79' GMC C15 - Spruce Caboose

[6872xtc]

The MAWs are hard to ignore for a logical person with endless interest . Im a firm rock auto supporter so i will check there for sure, hadnt even really thought about that. Is he doing a trans rebuild also?

Yes sir. He wants to plan for the possibility of some extra power in the future, but we have to find the problem with it. It was trying to lock the convertor in 1st and 2nd. He bought the tools to test and bore his valve body, has been researching on a forum and discussing things with a couple of guys on there.
We did the vacuum test on the valve body, but I don't know if he found out what the results mean yet. I haven't talked with him.
He bought a new planetary set to give a 2.87 first gear since he installed a 4:10 with a truetrac. And lots of other parts are already here. Waiting on the new input drum. They didn't have input shafts on hand , so he was able to find a sonnax one and ship it to them.
It should be interesting, for sure.

 

[bix]

Sounds like the rabbit hole for sure. That's a good idea about re-gearing while he's in there. The hole just got deeper over here for sure ha.

So far I have only purchased a used output shaft for a 2wd, and a tail shaft housing. I have a bunch of parts wish listed on summit but waiting to pull apart, and reveive the manual I ordered. Still havent confirmed if this is a 4l60/65. Ill know once i see the planetary gears.

I have a bunch of parts wish listed in my summit cart, once i start taking it apart ill know more. As much as i want to trick this thing out with future goodies... i also have no fuggin clue what im doing and it may blow up and ruin parts. Im thinking ill do some decent upgrades, but nothing like an 800$ sonnax shaft.. no matter how tempted i am haha. Ill probably do full frictions and steels, Servo upgrade, accumulator and a heat treated sun shell to avoid the typical failure point on those. If it lasts, i can always re build with even better parts.

Was also looking up transmission positioning set ups, and seen some that go into a engine hoist. I found some scrap square stock that was cut out of a tower section. Im thinking I'll make it instead of spending 200 bucks on one.

Been squirrelling DOM tube and HSS square stock from the cut outs whenever damages to the tower get cut out for replacement.

 

[bix]

Today i did get an email back from the holley tech, explaining the software they use for email management and why he hadn't answered in quite some time. One draw back to purchasing the ECM so early on in the build, was that i ate up alot of my warranty while it was just sitting, something to consider next time. He did say they were willing to honour the terms anyway, and have already sent me a replacement unit in the mail. Its been very annoying to need my lap top to drive it. I do plan on running a stand alone 02 sensor in the passenger side collector with an air fuel gauge, which is the only thing really missing from my essential gauges.. but my moneys been all tied up elsewhere. Its awesome of holley to do that, im not sure if maybe its a common issue or not but im stoked. Not a cheap item to replace.

 

[centexk5]

You just want to be Paul Walker and yell at the laptop when your manifold is about to burst. Just admit it.

 

[6872xtc]

As far as the 4 vs 5 pinion planetary, my son found out that there is a difference in the spur gear material and some don't believe that there is a strength difference. He had already purchased a 5 pinion and his 4 wasn't as tight as a new one, so the 5 will go in.

The planetary for the 2.87 first gear was $700, I believe, so not cheap when you pile on all of the other stuff.

We built my 4L80E with it bolted to a wooden stand at the tail end, then flipped it onto it back on the bench to finish with the valve body. So we haven't bought or built a fixture for the engine stand, at least not yet.

 

[bix]

Into the hole we go...

( with the help of my wife to hump it up there )





Cleared almost all this bench for the Trans. It's long, so that'll let me lay things in the order they came out , parallel with the case. Going to lay down some 6 mm poly or something for fluid and what not. Also going to hang a decent sized light right above the bench, to the underside of the shelving. Should give me great light while inspecting parts.

 

[6872xtc]

I recommend a separate tub, or cart for the valve body and accumulator parts. I didn't want to just pile it all in the pan, personally.
Then the drivetrain can be separate on the bench.

 

[bix]

I have wanted to buy a parts cleaner tub. Maybe this is the reason.

 

[max 02]

Good for you Nick! I’ve always wanted to build a auto just to say I did. They scare me! Transfer cases are fun but I’m certainly far from a expert.

I remember Cole Martin said that Alison he rebuilt for his Duramax was easy compared to a 4L60e … I got no idea but his ally was shifting sweet when he was here!

 

[bix]

Good for you Nick! I’ve always wanted to build a auto just to say I did. They scare me! Transfer cases are fun but I’m certainly far from a expert.

I remember Cole Martin said that Alison he rebuilt for his Duramax was easy compared to a 4L60e … I got no idea but his ally was shifting sweet when he was here!

Yea I've always been frightened by them for sure... but so much of that is an idea you have at first that you continuously think, regardless of the progress we make in the mean time.. then realize, shit... maybe I CAN do this hahaha.

I'm sure an Alison is better thought out, and less of a koo koo clock. Strange how the better versions of things always have less pieces and are easier...

 

[bix]

I have about 1000$ in parts ready to purchase for this Trans.

Rebuild kit from TCI with shift kit included.
Sonnax sun shell
Sonnax pinless pistons
" Corvette " 2nd gear servo
Ect...

I can rebuild this 3 times without including labour, for the same price as I would have to pay to get it built. So hopefully it doesn't take me 3 tries and I learn something


I also think I'm going to move the engine back a mounting hole or two on the engine mounts when i have the trans out. All this room for activities up front is the cause for needing a longer drive shaft, and at the same time I can properly figure out my driveline angle. I pretty much just plopped this thing in there and called it good. I may need to make some spacer blocks for the Trans mount I'm using to raise it up, as the engine and Trans dive down quite a bit to the rear it seems and isn't helping me solve my driveline vibrations at all..

 

[folkenheath]

Be careful, take your time, don't force anything, air check the pistons when you can.

Buy a book about your trans to give yourself more confidence, don't assume anything.

You'll learn a lot and be glad you did it most likely. I was.

 

[bix]

Be careful, take your time, don't force anything, air check the pistons when you can.

Buy a book about your trans to give yourself more confidence, don't assume anything.

You'll learn a lot and be glad you did it most likely. I was.

I ordered a 4l60 manual, also need a T50plus bit to get the bellhousing off, so im at a stand still until i have time to go hunt one down. Definitely going to check myself a lot to take notes ,and try to fully understand what each piece does before i take it out. I think the transmission in the truck will last long enough to not rush this at all.

Got the lights hung up so i have lots of direct light for the rebuild. My shop lighting is pretty bust... This will help for sure.

 

[Babaganoosh]

The sonnax parts are amazing, my trans has every part they offer in it.

I ripped one down for the first time in about 30 mins without the proper tools and a 5 min youtube video on how to pull the pump. It really wasn’t that hard.

 

[folkenheath]

I put clean newspaper down when I was working on valve bodies other subassemblies. You want to keep it very clean, a small piece of lint or dirt could easily bind up the tight tolerances in a transmission, like the sliding valves and such, I'm even more picky with the cleanliness on a trans.

 

[bix]

The sonnax parts are amazing, my trans has every part they offer in it.

I ripped one down for the first time in about 30 mins without the proper tools and a 5 min youtube video on how to pull the pump. It really wasn’t that hard.

Thats my normal approach to things and it works for me... but not always.. and I dont want to strip these bellhousing bolts using a t50, and not a t50plus. I borrowed a t50 plus bit, from another tower crane tech at work whos also a red seal mechanic. He had a set from working on Volvo hauling trucks. I tried to find one locally but had no luck at all.

I ordered a Sonnax sun shell, sonnax valve kit and intermediate and acumulator pistons, raybestos high energy friction plates with a zpak also for 3/4, and a wide red band for the drum. I ordered a overhaul kit from pioneer with all the gaskets seals, clips ect. One thing i didnt realize when i made my own rebuild kit in a shopping cart online, is that i still need a steel module (STMGM10K) but its damn near hard to find.. No auto parts stores around here have it or can order it, rockauto doesnt have it. Some companys in the US have it but i havent had much luck finding anything available to me so far.. but the search continues for a set of kolene steels with no 3/4, since i have the Zpak for that. Might have to eat it and just order a full set..?

I think i am going to use some 6mm poly i have laying around and then toss some newspaper ontop. I fear of getting any wood or crap from the bench in the mix.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Should have a stout trans, did you get the Sonnax shift kit?

 

[bix]

Should have a stout trans, did you get the Sonnax shift kit?

I'm hoping so. Was hard not to buy the sonnax output shaft.. but it's too spensy for me right now. I haven't yet because I'm not sure if this performance pack from sonnax will have a lot of the same things a shift kit would.

This is what the sonnax performance pack includes :

HP4L60E01 # sonnax.

• 1-2 Accumulator Valve Shim
• TCC Pressure Limiter Valve & Spring Optional, eliminates PWM/EC3 function
• Boost Valve with O-Ring .490"
• Elevated Pressure Regulator Spring
• High RPM Pump Slide Spring
• Spacer
• 4th Servo Return Spring
• Servo Cushion Spring
• Servo Piston D-Ring Kit
• 3-4 Accumulator Piston Kit
• 3-4 Accumulator Spring
• Servo Release Check Valve
• Forward Accumulator Kit
• Checkballs (8)
• Separator Plate Plugs (Not Shown)
• Twist Drills (Not Shown)
• 1-2 Pinless Accumulator Piston Kit
• 1-2 Accumulator Inner Spring
• 1-2 Accumulator Outer Spring
• 1-2 Accumulator Waved Spring

 

[bix]

Also still need to source a servo. But luckily those seem easy to get.

 

[bix]

I ended scoring a couple sweet deals at kms tools the other day. Scored a 6 ton benchtop press, and a 20 gallon parts cleaner for 350 bucks.. helps when things are improperly marked and they honour the prices. The parts cleaner will be a great tool for the trans rebuild. I dont think any bushings came with my rebuild kit, and im not sure if they are meant to be replaced if not damaged. The press will be handy if any need to be replaced. Also got a little pile of goodies adding up.



In my manual it says to check endplay on the tailshaft before disasembly, not only as a reference point but also to help pre diagnose any issues. I got the bellhousing off and pan too. I noticed the pan had been dropped at some point since there was a rubber gasket. Ran out of time before i left today and didnt want to pop the valvebody off without time to take the next steps, but i did manage to pop the servo out quick. Appears to maybe have been upgraded before but not positive yet.