time to break up with denial…guess who. 6L80!!!

[denalilex]

ok.
torque is bad
clutch release bearing is bad
1-2-3-4 clutch housing is cracked
there is probably more
but it gave me 304,000 miles so i’m not even mad at all. went well beyond the expectancy im grateful

but so it’s getting warmer(lol, well, today was 60, yesterday was like 30, so, it’s getting warmer) & it’s been a few months since i could bear the sight of my tragedy so i bought a high tech cover & i covered it up with as much denial that money could buy.

& i actually let it grow a flat in the driveway.
i do not know who i have become.

anyway, i also somehow got invited to amazon vine so i have like $6k worth of rebuild truck parts i’ve been stockpiling like a pack rat that are keeping me from fitting in my room anymore so its time.

i know weve been over a few of these things before but to be honest im a hot ball of anxiety & for the first time i can say im not looking forward to it. but i wanna do it. &

please can you give me any personal advice where what how who to start
other things to look for
thanks @NickTransmissions i’ve been watching
this may be stupid
do all 6l80s have coolers? i have tow package
mine has always run very cool. like very cool. never tops 130.
i don’t haul except for a 18’ boat a few times & 2 jet skis in the summer.


i have a full garage i have all the tools i have the press i dont have a lift but i have 6 hydro jacks & i’ve gotten by with them before im small i can crawl so ill be good
no the truck doesn’t fit in the garage
just the hood


also hope you’ve all been well :’)
(i still can’t summarize my point)

 

[strutaeng]

Wow 300,000 miles!?

It owes you nothing! Actually YOU owe it a fancy dinner! LoL

 

[KidWgn]

ok.
torque is bad
clutch release bearing is bad
1-2-3-4 clutch housing is cracked
there is probably more
but it gave me 304,000 miles so i’m not even mad at all. went well beyond the expectancy im grateful

but so it’s getting warmer(lol, well, today was 60, yesterday was like 30, so, it’s getting warmer) & it’s been a few months since i could bear the sight of my tragedy so i bought a high tech cover & i covered it up with as much denial that money could buy.

& i actually let it grow a flat in the driveway.
i do not know who i have become.

anyway, i also somehow got invited to amazon vine so i have like $6k worth of rebuild truck parts i’ve been stockpiling like a pack rat that are keeping me from fitting in my room anymore so its time.

i know weve been over a few of these things before but to be honest im a hot ball of anxiety & for the first time i can say im not looking forward to it. but i wanna do it. &

please can you give me any personal advice where what how who to start
other things to look for
thanks @NickTransmissions i’ve been watching
this may be stupid
do all 6l80s have coolers? i have tow package
mine has always run very cool. like very cool. never tops 130.
i don’t haul except for a 18’ boat a few times & 2 jet skis in the summer.


i have a full garage i have all the tools i have the press i dont have a lift but i have 6 hydro jacks & i’ve gotten by with them before im small i can crawl so ill be good
no the truck doesn’t fit in the garage
just the hood


also hope you’ve all been well :’)
(i still can’t summarize my point)

As far as I'm concerned, automatic transmissions are black magic. They're the only thing I won't open up and work on myself. I say drop the trans and parts off at a shop and go have a drink

 

[89Suburban]

@denalilex JIC, these guys are out by me and are very well regarded for their transmission services/repairs.

About Us -

A Guarantee We Stand Behind Locally owned and operated, Main Line Transmission stands behind every transmission service we provide. We use only the highest-quality parts and focus on dependable service and superior workmanship. We’re committed to maintaining your vehicle as if we owned and drove...

mainlinetransmission.com

Main Line Transmission · 235 W Lancaster Ave, Paoli, PA 19301

★★★★★ · Transmission shop

www.google.com

 

[petethepug]

07 Yuke Denali Standard. Yes, the Denali comes with a trans cooler from the factory. The 6L80 trans replacement is pretty routine but the important thing is what else you do when it’s extracted.

* Uprated T/C
* Xfer case dog bone mount bushes (4) or 2 new dog bones
* Oil pressure sensor
* 1/2 shift cable kit
* Motor mounts
* Option to swap in ARP Exh Mani bolts
* Rear main seal
* Pan gasket
* Oil pump o ring at mount
* Xfer case fluid swap

If you get all that covered when the trans is out the labor is free or will save you at least $2k if you did it all one by one. It’s usually a 100k major service thing. Drop your Denali off at the Chicken Ranch and have it all done for making it to 300k.

 

[NickTransmissions]

ok.
torque is bad
clutch release bearing is bad
1-2-3-4 clutch housing is cracked
there is probably more
but it gave me 304,000 miles so i’m not even mad at all. went well beyond the expectancy im grateful

but so it’s getting warmer(lol, well, today was 60, yesterday was like 30, so, it’s getting warmer) & it’s been a few months since i could bear the sight of my tragedy so i bought a high tech cover & i covered it up with as much denial that money could buy.

& i actually let it grow a flat in the driveway.
i do not know who i have become.

anyway, i also somehow got invited to amazon vine so i have like $6k worth of rebuild truck parts i’ve been stockpiling like a pack rat that are keeping me from fitting in my room anymore so its time.

i know weve been over a few of these things before but to be honest im a hot ball of anxiety & for the first time i can say im not looking forward to it. but i wanna do it. &

please can you give me any personal advice where what how who to start
other things to look for
thanks @NickTransmissions i’ve been watching
this may be stupid
do all 6l80s have coolers? i have tow package
mine has always run very cool. like very cool. never tops 130.
i don’t haul except for a 18’ boat a few times & 2 jet skis in the summer.


i have a full garage i have all the tools i have the press i dont have a lift but i have 6 hydro jacks & i’ve gotten by with them before im small i can crawl so ill be good
no the truck doesn’t fit in the garage
just the hood


also hope you’ve all been well :’)
(i still can’t summarize my point)

300k miles is outstanding for these and frankly, any automatic transmission. Not sure if all of them have external coolers (they all have heat exchange via the trans cooler inside the radiator) but if your vehicle doesn't have an external cooler, I'd add one...I'd also consider proactively replacing your radiator or having it rebuilt by a radiator shop. If the internal trans cooler in the radiator fails, it will flood your transmission with coolant, destroying it.

As far as getting started, you can watch my 6L80 Teardown and Inspection video - that should give you a solid understanding of what all to check for as well as considerations for overhaul. My 6L80 Info thread will give all the parts and procedures that my 6L overhauls get....Check your area for a good torque converter builder...Many times those folks will also do pump machining and have reconditioned parts for good prices...For example, I always reuse the 3-5-R drum but have the welds at the base reinforced...Only reason I wouldn't is if it's cracked elsewhere or straight up falling apart (I've see examples of this as well).

Don't get nervous about it, these are actually fairly easy transmissions to deal with once you have all the tools you need.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Your 6L80 should be subjected to some form of scrutiny specifically for the purpose of finding out how it made it to 300k miles.
Then again, I don't want GM putting a hit on whoever learns any valuable secrets.

 

[j91z28d1]

it makes me sad to see 300k talked about like it's an amazing feat from a gm these days.

but sadly it is, as I see my 2011 slowly falling apart at 150k while my obs never blinked at 300k.

blah.. good luck building the tranny, seems like a good skill to have.

 

[Just Fishing]

my 6l80 looked like new inside with 180k on it.
it did have a broken 2-6 wave plate, but it ran and shifted fine.
I did a proactive rebuild after I went through a couple thrust bearings and a crankshaft that was attempting to escape out the front of the engine.
I found a plugged transmission cooler as well.

So, it came apart to look through, especially since it could have had lube issues in the rear due to the cooler issues.
I found building it a pleasure, not cheap by any means.
Don't skimp, test everything.
If it's questionable, then replace it.

 

[Geotrash]

ok.
torque is bad
clutch release bearing is bad
1-2-3-4 clutch housing is cracked
there is probably more
but it gave me 304,000 miles so i’m not even mad at all. went well beyond the expectancy im grateful

but so it’s getting warmer(lol, well, today was 60, yesterday was like 30, so, it’s getting warmer) & it’s been a few months since i could bear the sight of my tragedy so i bought a high tech cover & i covered it up with as much denial that money could buy.

& i actually let it grow a flat in the driveway.
i do not know who i have become.

anyway, i also somehow got invited to amazon vine so i have like $6k worth of rebuild truck parts i’ve been stockpiling like a pack rat that are keeping me from fitting in my room anymore so its time.

i know weve been over a few of these things before but to be honest im a hot ball of anxiety & for the first time i can say im not looking forward to it. but i wanna do it. &

please can you give me any personal advice where what how who to start
other things to look for
thanks @NickTransmissions i’ve been watching
this may be stupid
do all 6l80s have coolers? i have tow package
mine has always run very cool. like very cool. never tops 130.
i don’t haul except for a 18’ boat a few times & 2 jet skis in the summer.


i have a full garage i have all the tools i have the press i dont have a lift but i have 6 hydro jacks & i’ve gotten by with them before im small i can crawl so ill be good
no the truck doesn’t fit in the garage
just the hood


also hope you’ve all been well :’)
(i still can’t summarize my point)

I rebuilt a ZF 5hp24 on my workbench a few years ago, which is a close cousin to our 6L80 which is basically a licensed ZF design.

It wasn’t bad at all. I rather enjoyed the craftsmanship of it and love knowing that it was done with great care. You can do it!

 

[fozzi58]

@NickTransmissions videos are growing on me and the few I have seen are pretty thorough.

But don't sleep on Brandon Sloan out of Greenville SC.
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@performancetransmissionsll1573
tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@performancetransmission

I've seen so many of his videos I could probably rebuild a 6L80 and I've never cracked open a transmissions ever.

 

[denalilex]

Wow 300,000 miles!?

It owes you nothing! Actually YOU owe it a fancy dinner! LoL

that’s what i’m sayinnnnn! lol i’m not mad i’m super grateful. hardly anyone (except the dude with the suburban who just went a mil …. ) can say they got 300 off the factory & first fluid change @ 210. my 6l80 - though i talk a lot of **** , outlived its rumors. for that i’m really grateful. + it taught me so much & went at my pace so i think im prepared for it. lol we’ll see

 

[denalilex]

i’m really bad at the internet yall. but i just got the torque converter & the bearing & i ordered the zip kit & i tried to find a set of balls on the internet but i couldn’t


thanks for the help :’) im reading everyone’s stuff now

you’s always make me feel less like the chick in the autozone aisle <3

 

[89Suburban]

i’m really bad at the internet yall. but i just got the torque converter & the bearing & i ordered the zip kit & i tried to find a set of balls on the internet but i couldn’t


thanks for the help :’) im reading everyone’s stuff now

you’s always make me feel less like the chick in the autozone aisle <3

@NickTransmissions should be able to help you find those.

 

[MWD_CTSV]

i’m really bad at the internet yall. but i just got the torque converter & the bearing & i ordered the zip kit & i tried to find a set of balls on the internet but i couldn’t


thanks for the help :’) im reading everyone’s stuff now

you’s always make me feel less like the chick in the autozone aisle <3

Checkballs! Make sure you are searching for a set of checkballs on the internet! Just wanted to clarify that...

The Sonnax zip kit includes 8 checkballs (.25") so you should be good to go.
https://www.sonnax.com/parts/3505-zip-kit

 

[wjburken]

@NickTransmissions should be able to help you find those.

I think he only has a couple balls in stock.

 

[NickTransmissions]

I think he only has a couple balls in stock.

Yep, and they're oversized

 

[Charlie207]

As far as I'm concerned, automatic transmissions are black magic. They're the only thing I won't open up and work on myself. I say drop the trans and parts off at a shop and go have a drink

There's a channel on YT that does transmission teardowns and is amazing about explaing how they work in a digestible amount of time.

Look up: Richard and Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard & Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard and Teresa Crich here to teach you about transmissions and other automotive techniques. Richard Crich back at you with my educational transmission videos. We will have videos up shortly. Our email is [email protected]. Please understand it may take time to get a response.

youtube.com

He knows more about the black magic than anyone. I'll never try to service my 6L80, but at least now I know what's happening inside that case.

(They used to have a different channel, but I think the son took it over and monetized it..... Lame; there was a large catalog of videos there as well.)

 

[donjetman]

There's a channel on YT that does transmission teardowns and is amazing about explaing how they work in a digestible amount of time.

Look up: Richard and Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard & Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard and Teresa Crich here to teach you about transmissions and other automotive techniques. Richard Crich back at you with my educational transmission videos. We will have videos up shortly. Our email is [email protected]. Please understand it may take time to get a response.

youtube.com

He knows more about the black magic than anyone. I'll never try to service my 6L80, but at least now I know what's happening inside that case.

(They used to have a different channel, but I think the son took it over and monetized it..... Lame; there was a large catalog of videos there as well.)

I've been watching Richard trans videos for awhile I live 500 miles from Amarillo but drive thru there 5 to 10 times/yr driving going back and forth between our homes. If I have a problem with a trans I'll yank it and drop it off with him to repair.

 

[NickTransmissions]

There's a channel on YT that does transmission teardowns and is amazing about explaing how they work in a digestible amount of time.

Look up: Richard and Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard & Teresa Educational Transmission Videos

Richard and Teresa Crich here to teach you about transmissions and other automotive techniques. Richard Crich back at you with my educational transmission videos. We will have videos up shortly. Our email is [email protected]. Please understand it may take time to get a response.

youtube.com

He knows more about the black magic than anyone. I'll never try to service my 6L80, but at least now I know what's happening inside that case.

(They used to have a different channel, but I think the son took it over and monetized it..... Lame; there was a large catalog of videos there as well.)

There was a dispute between Richard Crich and his son about matters relating to the Youtube channel itself and the son, who actually owned the channel, shut it down, apparently because he and Richard were unable to resolve their differences.