in the valve body and solenoids from getting plugged up. Stick the filter in line with the axuillary cooler, using an external oil filter housing, and an automotive oil filter that fits that housing. Change when the engine oil is changed. Add trans fluid as need after changing to hold level.

4. Add a shift re-programmer to modify shift points -- this is the electonic version of the old shift kit, and almost fool-proof, as no trans disasembly is required. Allows for changing shift points, firmess, etc. To a point, the firmer the shift, the longer the transmission life, as "soft" shifts that you can hardly feel are caused by undue slippage as one "gear" releases and another applies.

5. Run a good grade of synthetic transmission oil -- Amsoil, Lucas, Royal Purple, etc., all make good products that will extend the longivity of the trans.

6. Add a temprature guage so you know what the trans is actually doing -- and shift accordingly. That means popping out of overdrive on occaision if the tranny is getting hot from pulling a hill, etc.

These 6 items, none of which cost more than $100 a pop, will greatly extend the life of ANY transmission, including the one in our TB's. This list is what I'm doing to mine...

[Ddubb]

The transmission cooler inside of the radiator is not very big at all, I dont think it does very much cooling, its more like a heater.

Adding an aftermarket cooler is good for any automatic transmission. When your fluid gets above a certain temperature, it cuts the life of the fluid in half. The fluid contains friction modifiers that help your clutches hold in gear. When the fluid heats up and breaks down, your clutch packs slip and that causes wear on your transmission. I would recommend changing the fluid more often than the scheduled maintenance requires .. The salesman told me I dont need to change mine until 100,000 Miles. Most people change theirs at 30k Miles, however, just like any Fluid and depending on the way you drive, it would be safer to change every 20-25k Miles. Synthetics will last longer as they tend to take more heat before the modifyers inside the fluid start to break down.

When the transmission shifts between gears, the servos / accumulators will fill and when they reach their capacity and line pressure is up, they will shift your transmission into the next gear. This delay actually causes more heat / friction / wear on your transmission, but provides a more comfortable shift. ( Leakage in the Accumulator bore will cause a delayed shift ). Increasing your line pressure Via. Chip can be more harmful to your transmission. The best way to reduce the fill time between shifts is by modifying the seperator plate inside of the valve body ( aka Shift kit ) and when combined with a chip to increase the line pressure, it will provide a quick shift .. sometimes so fast your tires will chirp between gears. I would not recommend this for anybody who likes having a smooth shifting ride, its more for race applications.

As for durability, the 4L60E is replaced by a 4L70E in the SS Trailblazer ( the 70 is the Durability rating, stronger internal parts ) .. some people who have Camaros replace their 4L60E with the 4L80E that come in some Trucks.

I am more performance oriented with Ford 4R70W / AODE Transmissions since they tend to break all the time, but the same princables apply to Chevy Transmissions.

- Dan

[Trailblazin]

well thanks for the info guys, would like to say welcome to the site and im sure both of u will be of great benifit to this site with the information you ave to give.

Looked into a trans cooler, but not too deep, there is a drag shop here in Kuwait so i'll take a trip to him once my cars out and see what he can do me for.

I have also looked into some Shiftkits, they all state they are for the 4L60E used in LT1s and LS1s. Here's some links to 3 different ones, if there is a better one plz let me know.

Transgo
http://www.txchange.com/tgp.htm

Jet
http://www.jetchip.com/products.asp?pid=14491

Thanks

[Ddubb]

You'll want to use a "stacked plate" design Transmission cooler, Not the "Tube and Fin" style, they are not as efficient.

I use a B&M 24000 Transmission cooler, its nice and compact, although I have seen other people use the Hayden 26400 cooler, its a little bigger and provides more cooling capacity. You will need to add about another 1/2 qt fluid after you install the cooler. I was suprised to see how hot the cooler actually got after installing it.

All of the "Shift Kits" are essentially the same. I just dont understand how they can charge about $100 for a filter, and a couple gaskets. They also give you a few springs, and instructions on which holes to drill in your seperator plate. I looked through a Transgo kit for the Ford Transmission and talked to the Head 4r70w Transmission engineer about its design, and the use of an external capacity valve .. he was suprised to see what they were doing, but told me it was no good. I modify my own valve body seperator plates according to the specifications he provided, so I just pick up a couple gaskets and a new Filter from my Ford parts guy for cheap and modify the own valve body for free.

The Transgo kit recommends a computer re-program for 98 and later models with the 4L60E. It is the same transmission used in the Trailblazer as the LT1 / LS1 vehicles. All of the "shift kits" are going to be the same, you just drill a few holes in the seperator plate and replace the accumulator capacity springs. So you can go with the Transgo, Jet, or B&M kit. I only see listings up to 2001 .. so I would contact either the manufacturer of the Kit, or a Retailer to find out if it will work in a 2002 and later Transmission .. there may have been slight design changes to the Valve body, or other internal parts.

- Dan

[icepenguin]

why would an overdrive gear heat up the transmission more so than any other gear if the car is going with in the right range of speed for that gear?

[glfredrick]

why would an overdrive gear heat up the transmission more so than any other gear if the car is going with in the right range of speed for that gear?

In "overdrive" the engine has to spin the transmission and drivetrain at a speed FASTER than the engine RPM. In order to do that, it has to work harder. Think of the top gear on your 10 speed bike, especially up hill. Do you work up a sweat trying to push your bike up a grade in the top gear? You bet you do, and so, in essence, does your car.

It all comes down to torque multiplication, and the physics involved in producing work of a certain degree. Heat is a by-product from the production of work, etc...

[Rob]

Posts below are correct. I used to be a tranny mechanic and most failures can be traced to heat. I put a Hayden stacked plate type in my TB. It just fit. It's not a 100% guarantee that your tranny will last forever, but it will go a long way toward extending the life. Especially if you are in a situation that puts a lot of strain on the tranny. Things like oversized tires, lots of towing, stop and go driving, particularly hot climate (like Kuwait), can all make a transmission hotter than it should be. I’d say it is the single most valuable investment you can make in extending the life of a transmission. If you tow or drive like a maniac, a quality shift kit will help as well. So far I’ve not seen one for the later model 4L60E. My guess is the electronic controls don’t like the shift kit.

[ScarabEpic22]

Jet performance and B&M racing both make shift kits, both plug in adjustable ones and bolt in hardware ones. Electronic adjustables ones are about $40 B&M and $100 for the Jet as it has 5 settings not 3. I think the transperformance kits cost about $30-60 depending on the one you get.

[glfredrick]

Well, I've completed phase 1 of the transmission strengthening exercise with the installation of a pinless accumulator and a torque converter lockup valve replacement.

No big change in shifts, except they are positive now instead of slushy.

Still to come, the Corvetter servo, a plate cooler, an external filter, temp gauge, Amsoil synthetic oil, and a plate cooler.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/PinHole.htm

In the link above, the parts I added are:
#20S. This is the replacement for a worn throttle valve.
#37P. 700R4 / 4L60E Pinless accumulator piston.


Still to come are:
1X. 700R4 / 4L60E high performance intermediate billet servo.
#3. 700R4 / 4L60E high performance overdrive billet

[Trailblazin]

i know it's been a while since their was a post in this, but anything happen with ur transmission? So far I have installed a TCI oil cooler and it has worked great when im dune bashing, my tranny doesn't go to sleep like it used to when im going uphill!

[Gearhead2012]

Ok, I guess I'll join in late to this thread too. Someone said that a chip, or tune isn't such a good thing for tranny's? At least not without a shift kit? has anyone found a real shift kit for our later model tranny's? I'm tired of these sloppy shifts, but I don't want them to be rock solid either...I also know nothing about trannies...I changed my trans fluid and filter, but beyond that I know very little about how they work. I'll look into a trans cooler, and when I get a my pcm tune done, I'll have them program for firmer shifts, unless I hear otherwise. I'd like to do a shift kit...and a buddy of mine owns a shop and could prolly do it. I'm not real confident about drillin into accumulators or whatever. I can do most things on a car...I've just never had a chance to learn that much about transmissions. Thans for the input.

[AlekG]

I have had the following transmission upgrades installed for the past 4 years:

1. TransGo Reprogramming Kit - 4L60-HD2 (http://www.transgo.com/rpg_generalmtr.php)
2. B&M 9800 BTU SuperCooler - 70255 (http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id=products&sid=4&cat=20&subcat=&pid=382)
3. B&M aluminum deep oil pan - 70260 (http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id=products&sid=3&cat=21&subcat=28)
4. JET Power Shift - 70701 (http://www.jetchip.com/products.asp?pid=14486)

This combination has done quite well for me. The cooler + deep oil pan keep the transmission oil temperatures way down. And the TransGo + Jet firmed up the shifting tremendously, maybe too much for some people's taste. Getting a PCM tune has also contributed to better shifting.

I am currently looking into some more upgrades. TransGo has a second "Shift Kit" - SK 4L60E (http://www.transgo.com/sk_generalmtrs.php) - I'm going to call them and find out what this kit is about.

And Jet has their Billet Powr-Servos (http://www.jetchip.com/products.asp?pid=18557) for better shifting performance.

AG

[quicksilverado]

Tranny cooler, shift kit, and corvette servo. A deep tranny pan will help also. I put one on my Silverado when it was supercharged and had a 2600 stall. It dropped the temp about 20 degrees. When I put the turbo on it, a fully built tranny only held up for about 7 months. That was at 500rwhp. I now have a bone stock 4l80e that has held up for 2 1/2 years at 600 rwhp. The 4l60e is garbage. The 4l65 and 4l70 are only marginally better.

[glfredrick]

i know it's been a while since their was a post in this, but anything happen with ur transmission? So far I have installed a TCI oil cooler and it has worked great when im dune bashing, my tranny doesn't go to sleep like it used to when im going uphill!

So far so good... I've put about 20K on it since doing the upgrades -- some of that pulling my 'Sploder on a heavy 2 axle trailer at 80... Working fine.

Time to swap out the oil for Amsoil, and a filter change. Also still have to add the larger cooler -- summer is on the way. :)