4L65E Mega Monster Transmission - Destruction and Shift Kit check balls

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HotRodPC

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Yeah, sorry... terminology always comes back to bite me. For a stock converter it is just a reman.

You get cut and clean on aftermarket high performance converters. Most places absolutely still do this... because the expensive parts like a billet front cover are completely untouched in a rebuild. They cut them apart, clean the heck out of everything and inspect the parts. Replace anything that is damaged, then weld it back together and send it back to you. Generally called a "cut and clean", but really its a remanufacture using your old expensive billet or high performance parts. It costs about the same as buying a stock reman converter instead of $1000. In my area a stock reman 6L80 converter was about $140 and a stock reman 4l80 converter for a 454 was about $160 a few years ago. Today I would expect to pay between $200-500 for a stock to mildly upgraded converter. They will take your old one as a core. I don't know if the 4l60 converters have the same issue with ballooning under heavy load that the 6l80 does, that's the main reason for a billet front cover on the 6l80 and that's what gets expensive.
Yes, you nailed it when you said they reman it. Cut it, clean it, replace stator bearings and all that good stuff including inspect the turbine vanes and all. You should also have the converter clutch replaced at that time too if it's that type. See, I do believe the cut and clean is old terminology for the non lock up type cuz you should always replace the converter clutch if you have that type opened up so at that point, it's just a reman. For sure, that is the option to do if you have a high dollar stall converter so have your same converter remann'ed and be sure to get the same one back Sometimes that's hard because there's not converter rebuilders in every town and why most people just end up getting a new one for performance, or send it out. OEM guys just go get a reman at a local trans shop somewhere. Daaco used to be, or still is a big name but they got in bed with Transtar and their Recon brand converters. Lucky for me, if still open, I have a Transtar location right here in OKC.
 

Fastduramax

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So happy and sad to read this thread as I was a couple weeks away from purchasing a MAD DOG 4L60E !!! Wondered why he was so inexpensive compared to others he sure talks the talk ! Must be full of knock off parts who knows without having ever torn one down... Sucks...
 

Nasty-LSX

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So happy and sad to read this thread as I was a couple weeks away from purchasing a MAD DOG 4L60E !!! Wondered why he was so inexpensive compared to others he sure talks the talk ! Must be full of knock off parts who knows without having ever torn one down... Sucks...
Glad it helped. The reviews go deep, real deep, with
shady builds and purely ripping people off, then blaming it on his help. LOL
 

Fat 454

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Hi Nick - may or may not be of help, but check out Shaun's YT channel - "Mountains garage". We have a T400 that needs a strip and investigation as no reverse. Came across Mountains when looking for info on the reverse solenoid set up. It seems hard to locate detailed clear information on transmission builds, and I have found the info available on Shaun's channel really helpful ( there is a LOT there ).
I'm just starting on the "auto" journey, as only have experience with manual boxes, so really appreciative of all these people willing to share their detailed knowledge essentially for free!.. huge resource there that we never had before. He also refers to specialised tools, manuals and other documentation resources that are really helpful.
There is no substitute for educating and doing it yourself, if you can. That's the only way i've been able to ensure everything is right with no shortcuts.. been bitten too many times in the past I guess !
 

HotRodPC

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Hi Nick - may or may not be of help, but check out Shaun's YT channel - "Mountains garage". We have a T400 that needs a strip and investigation as no reverse. Came across Mountains when looking for info on the reverse solenoid set up. It seems hard to locate detailed clear information on transmission builds, and I have found the info available on Shaun's channel really helpful ( there is a LOT there ).
I'm just starting on the "auto" journey, as only have experience with manual boxes, so really appreciative of all these people willing to share their detailed knowledge essentially for free!.. huge resource there that we never had before. He also refers to specialised tools, manuals and other documentation resources that are really helpful.
There is no substitute for educating and doing it yourself, if you can. That's the only way i've been able to ensure everything is right with no shortcuts.. been bitten too many times in the past I guess !
You can do some diagnostics on No Reverse on a Th400 by more road test. What about manual 1st gear? Meaning, put the gear shift in 1, not D. What do you have? Also, how about any engine braking when you downshift it manually into 1. Does it actually slow you down, or does it go in to like Neutral and do nothing? Reverse and Engine Braking depend on the Rear Band. It'll pull in manual 1, with the band and servo not working, but no engine braking. So if you don't have any engine braking in manually selected 1, and no Reverse, then suspect something in that band circuit. It's a non adustable band, but if the servio has failed or piston ring or piston has failed, then it may be something that can be fixed by dropping the pan. Take a look at the servo pin also. If that's all good, then it's a good possibily the low/reverse clutch pack is toast from lack of lubrication for some reason in the back of the case in which case means the trans has to come out and be opened up and get all the way to the back of the case so you may as well just do a complete rebuild instead of a repair.
 

NickTransmissions

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Hi Nick - may or may not be of help, but check out Shaun's YT channel - "Mountains garage". We have a T400 that needs a strip and investigation as no reverse. Came across Mountains when looking for info on the reverse solenoid set up. It seems hard to locate detailed clear information on transmission builds, and I have found the info available on Shaun's channel really helpful ( there is a LOT there ).
I'm just starting on the "auto" journey, as only have experience with manual boxes, so really appreciative of all these people willing to share their detailed knowledge essentially for free!.. huge resource there that we never had before. He also refers to specialised tools, manuals and other documentation resources that are really helpful.
There is no substitute for educating and doing it yourself, if you can. That's the only way i've been able to ensure everything is right with no shortcuts.. been bitten too many times in the past I guess !
Thanks, I am aware of his channel but don't watch as between working on them daily and creating content for my own YT channel, I don't really have bandwidth to look at other channels like I used to.

Have you visited my TH400 info thread here? That has a lot, if not all of the same information, all in one place....

If there's are specific aspects about TH400 Reverse (diagnosis/troubleshooting, servo set up and travel adjustment, aftermarket updated/improved parts, etc) that you'd like to learn more about, simply reply with it and I'll see if I can do a video or two....
 

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