Transmission goes boom.

[stutaeng]

Dang Kenny, a blown tranny after all the rear end work? Isn't that always the case? And weren't you "breaking in" thiose rear end gears? I'm sorry to hear that.

The symptoms you describe sounds to me like it's slipping? Don't you have like over 250k on it? Original? Any maintenance fluid/filter changes per maintenance schedule?

I also vote for 4L80e BTW

But maybe it's something minimal. I helped my nephew with his 4L60e last year. His had a bad a solenoid and truck was in limp mode. Do you have any codes on your dash?

 

[kennythewelder]

Dang Kenny, a blown tranny after all the rear end work? Isn't that always the case? And weren't you "breaking in" thiose rear end gears? I'm sorry to hear that.

The symptoms you describe sounds to me like it's slipping? Don't you have like over 250k on it? Original? Any maintenance fluid/filter changes per maintenance schedule?

I also vote for 4L80e BTW

But maybe it's something minimal. I helped my nephew with his 4L60e last year. His had a bad a solenoid and truck was in limp mode. Do you have any codes on your dash?

Yes, im still braking in the rear end. Budget is tight too after the rear end build. Biggest issue with a 80 swap is not only time, but my truck is my daily. Without the truck, I have now way to go get anything. Even if I use the shop truck again, I dont want to drive it any more than I need to. I hope I can get my truck back next week. Since Im not on call this weekend, I think I will try to use the shop truck tomorrow night, then leave it there over the weekend. That way it will be there if they need it. I could go pick it back up Sunday evening, use it next week untill my truck is fixed. That boom was loud. I have blowin up a few trans before, but never heard one sound like it exploded like that before. I guess it will all depend on what the trans shop can do for me.

 

[stutaeng]

Understood.

Yes, the 4L80e does require a reflash...not necessarily a "performance tune" though. I'm doing a 4L80e swap and found a local guy that reflashed my computer...for $30! Dropped it off Friday evening and it was ready Saturday morning. Stock reflash with emissions and vats delete, and changed tire size and rear ratio.

As for the fabrication, it's fairly easy...and ain't you a certified welder?

 

[Dropped88]

From your description it sounds like you killed the sunshell

 

[kennythewelder]

Understood.

Yes, the 4L80e does require a reflash...not necessarily a "performance tune" though. I'm doing a 4L80e swap and found a local guy that reflashed my computer...for $30! Dropped it off Friday evening and it was ready Saturday morning. Stock reflash with emissions and vats delete, and changed tire size and rear ratio.

As for the fabrication, it's fairly easy...and ain't you a certified welder?

Yes, been a certified welder a long time.

 

[someotherguy]

and goes boom.

They'll do that..

Richard

 

[stutaeng]

Yes, been a certified welder a long time.

6-G is that odd position too, isn't? You can probably do any welding underneath your truck, overhead position without a lift?

 

[thegawd]

well. this 4L60E is oem. that's why it went boom. I dont understand how this is a bad transmission. and I dont care what you all say. most 4L60Es have lasted a very long time. first one I blew was over 400 000 kms (old 94 Burb). second one was over 300 000 kms (97 Burb). 3rd one blew up for the same reason as the second one.... engine coolant had infiltrated the transmission fluid via the rad.

that's when I had it rebuilt a stage 3 Heavy Duty by a mom n pop race shop. they did a fluid anylsis and found the coolant that the eye could not see. its rated for 600HP but my burb is only a family vehicle that may pull some heavy loads once in a while.

I'm sure your trans shop wont steer you wrong Kenny.

edit... HAHAHAHA Yup I said it! it's TRUE though. they wouldnt put the 4L60E in super cars if it couldnt handle it.

Al

 

[stutaeng]

No, the 4L60e is NOT a really bad transmission. They made bazzilions of them and they are reliable. For a fast, high-powered, lightweight car it is okay. For a medium truck/SUV like S10/Blazer it is okay. Just that seemingly some (not all) don't like to be behind the heavy-a$$ full-sized trucks/SUVs. Heavy footed drivers, high-performance mods, heavy towing, donuts, etc....usually don't play well.

More importantly, it cannot hold the power of the 4L80e, stock-for-stock and dollar-for-dollar. You know what I mean? I mean, that's why they made the 4L80e in the first place!

If I was in the business of rebuilding transmissions (and not messing with vehicle modifications) I would advise the client to rebuild his transmission. That's what shops are set up to do, rebuild them. They are not setup to mess with tunes, repining ECUs and all of that other non-sense. Rebuilding the existing transmission makes more money, so why would they advice against it? Order some heavier duty parts of common known failure points from a catalogue/website, add the extra cost to the customer for the upgrade and ship it...on to the next one. From a business standpoint, this works. I don't think that's a bad thing either. Nor is that implying that they don't look out for their customer.

Just my $0.02

 

[someotherguy]

They're surely not awful transmissions. The 4L60E is far better than the early 700R4's. Most 4L60E's last beyond the warranty of the truck. Most of them last past 100K miles, which back when these trucks were still new, was the overwhelming school of thought of the reasonable service life of most vehicles. People that had the financial means (and sometimes not) to trade in their vehicles on a new one would generally consider 100K miles to be "used up."

However, most folks trying to save a buck and continue to own and drive used vehicles that have otherwise been reliable, have discovered the transmission is usually the weak link in these trucks once you cross that mileage threshold. Have some lasted far longer? Sure...but they are the exception to the rule.

Defend the 4L60E (and its older brother the 700R4) if you like, but history is not on your side.

Richard