Need New Trans, What to do!

[Phantomx55]

My tranny recently died at 90k miles and I have been looking on what to do about a new one. Here what my options are:

1. My mechanic suggested I get the stock transmission rebuilt through Jasper. It would cost me $2300 for it with installation. I also already have a vette servo that I would put in as well. This has a 3 year 100k mile warranty on it.

2. Boss suggested a level 2 transmission from PerformaBuilt which is $1840 shipped and my mechanic would install for $400 so its about the same price. This one has a 6 month warranty on it from the day it arrives to me.

Also for the PerformaBuilt I could get a 2500 stall converter for an additonal $550. I am not entirely sure what the advantages of a stall converter are but he suggested it if I was looking for performance.

My mechanic is my uncle so I see no real reasons for him to steer me wrong.

Could someone explain to me the advantages of the stall converter and what transmission I should go with? I am leaning towards maybe the stock transmission with the vette servo and a 2500 stall but please leave me some feedback fellow hoe owners!

 

[blueflamed03]

why your Unc wanna charge ya $400 to put it in?

If your motor is stock, I'd spend a little more for a good built one, but the Jasper sounds like a great warranty. Converter, I'm looking at a TB stall, and you can get them for about $150. Even at that, I'd get a Yank converter over the Performabuilt one, for about 1/3 less.

Check out Finishline transmission too..

 

[ILLEGAL REGAL]

why not have a local trans shop rebuild yours? Then you're not paying for a new case and hard parts that aren't bad and need replaced. Usually its just clutches and a pump, around $400 +/- in parts and a couple hundred more in labor to tear it down and put back together.
Search your area for a place that does alot of race car transmissions as they're much cheaper than aamco or any other big name trans shop. They should also be able to clean your converter or get a stock replacement if it's tore up.

 

[blueflamed03]

even most on a good deal are $1500 to take out, rebuild, and re-install. With stock parts.

 

[chip]

why not have a local trans shop rebuild yours? Then you're not paying for a new case and hard parts that aren't bad and need replaced. Usually its just clutches and a pump, around $400 +/- in parts and a couple hundred more in labor to tear it down and put back together.
Search your area for a place that does alot of race car transmissions as they're much cheaper than aamco or any other big name trans shop. They should also be able to clean your converter or get a stock replacement if it's tore up.

even most on a good deal are $1500 to take out, rebuild, and re-install. With stock parts.

+1 to both of those^^^!!

First of all, unless your engine is making BIG power, you don't need to change your stall point. A stall converter is just what it sounds like. The best way to explain how it works, is to think of it as holding the clutch half-way in until 2500 RPM. The only way that would help you, is if your engine was making so much power that it would stall out if it had to idle below 2500 RPMs. You want your engine to idle as low as possible, so go with the stock torque convertor, unless you NEED a higher stall. Anything else is a waste of money.

If I were you, I would get a full "stock" rebuild, with a shift kit. That's all you need.......and I don't know where you live, but $2K for a rebuild is F-ing redicculous! I know our trucks are expensive, but you shouldn't have to pay anymore than $1,500 for everything, out the door!

Good luck! Post up when done.

 

[blueflamed03]

You could benefit changing to a slightly higher stall, even on a stock cammed truck. LS engines like to rev, and a small 2400-2600 stall would be nice, get it into the power band faster.

Higher stalls are not just for cammed, or modded engines.

 

[BOSS]

After having my rebuilt tranny crap on me 3 times now for various reasons...i wouldn't go with a local rebuild. Go with guys like performa...they do it all day every day and are specialists with 4l60e's..

 

[bottomline2000]

I went with the Jasper. Good warranty, peace of mind. I had the guy put a shift kit in while building it and added a big ext cooler with lines. Warranty hard to beat or find anyone that will come close. Not cheap, but worth it for me. I have a tune with 0 torque management and the shifts are tight. Nothing like stock. I've heard stalls aren't good for towing so I didn't bother as I do tow occasionally.

If you are planning power mods I would look at performabuilt and finish line. Jasper sell stock units with updates (better flow, more clutch packs) to make them more reliable, but I don't know how much power this thing will actually hold. One thing the guy told me was to replace all the lines and add an ext cooler since it doesn't take much to blow a trans if contaminated and I think that is where a lot of people have problems. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[Phantomx55]

I went with the Jasper transmission. I heard alot of storys of peoples transmissions barely lasting a year from local shops. They tend to use used parts when they do rebuilds too. Jasper uses all new parts and goes through the whole transmission with a fine tooth comb.

 

[Physh1]

Gotta tell ya, I've been looking for a 4l60e rebuilt here in the bay area...for removal, rebuild, & reinstall the BEST price I found was $2200...average was $2800!

I think I'm going to order a stage 1 performa pay $400 for removal & install. Cheapest way to go...

Cameron

 

[bottomline2000]

Yeah it takes is to do a local rebuild twice and you out 2 grand. I was impressed with Jasper. They even do engines and rear ends. Just make sure your lines are thoroughly flushed if reusing. I bypassed all my stock stuff to avoid problems and got a new torque converter.

 

[Phantomx55]

When he took the transmission out, my "neutral safety switch" was "melted". Another nice $300 for that...Hopefully I will be getting it back today!

---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 PM ----------

1 Week, $2650 dollars later, problems...

I got my truck back today all fixed up..or so I thought...

My uncle finished up replacing my trans from jasper today and I picked my truck up about an hour ago. He had a snow blower in it that he wanted me to drop off by his house which is only about a mile from me. I drove to his house and everything seemed fine and I dropped off the snow blower and left. I got to the end of his street and went to turn onto the next road. As I hit the gas, it reved to about 2500 rpm and then caught gears and jolted me forward.

I drove back to my house with no more stops on the way and I got to a road near mine with nobody behind me, and tried it again. I tapped a gas slightly a couple times and it just reved. I hit it a little harder and it got to about 2500 and jolted me again. I decided the only thing to do was to floor it from there...so I turned the next corner and was probably in 2nd when I floored it. It wouldn't downshift and was bogging down alot and accelerated very very slowly while my foot was against the floor...immediately followed by the beautiful orange check engine light.

My uncle is gunna bring his computer by first thing in the morning to check the codes and hopefully fix it...Anyone have any input on what it may be? Faulty rebuilt transmission? Or possibly installation error?

 

[ILLEGAL REGAL]

ughhhhh....

possibly still low on fluid?

flush the converter or install a new one? It may be toast


not sure, do these get a lockup converter? I had that problem in a grand am the module was screwing up and it ended up costing me a trans

 

[BOSS]

I rest my case...

 

[Ryan Willson]

Gotta tell ya, I've been looking for a 4l60e rebuilt here in the bay area...for removal, rebuild, & reinstall the BEST price I found was $2200...average was $2800!

I think I'm going to order a stage 1 performa pay $400 for removal & install. Cheapest way to go...

Cameron

I'm with him. It's nuts around here!

 

[chip]

You could benefit changing to a slightly higher stall, even on a stock cammed truck. LS engines like to rev, and a small 2400-2600 stall would be nice, get it into the power band faster.

Higher stalls are not just for cammed, or modded engines.

I see your point, but I don't like the idea of doing that. You're just tearing shit up at that point. (That's just my opinion of course. I am not claiming to have data to support that.)

After having my rebuilt tranny crap on me 3 times now for various reasons...i wouldn't go with a local rebuild. Go with guys like performa...they do it all day every day and are specialists with 4l60e's..

I'd like to hear more about this^.

 

[Nappers]

I bought a rebuilt tranny off of Ebay last year for 925 out the door with auxillary cooler, rebuilt torque converter from Ronnie Smith Transmissions. 2 year, 24,000 mile warranty. installed myself in a gravel driveway (which was fun) and haven't had one lick of trouble with it. I have 10,000 miles on it and I got 2mpg better mileage and they use new rebuild kits from GM with updated parts, sunshell etc. AND! No core! They soak the price of a rebuildable case into price, so you can rebuild your own and sell or have as a back up or whatever.

It shifts like a dream and I have thrown a lot at it when driving.

2000 GMC Yukon SLE 2wd
5.3 4L60E
157,000+ on the clock.

They told me that the 4L60E's already have the vette server in them and the tranny you get is basically a 4L65E in a 4L60E case.....

Look em up. The price may be higher but at the time, it was great and they dyno every tranny they rebuild.

Ronnie Smith Transmissions.

 

[chip]

Good to know.

 

[bottomline2000]

I'm curious to know what else was done when installing the trans. I had a performance shop install mine and he kept it for a while until all was well. I'm curious if you replaced the torque converter, lines, flushed the radiator if reusing the stock cooler and what caused the neutral safety switch to melt.

 

[Phantomx55]

Idk exactly what he did. I left the torque converter the same, and he showed me the switch. It wasn't really melted, just one of the plugs was stuck in it really bad, he tried working at it with pliers for a while he said and ended up cutting the wires and soldering and shrinkwrapping the new one on.