I didn't open the filter, but the magnet was covered and the fluid was full off brass flakes.

Yikes. No wonder people hand over fistfuls of money to transmission shops. Here'* hoping for a flake-free pan when I change my fluid.

I must say, I really don't like torx bolts. Had to drill it out and use a EZout




But got the side pan off.


There'* one problem, something I suspected to find. A blown channel plate gasket.


Now working on the new transmission.


This time, steel channel plate gaskets.


Got the new trans ready to go with hardened input shaft, hardened 4th gear shaft, and steel gaskets. All ready to install now

Nothing worse than a bolt that won't give it up! Nice post Dan.

I've read your transmission install writeup; if there are any special things to note during installation, let us know. Great job so far!

As far as installing it in the car? Not much. Make sure the torque converter is the correct bolt pattern to match the flex plate, that'* about it. If a new transmission has a different gear ratio, a tune will be needed.

If you have any questions, call me, I should be around after 12:00.

All done.

First up today was dealing with the two broken bolts that held the sub frame to the car.


Drilled it out, had to go buy a cobalt drill bit to drill in to hardened steel. Then got the EZout.


Came right out, guess the heat of drilling loosened it up.


Ta da, all out.


A lot of wasted time pulling these.


Need to get the shift kit in the new trans.


Trans jack, I'm buying a trans jack.


Lining it all up, would be so much easier with a trans jack.


Trans all bolted in, now the sub frame.


Wasn't that hard.


Final line up.


Reconnecting the sway bar.


Put the car all the way down, and couldn't get the black jack out.


All done, just a few small details.


Cleaning up the shop.


Off he goes, some fresh trans fluid on the floor, but not finding any leaks, might have been a spill when filling.


Bye bye now


Spent a little time cleaning up the shop.



Total time was about 13 hours. 3 hours of that was me pulling parts out of the old trans and installing them in the new transmission, like hardened input shaft, hardened 4th gear shaft, and steel channel plate gaskets. So about 10 hours to swap, 8 hours with no problems.

I have a newfound appreciation for transmission shops. Good work by you and the GTX driver.

Now, when you say a new tune is required when changing gear ratios, does it have to be entirely retuned, or just connect a tuner and select the new gear ratio? I ask because if my 4T60-E with the 2.84 gear ratio dies, I'd like to drop in the 3.06 version with minimal fuss.

The gear ratio in the tune will need to be changed. It'* a easy thing to do if you have the software.