Rocket Man's 02 Denali Build Thread AKA "THE BEAST"

[PG01]

Trans. I think its done, just like that. I'll know for sure tomorrow but I went for a long drive to the river and when we got there the engine died. It acted like the trans locked up and made the engine die, and then when we left to come home it started up normal but when I put it in reverse the engine died again. I was like WTF and power braked it a bit and it acted ok until about halfway home, on a long uphill at about 50 it didn't want to downshift so I did it manually. Right after that the temp shot up to 280 and the warning came on so I pulled over to let it cool down with the engine running but it stayed hot for a long time. I checked the fluid level and it looked OK. I called AAA for a tow. It was taking over 2 hours and still no truck had been dispatched and the trans was normal temp so I drove a few miles more and it acted OK until it got hot again, then it started slipping so I pulled over again. Now after I got home, it's locked up. As soon as I put it in drive or reverse it kills the engine, even giving it some gas. I have no clue about transmissions but I know it was time for me to do something anyway.

Sorry red, at least you knew it was coming and were getting prepared to spend the money, not like it was a complete shock... sorry bud

 

[Rocket Man]

Now I need to get a trans swapped in so no 4l80e. Now I have to decide on who to buy a built trans from. Anybody heard of Performabuilt transmissions? I know @sumo bought one from Gearstar but Performabuilt has a better deal from what I see plus Gearstar says 2-4 weeks build time. Performabuilt builds a 4L65E that they say will take 800RWHP for $3620 shipped with an FTI 2800 stall torque converter. They have it in stock, no core charge and free shipping. 2 year warranty. Gearstar has their best that they say is rated at 650HP with a Yank 2800 stall torque converter for $4850 shipped and it's a 2-4 week build time. They charge for the core, crate and shipping. Warranty is 3 years/36,000 miles. I don't have 2-4 weeks. Anybody heard of Performabuilt? I heard about them on www.performancetrucks.net.

 

[about20ninj45]

Now I need to get a trans swapped in so no 4l80e. Now I have to decide on who to buy a built trans from. Anybody heard of Performabuilt transmissions? I know @sumo bought one from Gearstar but Performabuilt has a better deal from what I see plus Gearstar says 2-4 weeks build time. Performabuilt builds a 4L65E that they say will take 800RWHP for $3620 shipped with an FTI 2800 stall torque converter. They have it in stock, no core charge and free shipping. 2 year warranty. Gearstar has their best that they say is rated at 650HP with a Yank 2800 stall torque converter for $4850 shipped and it's a 2-4 week build time. They charge for the core, crate and shipping. Warranty is 3 years/36,000 miles. I don't have 2-4 weeks. Anybody heard of Performabuilt? I heard about them on www.performancetrucks.net.

Yes. I used them a while back and they were pretty good. There's also trans builder guy and Jake's. I prefer Jake's or perfomabuilt if I had to do it so over again but either of the three would do just fine. There's also rpm flt and animal performance

 

[Rocket Man]

I checked transbuilderguy but it doesn't look like he has anything in stock either. I sent an email to Performabuilt to see how fast they can get me one. I want to do this. Then I WILL add HP. Friggin' bigger fuel injectors, high volume fuel pump, smaller pulley. Oh yeah. Let's spend some more cash. WTF.

 

[bottomline2000]

I checked transbuilderguy but it doesn't look like he has anything in stock either. I sent an email to Performabuilt to see how fast they can get me one. I want to do this. Then I WILL add HP. Friggin' bigger fuel injectors, high volume fuel pump, smaller pulley. Oh yeah. Let's spend some more cash. WTF.

Man I sure would like to see an 80 in there but it's a process. Jake's is right up the street from me but I think there would be a wait for him, plus he seems to be more of an 80e guy.

My trans let go and it felt like the pump went out and I was in reverse and drive at the same time. Temps shot up and all that. Check into that cooler. I've heard the tru cools can't be flushed. Freaking 60s are just not up to it. Hopefully u find a good builder. Look into the sonnax smartshell as an upgrade to the beast sunshell. U may have broken a planetary. Any good builder should be able to option it out for ya.

Performabuilt and FLT seem to have a good reputation from what I've read. I almost went with Gearstar. Decided to go a different route altogether. Good luck with it..

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[Rocket Man]

Performabuilt's Level 3 "Invincible" unit has the Sonnax Smartshell. That's the one I want. This is on top of their Level 2 upgrades:


"Our INVINCIBLE series is our Extreme offering in the 4L60 transmissions series. It’s available in the 700R4, 4L60E for LT-1, 4L60E for LS1 / LSX and 4L65E.


It features all the components of our Level 2 (Pro Race) transmissions with these upgrades for added Strength and Durability. (Nothing but the best):


OEM five (5) pinion planetaries with a grooved sun gear for improved lubrication


Specially prepared performance input drum assembly with reinforcement collar.


Molded seal steel pistons


Raybestos composite forward frictions


A set of 8 RAYBESTOS CARBON COMPOSIT PERFORMANCE clutches with new Raybestos steels for High Impact Durability and Super Hold on the 2-3 shift


Borg Warner 29 element dual cage sprag assembly, the strongest available


The SONNAX SMART SHELL to eliminate stripping of the splines and breakage comon in the factory sun shell cause no reverse/second/fourth gears. This peice in balanced to lower drive train vibration.


Ultra wide carbon composite 2-4 performance band with reinforced pin area to prevent tear through. This band will take the abuse and the heat.


The SONNAX billet second gear servo for maximum second gear hold (It also limits 3rd gear 3-4 clutch accumulation to aid in the 3-4 clutch apply)


Sonnax Dual Piston Overdrive Servo (with the wide band to stand WOT overdrive if your PCM is set up to allow it)


A Thirteen (13) vane pump with hardened rings and a full-time lube modification which assures maximum planetary life and cooling. , Max line set at approximatly 220 psi .


PerformaBuilt custom shift kit, a compilation of what we consider to be the best of several known kits and some unique modifications of our own.


Deep OEM pan and performance filter .


This unit also features many other proprietary modifications for performance and durability which help it achieve its unbelievable horsepower capabilities. It will take whatever you dish out and we guarantee it. You won't find a better unit anywhere."

 

[95escahoe]

Trans. I think its done, just like that. I'll know for sure tomorrow but I went for a long drive to the river and when we got there the engine died. It acted like the trans locked up and made the engine die, and then when we left to come home it started up normal but when I put it in reverse the engine died again. I was like WTF and power braked it a bit and it acted ok until about halfway home, on a long uphill at about 50 it didn't want to downshift so I did it manually. Right after that the temp shot up to 280 and the warning came on so I pulled over to let it cool down with the engine running but it stayed hot for a long time. I checked the fluid level and it looked OK. I called AAA for a tow. It was taking over 2 hours and still no truck had been dispatched and the trans was normal temp so I drove a few miles more and it acted OK until it got hot again, then it started slipping so I pulled over again. Now after I got home, it's locked up. As soon as I put it in drive or reverse it kills the engine, even giving it some gas. I have no clue about transmissions but I know it was time for me to do something anyway.

Damn that sucks hopefully you get this beast back on the road asap


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[Rocket Man]

I just ordered the Level 3 "Invincible" 4l65 from Performabuilt with an FTI 10.5" triple disc billet 2800 stall torque converter. They said they can get it built and shipped by Tuesday, since they also don't have these things in stock. They're open 7 days a week. Now I need to find a good flexplate that will ship right away also. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[bottomline2000]

I just ordered the Level 3 "Invincible" 4l65 from Performabuilt with an FTI 10.5" triple disc billet 2800 stall torque converter. They said they can get it built and shipped by Tuesday, since they also don't have these things in stock. They're open 7 days a week. Now I need to find a good flexplate that will ship right away also. Anybody have any suggestions?

Good man. That should be a solid trans for ya. I'm running this SFI rated plate from Jegs with ARP bolts. Bolted right up to my circle d converter as well as my Precision Industries triple disc. PI sent some horrible 8.8 bolts with their converter and I don't remember if the plate or circle d verter came with came with better/longer 12.9 bolts.

Whatever you go with make sure you measure the plunge depth of the converter to make sure its fully seated on the pump and once bolted up measure the spacing of the converter pads to the plate. Getting the spacing right will keep you from busting the pump in the converter (not fully seated on trans) and pulling the converter off the pump (too much spacing from pads to plate.).



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[Rocket Man]

I decided on the TCI flexplate 399753. It's a bit more expensive but I don't want to have to pull the trans because I went cheap. And I ordered ARP bolts but they say they're .880. Are you saying those are the wrong ones? They're for the 6.0 LS-based engines.

Edit: I just noticed that it looks like TCI includes mounting hardware so I'll see what they send.