auto trans slippery and not going past 2nd

[speed__demond]

hey all got a 304 trans, had a shift kit put in about a year ago. shes been nice and firm since. however...
recently its been reving out and slipping into second and then not shifting any higher than that.
I went to a trans specialist today and he recons "the third clutch is gone, trans needs complete rebuild"
that's all well and good but..
it was doing this on and off for a few days before now, so that seems a bit weird to me, if third **** itself why would the whole tranny go back to normal and then start slipping all over the place again.


P.S I got quoted
2200 new trans installed
3200 new toughened trans installed.
he said ill only save 350 if I install it myself so its easier for me to leave it for them.

I also considered manual conversion but its a lot of effort and time I don't have, and I would need to redyno as I have a bit of work done.
so if anyone could shed some light on if the trannys actually gone! or anywhere I can get a reco done cheaper around SE Melbourne would be appreciated thanks.

 

[Pollushon]

3/4 clutch loss is pretty common in the 4L and 700R. You do generally just lose it, but if you've only killed a couple of steels or clutch plates it may explain why it sometimes grabs and sometimes doesn't, could also be fluid/ambient temp specific.

Personally I'd pull off the sump and see if I had anything other than fine particles in there. That said it definitely sounds like it's trans time either way.

 

[speed__demond]

yea he did say it was common.. ahh well I guess its time to weigh up my options versus $

 

[BlackVXGTS]

Sounds like it is unanimous. Item 6 from 4L60e common problem list below:

6. No 3rd or 4th gear: “3-4” clutches are worn out. R&R. The car is safe to drive (in 2) until you can get it fixed.

R&R = Remove & Repair (or Rebuild) = Transmission must be removed to fix the problem and may have to be rebuilt or replaced.

 

[Pollushon]

yea he did say it was common.. ahh well I guess its time to weigh up my options versus $

It's a tough one, my best advice is to not let sentimentality affect your decision more than 49%

 

[ari666]

educate yourself:
http://oskin.ru/pub/chrysler-dodge/manuals/ATRA_Transmission_Repair/ATRA-4L60 Rebuild (GM 700R4).pdf

theyre a very simple and easy transmission to rebuild when you follow step by step. if you wanna understand fully how they work, then it takes a bit longer to grasp. ill admit ive rebuilt one, but i still dont know fully how it works.

but replacing your clutches really is quite easy if you have the time.

 

[speed__demond]

yeah I considered learning when my old cars box went, but I thought the professionals will give me a warranty and they've done it many time before.
I can get one for 1500 but im looking at transdoctor, they said I can get a strengthened one with gen3 internals for 2k. so probably gunna do that. not sure if that's fitted though, but if im gunna fix a problem I always make sure it cant happen again, so hopefully this does the trick. that's for the info guys,

 

[ari666]

HAAAA! gen 3 internals? id be making sure they are talking about the 4l65, otherwise the only upgrade to a 4l60 since the 90's were upgrades to the case.

 

[Pollushon]

....the only upgrade to a 4l60 since the 90's were upgrades to the case....

Do you want to edit that dude or are Sonnax a figment of our imagination? You can make a 4L60E pretty damned tough if money isn't an object. Pretty much every component is replaceable with something stronger.

IMO building up your own is fine when you have a spare in the garage waiting for your current to break.

 

[speed__demond]

HAAAA! gen 3 internals? id be making sure they are talking about the 4l65, otherwise the only upgrade to a 4l60 since the 90's were upgrades to the case.

Do you want to edit that dude or are Sonnax a figment of our imagination? You can make a 4L60E pretty damned tough if money isn't an object. Pretty much every component is replaceable with something stronger.

IMO building up your own is fine when you have a spare in the garage waiting for your current to break.

okay.. I was under the impression the vt-vy 4l60e internals were made tougher, ill tell you what I was told..
"i can build you a performance trans with gen 3 internals which are much better and performance upgrades like: 5 pinion planetary,beast shell,Z-pak..ect ect for only $2000."

otherwise the standard replacement was priced at 1500