There is no point to this thread except that I am happy. I spent the weekend rebuilding the transmission out a vehicle that I am ashamed to mention. Tonight I finished all re-assembly, drove it and it works fine. Missing some work and putting nearly 4 days of labor into a project makes the prospect of tearing it out again seem pretty grim. But it has 4 gears, reverse and lock-up with nice feeling shifts. So now I will sell it before it starts to work bad again since I already purchased the replacement for this unmentioned vehicle.
Prior to teardown, it worked fine cold, but hot it would chatter going into 3rd gear with heavy throttle (if a 3400 has such a thing). Driving it light there was no problem. Filter and (partial) fluid change made no difference. I figured all those miles and the silly Olsmobile grandma shift calibration has worn out the 3rd clutch. I put a Transgo kit in it, replaced the 3rd clutch and replaced the EPC solenoid. It also got 3 new bands since I had them on hand. I did have an overhaul kit and replaced a lot of seals and such. Everything else got cleaned up and re-used. The vehicle has about 155k on it - I bought it with 90-something. It actually isn't the original trans, but a Goodwrench unit. The forward and 2nd clutches look so good the frictions still have writing on them. I did clean some metal shavings off the VSS, but found nothing inside the filter. Looking back the problem must have been either with the sealing ring for 3rd clutch and/or the EPC. The transgo kit comes with a new 3rd clutch seal that has an auto-expanding spring under it.
BTW, got all parts from Triple Edge Performance in Indiana. I used them when I did the 4T65-HD in the GTP a few years ago and recommend them for anybody with a FWD GM car. Dave will even help you over the phone.
Prior to teardown, it worked fine cold, but hot it would chatter going into 3rd gear with heavy throttle (if a 3400 has such a thing). Driving it light there was no problem. Filter and (partial) fluid change made no difference. I figured all those miles and the silly Olsmobile grandma shift calibration has worn out the 3rd clutch. I put a Transgo kit in it, replaced the 3rd clutch and replaced the EPC solenoid. It also got 3 new bands since I had them on hand. I did have an overhaul kit and replaced a lot of seals and such. Everything else got cleaned up and re-used. The vehicle has about 155k on it - I bought it with 90-something. It actually isn't the original trans, but a Goodwrench unit. The forward and 2nd clutches look so good the frictions still have writing on them. I did clean some metal shavings off the VSS, but found nothing inside the filter. Looking back the problem must have been either with the sealing ring for 3rd clutch and/or the EPC. The transgo kit comes with a new 3rd clutch seal that has an auto-expanding spring under it.
BTW, got all parts from Triple Edge Performance in Indiana. I used them when I did the 4T65-HD in the GTP a few years ago and recommend them for anybody with a FWD GM car. Dave will even help you over the phone.
