Fresh 4l60e install

[osirus5164]

Well, tonight was the culmination of all my efforts with the tahoe and her fresh rebuilt 4l60e. To summarize, two days before new year's, we were getting on the free way when the ol girl decided she wasn't gonna shift past second. 45 minute drive turned 3 hrs later, we were home, and looking at options for the transmission. Couldn't find a used unit or rebuilt options that fell into the budget of a dad a week after Christmas so, after crying little, I said to hell with it. I've built motors before, let's see how bad i can mess up a tranny.

Well, turns out theres a ton I had to learn. Which, I did. Thanks BTW to @NickTransmissions . Your videos got me started on the process and your help here on the forums was crucial. I built every sub assembly, tore them down, and rebuilt them again dozens of times making sure I (hopefully) got them right. I destroyed bushings, had to order replacements for parts I hadn't noticed were damaged during initial inspection, even broke everything down at 3 am because the i couldn't get the output shaft snap ring to fit and I thought i put something in wrong. Nick pointed me the right direction there again haha.

Anyways, tonight was the night. Friday and Saturday I spent the whole time installing this investment/ experiment. Came home tonight after Easter festivities, fired her up and hoped for the best. Started with 7 quarts before start up, ended up close to twelve i believe. Successfully drove around town and a few minutes on the freeway. Can't even feel the shifts( didn't know that was possible on a gm) a couple of times it bounced from 3-2 when holding steady 45mph but other than that, all felt great.


TL;DR tranny broke and I rebuilt it. Test drive felt great. Thanks to everyone who helped me figure things out.

 

[osirus5164]

Also, how long until I can relax that it's not just gonna randomly explode because I messed up? Suspense is actually killing me.

 

[rdezs]

Sounds like my first turbo 350 rebuild in my Jeep with the Chevy conversion. 18 years later it still runs wonderful, and bone dry underneath. But the amount of money you saved on a 4l60 is a lot more than an old turbo 350, and you probably paid more attention to detail than the mass production rebuilders. If you did something wrong you probably would have discovered that by now. Drive it and enjoy it

 

[Marky Dissod]

Also, how long until I can relax that it's not just gonna randomly explode because I messed up?
Suspense is actually killing me.

Only way to actually get an answer specific to your situation is to analyze your ATF.
Don't be afraid to use the severe service schedule, it can't hurt and can only help.

 

[Geotrash]

Well, tonight was the culmination of all my efforts with the tahoe and her fresh rebuilt 4l60e. To summarize, two days before new year's, we were getting on the free way when the ol girl decided she wasn't gonna shift past second. 45 minute drive turned 3 hrs later, we were home, and looking at options for the transmission. Couldn't find a used unit or rebuilt options that fell into the budget of a dad a week after Christmas so, after crying little, I said to hell with it. I've built motors before, let's see how bad i can mess up a tranny.

Well, turns out theres a ton I had to learn. Which, I did. Thanks BTW to @NickTransmissions . Your videos got me started on the process and your help here on the forums was crucial. I built every sub assembly, tore them down, and rebuilt them again dozens of times making sure I (hopefully) got them right. I destroyed bushings, had to order replacements for parts I hadn't noticed were damaged during initial inspection, even broke everything down at 3 am because the i couldn't get the output shaft snap ring to fit and I thought i put something in wrong. Nick pointed me the right direction there again haha.

Anyways, tonight was the night. Friday and Saturday I spent the whole time installing this investment/ experiment. Came home tonight after Easter festivities, fired her up and hoped for the best. Started with 7 quarts before start up, ended up close to twelve i believe. Successfully drove around town and a few minutes on the freeway. Can't even feel the shifts( didn't know that was possible on a gm) a couple of times it bounced from 3-2 when holding steady 45mph but other than that, all felt great.


TL;DR tranny broke and I rebuilt it. Test drive felt great. Thanks to everyone who helped me figure things out.

Nice job! I rebuilt the 5HP24 out of my old 740iL and it worked great afterwards. Still have the tools (snap ring pliers, feeler gauges, micrometer, clutch pack compressor, etc, in case I need to tear into one of our 6L80's in the next few years.

 

[osirus5164]

Running smooth like butter. Ironically though, before work, I noticed leaking at and found a freshly worn pinhole leak on one of the tranny cooler lines. I had already cut out the old hose fittings though so wasn't too bad. Already had the flare tool out lmao

 

[Joseph Garcia]

SUPER learning experience for you, and kudos to @NickTransmissions for sticking with you until the project was complete. YOUR personal knowledge base has been greatly expended.

As Hannibal Smith used to say, "I love it when a plan comes together."

 

[_GMAN_]

How many miles were on the original transmission?

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@osirus5164 If you don’t mind me asking, how much was the DIY rebuild? I am coming up on 210k miles on the 4l60e and I’ve started putting a fund together for when it dies. No signs of it giving out yet fingers crossed

 

[osirus5164]

Parts were i think just around 1000 but I had some broken bits to contend with. Tools, kinda depends on what you have already. I suppose. Also, make fiends with the local transmission shop guys. Can be a real life saver