Hey Guys!

I am about to rebuild the tranny in my car and need a little advise on the rebuilding kits that are available. I want to get a quality rebuild kit and new torque converter. There are a couple kits I am looking at, but I want to make sure Im not wasting any $$ by doubling up on parts and/or buying unnecessary parts. I also would like some suggestions on TC stall speed. The engine is a stock LT1 and will not be modded to gain more power (yet) anytime soon. I use the car as a nice sunday cruiser, because its slow as hell. The tranny thats in there is original and tired.

For kits I am looking at:


https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-378951?rrec=true



https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-379110



https://www.sonnax.com/parts/2928-performance-pack



https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trg-4l60e-hd2



Id really like to do this, but I need the reamers and they are $$$

https://www.sonnax.com/parts/3029-the-sure-cure-kit



For TCs, im looking at these:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-70420/overview/



https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-70418/overview/




Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

What year is your car?

 

'96

 

Unless you race, you definitely do not want a full race kit. They will give you whiplash on every shift. Your best bet would be to call Summit and have them recommend a rebuild kit for you depending on what you're looking for. Chances are they have a shift kit where you can set the firmness of the shifts depending on what springs and things you install. If not, any quality rebuild kit that includes the band, clutches and steels plus the Transgo shift kit will give you a firm shifting transmission that won't jerk your head off every shift.

On the converter, I'd go with the 2400 stall converter. That will knock roughly half a second off your 0-60 time all by itself. You will lose some city mileage with either of those converters, so be prepared for that. But the improvement in performance will be worth it. Also, the higher stall converter will smooth out the firmer shifts, as well.

 

Others will disagree (I'm sure) but I don't like any of the rebuild kits for a street car.. I also don't like shift kits for street cars, because they always seem to end up banging around.

Like rebuilding your engine, none of the "rebuild kits" are complete kits. You'll need other things besides what is listed, and you probably won't need some of that. I absolutely hate TCI anything. If it were me, I would keep the stall in the 2000-2200 range for the street, and probably add a cooler with the converter.

A base parts list for a stock 4L60E rebuild here would go something like: (It's not exact and it varies with what is worn.. But, you'll get the idea for a bare minimum list.)

Converter, Filter, Master Kit W Seals and Rings, FWD Sprag Clutch, Pump Bushing, Rear Case Bushing, Code 1870 fix (In yours, I would just switch it off at the mod valve), (Some fix for the servo checkball capsule), Front Planetary Gearset - Examine and Replace as Necessary, Pump Ring and Vane Kit, EPC Solenoid, Sun Shell, 8 .250 Torlon checkballs, Rear Planetary Examine and Replace as Necessary. 2/4 Band - Examine and Replace as Necessary. L/R Sprag Clutch - Examine and Replace as Necessary. Sonnax Wide Bushing for Rear Sun Gear. Tailshaft Bushing in a 2WD.

As far as hop up parts go for a street car go.. I like this, and it is essentially what I have in mine now.

Wide Kevlar 2/4, (because they're super hard) hard shell, Sonnax wide bushing for the rear sun, Sonnax pinless accumulators, larger boost (My 700 is 1/2" but it may be a little much. You can measure yours and either get a stock replacement or a little larger and it will be fine.) and you can use the 5 pinion rear planet if you feel the extra strength is necessary. (I don't have it installed right now. I plan a 383 at some point and will probably install it then.) The Sonnax replacement for the checkball capsule in the servo housing, and I like the Alto Red and thin steels for the 3/4 or a "Z-Pack" is good also. Something similar for the forward clutch won't hurt, either, if you want it. The large forward sprag and races, if your trans doesn't have it already.

As far as shift kits go, I don't use them in the 4L60E, I enlarge the feed holes in the stock separator plate and leave it because even aftermarket plates (Like the TransGo) with no other mods bang and clank and I don't like that at all. I'm much happier doing it this way.

But, that's just me..

You can source all this stuff at a vendor like WIT, and even pick it up there if you want. If you need help with part numbers or anything else, just let me know.

Good Luck!

 

This kind of input is exactly why I come here! Thank you Sir!

 

 

I need to start looking at where people have put their added transmission coolers

 

I mounted my transmission cooler in front of the condenser. It is impossible to get a picture at the moment but it is a typical universal cooler mounted with the plastic push thru ties.

 

My recommendation is to call or email probuilt automatics and tell Dana what you want. He will put together a custom made kit including shift kit and everything. He will also sell you the modified separater plate so you don't have to drill it yourself.

The HD-2 shift kit is the way to go IMO. You can make it firm but not hard. IMO any quality rebuild kit will work as long as it has all the seals, clutches, steels and bushings. You need to be careful though because some of them only work on certain years. You should also buy a new sunshell.

If you are going to do a full rebuild yourself you also want to get the ATSG rebuild manual.