Improve Transmission Longevity

HiHoeSilver said:

It's not bad really. I did it in my driveway no problem. Getting the snap ring back in is the hardest part. I found an excellent write up I saved if you guys need it.

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HiHoeSilver said:

It's not bad really. I did it in my driveway no problem. Getting the snap ring back in is the hardest part. I found an excellent write up I saved if you guys need it.

Click to expand...

GranPrix said:

For the ones that did the corvette servo upgrade, which brand did you guys go with?

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SnowDrifter said:

IMO a ~3ft pry bar, if you don't have one, is the most useful tool for this. Seconded only by a flathead screwdriver with a 70 degree bend in it (I use that for everything it seems).


I'd just like to echo this: MAKE SURE THE SNAP RING IS IN ALL THE WAY. Check, check again, recheck, go have lunch, come back and check again! If it's not, there's enough pressure exerted against that thing that it can **** off to one side and actually crack your transmission housing. Push the thing in a few times, go around the clip to be extra friggin' sure.

That's all. it's an easy job otherwise. Just bend the heat shield back maybe a half inch and everything will clear no fuss.

What I learned from doing mine: Put the teflon seal on the 4th apply piston, then put the whole assembly into the servo housing cup, then put that on the transmission. If you try and put the 4th on the transmission side then slide everything over it, the seal will pop out and pinch. I learned that one the hard way when I went "huh 4th gear feels fucky," pulled it apart, and found my error.

Oh yeah and take pictures during removal or otherwise have a good guide up. There are some bits in there that are orientationally sensitive - like the two heads on a coin and easy to mix up

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SnowDrifter said:

Regular maintenance is key

Don't do any of the half ass mods like turning up the pressure valve. You'll shred your valve body

There's a TSB about installing a second magnet in the pan

Upgrade factory cooler. Trucool 40k is what I used. HPT has an install kit that's about as close to plug and play as you can get.

Bypass the factory radiator loop if you can, install a t-stat in the transmission. The radiator loop is just a heater if you're in stop and go or working with the trans. Goal is to keep temps low. I spoke with a few builders, they all told me the lower the better. Mine runs between 110 and 120. Higher than that and I flip on my radiator fans. I don't have an oil thermostat on it but it'll be on my to-do list if/when I need to replace my radiator

Corvette servo - better holding power. While you're in there, look into a pin set. Move to a longer pin if needed, there's a few YT tutorials on how to measure tolerances for the second gear band

Drive with a light foot. The v8 in these trucks has the 4l60 at its limits. Keep the torque off it

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