6l80 Rebuild

[thedog52]

I have a 09 Tahoe with the 6l80, it is going to need a rebuild here soon. Its slipping and hesitating engaging. Any recommendations on aftermarket parts to make it shift better/live longer? The truck is basically stock, but will have the DOD delete and a BTR style cam. My plans are to have roughly 400-450hp at the crank, and I want the trans to live as long as possible but not be as sluggish as it currently is in stock form. Once I have the cam installed, it will be going to a dyno and tuned for that as well. My trans guy recommended the Sonnax Zip Kit. Any other parts or things to help with the longevity and shifting? Its a daily, but will be towing some loads from time to time. I am also planning on getting a bigger trans cooler as this thing runs hot. Let me know what you think, thank you.

 

[Foggy]

For your power level, the zip kit with GOOD clutches, etc should be fine.
Do some research and get a "good" torque converter. The stock one has been
known to fail due to the small lock up clutch in it.
I got my "stock" style converter at PATC. They are building it now.
Then I'm headed to my trans shop to rebuild mine with a stage 3 kit.. very expensive.
You won't need that though.
You will want to add a better trans cooler of some sort. My denali has the tow/cooling pkg,
so I'm putting on my deep cast alum pan that hold more fluid and helps with cooling.

 

[swathdiver]

I have a 09 Tahoe with the 6l80, it is going to need a rebuild here soon. Its slipping and hesitating engaging. Any recommendations on aftermarket parts to make it shift better/live longer? The truck is basically stock, but will have the DOD delete and a BTR style cam. My plans are to have roughly 400-450hp at the crank, and I want the trans to live as long as possible but not be as sluggish as it currently is in stock form. Once I have the cam installed, it will be going to a dyno and tuned for that as well. My trans guy recommended the Sonnax Zip Kit. Any other parts or things to help with the longevity and shifting? Its a daily, but will be towing some loads from time to time. I am also planning on getting a bigger trans cooler as this thing runs hot. Let me know what you think, thank you.

What is the normal transmission temp driving around town and on the highway, without towing?

Sonnax's website has a list of some upgrade parts for performance. Your best bang for the buck is going to be in a transmission tune.

 

[thedog52]

What is the normal transmission temp driving around town and on the highway, without towing?

Sonnax's website has a list of some upgrade parts for performance. Your best bang for the buck is going to be in a transmission tune.

It is double the outside ambient temp. I am in OKlahoma, so right now its not too bad. I havent towed anything yet, I havent had the vehicle for too long. So today for example, will be roughly 60 degree. on my drive home, which is roughly 20 minutes all highway, it will be around 120-130 degree. I am sure on a nice hot summer day itll exceed 200. I have planned on ordering the tru cool 40k that everyone has recommended but I also plan to throw a BTR cam int he 5.3 here soon and dont want to run into any trans issues because of power or towing.

 

[thedog52]

For your power level, the zip kit with GOOD clutches, etc should be fine.
Do some research and get a "good" torque converter. The stock one has been
known to fail due to the small lock up clutch in it.
I got my "stock" style converter at PATC. They are building it now.
Then I'm headed to my trans shop to rebuild mine with a stage 3 kit.. very expensive.
You won't need that though.
You will want to add a better trans cooler of some sort. My denali has the tow/cooling pkg,
so I'm putting on my deep cast alum pan that hold more fluid and helps with cooling.

Torque converters are outrageously expensive for the 6l80. Those will be out of my budget unfortunately.

 

[swathdiver]

It is double the outside ambient temp. I am in OKlahoma, so right now its not too bad. I havent towed anything yet, I havent had the vehicle for too long. So today for example, will be roughly 60 degree. on my drive home, which is roughly 20 minutes all highway, it will be around 120-130 degree. I am sure on a nice hot summer day itll exceed 200. I have planned on ordering the tru cool 40k that everyone has recommended but I also plan to throw a BTR cam int he 5.3 here soon and dont want to run into any trans issues because of power or towing.

Here's a few shots of mine to give you an idea:

 

[thedog52]

Here's a few shots of mine to give you an idea:

View attachment 241473 View attachment 241474 View attachment 241475

Yep, mine is close but usually is near double outside temp. I hope once I get it rebuilt and the lines flushed thatll drop significantly. I dont want to put another trans in this thing as long as I have it.

 

[swathdiver]

Yep, mine is close but usually is near double outside temp. I hope once I get it rebuilt and the lines flushed thatll drop significantly. I dont want to put another trans in this thing as long as I have it.

The slipping and hesitating will do that. Are you going to rebuild the solenoids in the TECHM or replace the whole thing? If the latter, stick with GM, the Dormans have a high failure rate.

 

[thedog52]

The slipping and hesitating will do that. Are you going to rebuild the solenoids in the TECHM or replace the whole thing? If the latter, stick with GM, the Dormans have a high failure rate.

I'm going with whatever my trans guy recommends, which we havent talked about yet. Its going to cost $3k out the door, and I think ive decided on going with the Transgo shift kit. Its supposed to keep pressures up and its pretty cheap, like $75. I believe it does the same thing as the Sonnax Zip Kit, which is much more expensive.

 

[swathdiver]

I'm going with whatever my trans guy recommends, which we havent talked about yet. Its going to cost $3k out the door, and I think ive decided on going with the Transgo shift kit. Its supposed to keep pressures up and its pretty cheap, like $75. I believe it does the same thing as the Sonnax Zip Kit, which is much more expensive.

Well, make you discuss it, those solenoids are very important and if they're leaking the shift kit won't matter much.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072C63HM...olid=3MYY1OQK1UL4M&psc=1&ref_=lv_vv_lig_dp_it

https://www.sonnax.com/units/301-6l80