weak 4L60 >> U might be next

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

hi guys

A4 4l60 auto transmission ...the middle east dealer does not provide manual transmission, so every commodore lover will be forced with auto transmission. and its will known in my place that sooner or later the auto transmission gear will fail , and this is really affecting the reputation of the commodores. most of the people that i know had to rebuild the transmission . so i thought i would like to share this problem with you guys , what is the best way to increase the reliability and prevent any early problems . i dont wana be next .

the rebuild is very expensive...

[redcv6]

what the hell, i did not understand this post at all!

[chargedvx6]

Yeah abit off track. 4l60es need good cooling and are designed for smoothness not performance LOL. If you want performance mod it accordingly and it becomes a good box to a point.

[Morton]

The 4L60s really need a decent shift kit and billet servos to last for any length of time with hard driving.

Redcv6, I'm assuming from the fact that he drives a Lumina that he's not Aussie, so English probably isn't his first language

But yeah, the gearbox needs to be cooled well. They're not fantastic... they're REALLY old in fact. Shame GM is taking the cheap option out on Holden export transmissions.

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

what the hell, i did not understand this post at all!

excuse my language >>

the main subject is weak gear box

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

Yeah abit off track. 4l60es need good cooling and are designed for smoothness not performance LOL. If you want performance mod it accordingly and it becomes a good box to a point.

sorry my bad, i know that some people add extra cooler in front of the radiator, would that fix the problem ?

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

The 4L60s really need a decent shift kit and billet servos to last for any length of time with hard driving.

Redcv6, I'm assuming from the fact that he drives a Lumina that he's not Aussie, so English probably isn't his first language

But yeah, the gearbox needs to be cooled well. They're not fantastic... they're REALLY old in fact. Shame GM is taking the cheap option out on Holden export transmissions.

you R , how bad is my language, any way i though about shift kit but the shift points becomes very hard. and thought of chevy corvette servo .

[immortality]

yes, with a shift kit the shifts are firmed up but there only rock solid when shifting at full throttle. under normal conditions it should hardly be noticable. the billet servo increases the hold strength of 2nd gear so less chance to slip and stuff the box.

heat is the biggest killer of auto trans. fit the biggest cooler you can find. another good suggestion is fitting a aftermarket finned alloy sump that holds an extra 2 qrts (about litre) of fluid.

then there is regular servicing. do a service fill every year/20,000km's and a full flush every 2 years/40,000km. my commodore handbook has 80,000km service interval for the trans, thats way to long. a service fill is just draining the fluid in the pan (this is much easier with aftermarket alloy pan because factory pan doesn't have drain plug )on the trans and then filling. normally about 3 liters

at a minimum i'd do the cooler and billet servo. i imagine things get plenty warm over so cooling really should be a priority

edit: don't worry about the language thing, there are some people in australia that have worse spelling/grammer then yourself

[chargedvx6]

Billet servo hurts the stock box IMO. Too risky.

A cooler and Corvette servo with a Transgo HD2-C shift kit would be really nice and should only cost about $400 U.S.D. installed.

I assume you are in UAE somewhere because that's where mosy Lumina exports go to.

That Transgo shift kit is not overly hard to fit for someone with mechanical skills

[DannyboyDS]

there are usually youtube videos with instructions for servo and shift kit installations.

I agree with the billet servo being a bit rough on an otherwise stock box, but with a new reverse input drum, a wide carbon band and a transgo stage two it would be a very tough box, also look at testing the electrical components while it is open the shift solenoids A and B and the manifold pressure sensor would make a good start.

Then again while you have the valve body out and the trans in pieces go for pinless pistions, they are double sealed and slightly longer (to make up for lacking a pin)

[redcv6]

i will be running a transgo stage 2-3 shiftkit, corvet servo, upped line pressures in the tune and should hold fine for 220rwkw thats with the down low torque of the charger. down the track i will be looking into better cooling for it, as i believe this is a major problem with the box.

[DannyboyDS]

its a major problem with most autos.

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

yes, with a shift kit the shifts are firmed up but there only rock solid when shifting at full throttle. under normal conditions it should hardly be noticable. the billet servo increases the hold strength of 2nd gear so less chance to slip and stuff the box.

heat is the biggest killer of auto trans. fit the biggest cooler you can find. another good suggestion is fitting a aftermarket finned alloy sump that holds an extra 2 qrts (about litre) of fluid.

then there is regular servicing. do a service fill every year/20,000km's and a full flush every 2 years/40,000km. my commodore handbook has 80,000km service interval for the trans, thats way to long. a service fill is just draining the fluid in the pan (this is much easier with aftermarket alloy pan because factory pan doesn't have drain plug )on the trans and then filling. normally about 3 liters

at a minimum i'd do the cooler and billet servo. i imagine things get plenty warm over so cooling really should be a priority

edit: don't worry about the language thing, there are some people in australia that have worse spelling/grammer then yourself

so do you recomend a shiftkit...

where can i find a larger capacity sump, any specific model on holden or chevy that have larger sump,.. or company that provid after market sump...

i have been told that the commodore ss already have a cooler near the radiator . is that true ??

thanks man ,

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

Billet servo hurts the stock box IMO. Too risky.

A cooler and Corvette servo with a Transgo HD2-C shift kit would be really nice and should only cost about $400 U.S.D. installed.

I assume you are in UAE somewhere because that's where mosy Lumina exports go to.

That Transgo shift kit is not overly hard to fit for someone with mechanical skills

i am from Bahrain,
i like DIY stuff but i am not good at mechanical ,
i know someone who fitted the transgo and servo to his car,, and the its chrips in 2nd and 3rd at WOT.. would that hurt the stock clutches ?

[Ls1uMiNa Ss]

there are usually youtube videos with instructions for servo and shift kit installations.

I agree with the billet servo being a bit rough on an otherwise stock box, but with a new reverse input drum, a wide carbon band and a transgo stage two it would be a very tough box, also look at testing the electrical components while it is open the shift solenoids A and B and the manifold pressure sensor would make a good start.

Then again while you have the valve body out and the trans in pieces go for pinless pistions, they are double sealed and slightly longer (to make up for lacking a pin)

its going to be hard for me , because i have poor skills in mechanical stuff.

can you describe these parts (components) and what it does , i want to make a list with the parts the required to improve the auto transmission box.

- reverse input drum
- a wide carbon band
- pinless pistions

[DannyboyDS]

ok the reverse input drum and the wide carbon band go together, hand in hand really, my understanding is that when the servo's engage they also engage the band which has anchors that will contact with the drum, they are common parts to wear out in an auto and these replacments will give a tougher auto which is what you are after.

The pinless pistons are longer and less prone to skewing, they are also double sealed, I have heard that the pistons skewing due to age/wear and tear is also quite common.

[chargedvx6]

Here's some good reading for you. There is alot of good info on here too.

The sponsors linked below will ship internationally too. For the price of their transmissions it may just be better to buy one of theirs. They all come with coolers and do torque converters at a good price.

Failing that, at least improve the trans cooler, 100+ deg temps don't help trans temps at all

Automatic Transmission - LS1TECH

Finish Line Transmissions | Performance Transmissions | Torque Converters | Transmission Parts | Transmission Service

PerformaBuilt

[vxcalais_01]

charged vx6, which brand cooler do u recommend, i seen a few in black wrapping at like Bursons in various sizes etc.

[chargedvx6]

PWR seem good for the money. $140 for a "V8" cooler with lines and fittings. Doesn't your car have one already?

[immortality]

so do you recomend a shiftkit...

where can i find a larger capacity sump, any specific model on holden or chevy that have larger sump,.. or company that provid after market sump...

i have been told that the commodore ss already have a cooler near the radiator . is that true ??

thanks man ,

transgo seems to be the shiftkit of choice.

any sump designed for the 4l60e should fit. most late model commodores are already fited with a external cooler but you can get much bigger ones that work better.

check summit racing in the US for parts (thats where i get most of mine from)
summitracing.com

[chargedvx6]

so do you recomend a shiftkit...

where can i find a larger capacity sump, any specific model on holden or chevy that have larger sump,.. or company that provid after market sump...

i have been told that the commodore ss already have a cooler near the radiator . is that true ??

thanks man ,

Yeah the SS equivalent already have a trans cooler and a point of interest for you.................The Statesman comes with an engine oil cooler too due to the climate control usually having the air conditioning on all the time and creating extra strain on the engine albeit minor.

You may be able to order the Statesman oil cooler and fit it to the SS. It is just a sandwich plate that goes under the oil filter with 2 lines running to a cooler similar to the trans cooler. I can get a part number if you're keen.