Transmission swap 4L60E

[John]

So i get back from Iraq here in June, i plan to do a transmission swap pretty much as soon as i get home. Heres the situation:
I had my 97's transmission rebuilt for my 97 and while i was doing that, i thought to myself why not go big on this since its already out. But then i got married and now im selling my 97. However, i still want this transmission and vig stall converter. So i wanna do a swap with the transmissions in the cars. Both are 4L60E's. To my knowledge this is how it has to happen.
1 drop both transmissions
2 swap tailshaft housings
3 hook back up

I have access to a bay with tons of lifts. Facility's wont be an issue. This will be in June of 2008. Anyone interested in helping out? Ill have all the information needed on hand to make this as smooth as possible. Theres a free steak dinner for whoever is up for this and if you are looking to get paid, im sure we can work something out. Gotta get the okay from the wife though lol :p Id really appreciate any help though. This would be a nasty job for me alone. I dont have enough experience.

[glenoweth]

where did u say u lived?

[John]

Columbus GA

[glenoweth]

darn if u were closer to me i would have been there to help.

i would have made kenny come to =)

[John]

How far are you?

[glenoweth]

i live in madison AL

[John]

i live in madison AL
i cant pull up mapquest ... Got a distance? zipcode is 31905

[glenoweth]

3-4 hour from gatlinburg i know that.

[John]

ouch lol i was gonna offer to pay for your gas both ways but yeah definitely not just a fuel issue.

[glenoweth]

LOL yeah there is a ton of guys in GA though. I am sure you will have the man power =)

LOL set up a meeting at your house one day ,and boom! lol make it a group thing.

[torval]

We have a member in Columbus, GA, but he might be in Afganistan when you get back...I'll track him down and check with him, he's a good dude!!

[Zachs Bank]

John not that hard. Just put a new tranny in Zachs 98z. NEVER changed an auto tranny till then always 3 or 4 spds.A lift is a convience that is great!A tranny jack is a must!!! Time consuming 2hrs to take out 3 1\2 going back in.Torque converter going in rite was my worry> if not dun correct you bust the front pump. Will help all i can in No Ga. 5 miles south of Chatt. Tn. Jeff

[John]

Now i got a question about this Torque converter install. See when we did it, It looked simple. Bolt to flywheel, and then in goes the input shaft. Now ive been told we did it wrong (father in law and i.) I have a Vig 9.5" 3200 Lockup. But it dont seem to be locking up lol. I had to be at about the stall speed to maintain a highway speed of 60 mph. See i am pretty new to this so i didnt think anything was wrong til it was pointed out. Any idea on what may be causing this? The car has maybe 100 miles on its new trans and torque converter. It Hasn't really been driven since i was home on R&R in June.

[Zachs Bank]

First it should go in tranny then tranny put up and slide up to bolt on flywheel. the way you did it you take a chance on missing the little prongs on the front pump and when you tighten up the tranny you bust the prongs and car wont pull so you got lucky if you ask me. Second computer needs to to tuned for stall so shift points correct. Will hejp as much as possible. Jeff

[John]

First it should go in tranny then tranny put up and slide up to bolt on flywheel. the way you did it you take a chance on missing the little prongs on the front pump and when you tighten up the tranny you bust the prongs and car wont pull so you got lucky if you ask me. Second computer needs to to tuned for stall so shift points correct. Will hejp as much as possible. Jeff

Thanks Jeff. Its always good to have someone around that knows his stuff

[Zachs Bank]

Dont know it all just going thru it all with Zach(79-z on here) Next is another rearend cause 273 gears dont go well with a 3600 stall gonna put 373 gears.

[John]

Same here i am looking to upgrade to 3.73's from 2.73's aswel are you just doing a ring and pinion swap or are you putting in a whole new rear?

[Zachs Bank]

Ive got a complete rearend out of a 93z so prob gonna have to change carrier and maybe axles but the rend will bolt right up.

[D21458P]

The converter actually has to turn as it goes on. It will click, then you have to turn as you push it on to click again, and a third time. If GM hasn't changed this. This locks the converter in place. usually if this isn't done you shoudn't be able to get the trans bolted up right.

[Zachs Bank]

It will stil bolt up it just breaks the prongs that the converter slides on when you titen the tranny down.Zachs went on and turned and slid right on and you could tell it was in cause the way it sounded. Plus if you spin the converter and all is alighned it will pump fluid out where the lines bolt up. Matt showed me that trick! Ive heard of the 3 clicks but didnt hear it on Zachs. when it hit bottom it clunked. Jeff

[John]

Really.. So if i have my 2 lined d/c and i have the TC bolted up and i spin the fly wheel fluid will come out of the openings on the bell housing? (just making sure i got that right) If so, thats a neat trick!

[Zachs Bank]

Once you slide the t/c onto input shaft and it lines up with the front pump you just spin t/c about 8-10 times and fluid started coming outwhere the tranny lines hook up. Then you jack'er up slide;er up bolt to flywheel.

[John]

Thanks. Ill remember that one.