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

[Rocket Man]

Maybe you can keep the old case, and when time and money allows, rebuild it with some goodies, or even a stock build.

That might be a fun way to spend some money! It wouldn't do me any good but maybe I could sell it for a core. My truck is way past being able to use a trans I built; Performabuilt uses the best parts available plus they actually machine some of them to improve them, kind of redesigning the 4l65. On another note, I just tried removing the bolts that hold the bell housing on and they say they're a Torx Plus TP50 but that I could buy a regular T50 and grind the end off a bit until it fits tight, then torch the threaded end of the bolt since they used red Loctite. No way. Twisted the end of the T50 off. Thankfully I have Amazon Prime. A Lisle Torx Plus TP50 will be here Monday. Hardened steel and the right fit will work, I hope.

 

[cmc76]

I give you credit man. You get more done in a weekend than i do in a month. Keep up the good work

 

[Tonyrodz]

That might be a fun way to spend some money! It wouldn't do me any good but maybe I could sell it for a core. My truck is way past being able to use a trans I built; Performabuilt uses the best parts available plus they actually machine some of them to improve them, kind of redesigning the 4l65. On another note, I just tried removing the bolts that hold the bell housing on and they say they're a Torx Plus TP50 but that I could buy a regular T50 and grind the end off a bit until it fits tight, then torch the threaded end of the bolt since they used red Loctite. No way. Twisted the end of the T50 off. Thankfully I have Amazon Prime. A Lisle Torx Plus TP50 will be here Monday. Hardened steel and the right fit will work, I hope.

Damn Red! I think my luck might be rubbing off on you!

 

[bottomline2000]

Tranny is out. That was a hard job, and it took me 7 hours. Now that I know what it takes it should go in quicker. Fluid is real burnt - it smells horrible- and there's a lot of metal flakes in it. Definitely a catastrophic failure. Now I have to replace the rear seal on the engine and pull the flexplate and bell housing. Then wait until Wednesday to install. View attachment 181472View attachment 181473

Why are you pulling the bellhousing?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[Rocket Man]

Why are you pulling the bellhousing?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

Because Performabuilt ships UPS by removing them. Otherwise it would have to ship freight which takes forever and is way more expensive. I need to swap mine onto the new trans.

 

[Rocket Man]

Pulled the flexplate and replaced the rear cover/ main seal assembly. I followed the instructions I found online so it better not leak. The cover is a new design and it came with the main seal pre-installed.

 

[MrMagoo]

Pulled the flexplate and replaced the rear cover/ main seal assembly. I followed the instructions I found online so it better not leak. The cover is a new design and it came with the main seal pre-installed. View attachment 181490

Where did you get this cover with the main seal? I have to replace mine too.

 

[Rocket Man]

Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F677EHE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Rocket Man]

I was trying to remember how much HP my NVG149 t case would handle because now I'm looking for weak points and it seemed I read it would handle plenty so after some research on pt trucks.net I found good news- 800 HP. It seems the only failures have been from running with no front driveshaft or other abuse but not from power. Yay, one less thing to worry about.
Edit: I also researched the pump rub issue where the pump moves inside the case and wears a tiny hole in it and the fluid slowly leaks out unknowingly until failure happens and the 149 isn't affected. Another plus. I didn't want to have to tear it apart and install the pump upgrade.

 

[Rocket Man]

I realized this morning that I didn't have tracking on my torque converter so I called Performabuilt and got it. Looks like it won't be here until Thursday so install is delayed. I was going to take Wednesday off to install it but I guess I'll take Friday off instead. Stupid FTI. The trans was built faster than the converter.

 

[PG01]

I realized this morning that I didn't have tracking on my torque converter so I called Performabuilt and got it. Looks like it won't be here until Thursday so install is delayed. I was going to take Wednesday off to install it but I guess I'll take Friday off instead. Stupid FTI. The trans was built faster than the converter.

Take the rest of the week off red....you deserve with all the damn work you been doing.... you need to rest up so you can bench press that tranny back up in there....

 

[Tonyrodz]

I was trying to remember how much HP my NVG149 t case would handle because now I'm looking for weak points and it seemed I read it would handle plenty so after some research on pt trucks.net I found good news- 800 HP. It seems the only failures have been from running with no front driveshaft or other abuse but not from power. Yay, one less thing to worry about.
Edit: I also researched the pump rub issue where the pump moves inside the case and wears a tiny hole in it and the fluid slowly leaks out unknowingly until failure happens and the 149 isn't affected. Another plus. I didn't want to have to tear it apart and install the pump upgrade.

View attachment 181553

It gets abuse when the prop shaft isn't connected? I wouldn't have thought so since it's not getting any drag or working from all the movement if the prop shaft was connected.

 

[PG01]

It gets abuse when the prop shaft isn't connected? I wouldn't have thought so since it's not getting any drag or working from all the movement if the prop shaft was connected.

Keeps things moving and lubed up tho tony..its like leaving your GN to sit for a few years then trying to start it... batt dead, gas bad, headliner falling down, tires going flat, pwr windows not working, pwr locks frozen, mice all over, people breaking into it and stealing your shift knob and wheel.. you know what...just give it me... ill take care of for you

 

[Rocket Man]

It gets abuse when the prop shaft isn't connected? I wouldn't have thought so since it's not getting any drag or working from all the movement if the prop shaft was connected.

Nope; there's a few no-no's when it comes to the AWD transfer cases like don't run it in gear on a lift, don't drive very far on a different size tire and don't disconnect a driveshaft and drive it. It has a viscous coupling that gets damaged if any of those things happen.

 

[Rocket Man]

And since today was a n eclipse holiday here and I got the day off, plus my Torx Plus TP50 socket showed up, I pulled the old bell housing and cleaned that nasty thing up and painted it with VHT Wrinkle Plus. Came out nice.

 

[Rocket Man]

Today UPS delivered some goodies- trans and flexplate. Converter will be here Thursday. After unpacking, I realized the transfer case adapter needed to be swapped also so I cleaned it up and wrinkle painted it. I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle the transfer case itself as far as painting. Although it's pretty big and looks like a ***** to prep, now that I have a couple extra days I might do it. It looks out of place next to the trans now.

 

[PG01]

Wrinkle the trans too brother

 

[Tonyrodz]

View attachment 181661 View attachment 181662 View attachment 181663 View attachment 181664 View attachment 181665 Today UPS delivered some goodies- trans and flexplate. Converter will be here Thursday. After unpacking, I realized the transfer case adapter needed to be swapped also so I cleaned it up and wrinkle painted it. I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle the transfer case itself as far as painting. Although it's pretty big and looks like a ***** to prep, now that I have a couple extra days I might do it. It looks out of place next to the trans now.

If you're up to it, might as well, but only you'll know you did it, unless it's up on a lift. I love shiney new expensive parts!!

 

[Rocket Man]

Wrinkle the trans too brother

Its got a baked on enamel so Ill leave it.

If you're up to it, might as well, but only you'll know you did it, unless it's up on a lift. I love shiney new expensive parts!!

Shiny is good so I guess I will.

 

[Rocket Man]

Tonight's pictures. The transfer case still needs to dry a bit more and it will crinkle better. That thing was a ***** to clean and prep but it will look sweet. I also just painted the crossmembers. What the hell right?