Trany builder funny car crew chief buddy of mine suggested green clutches...can't remember the brand.
Also suggested a torque flight (I think) large snap ring. Apparently the snap ring is one of the main causes of failure. It lets go and rips all the little cast tabs out of the inside of the housing. The TF ring is wider and a neater fit.

 

Course I'm a complete newb at this. I've read everything I can find both here and elsewhere in preparation for this undertaking. It's a bit daunting but think I can get it done myself with the right tools. Blown3qt's and Bill Reids rebuild threads here are a very good resource.

Howard, don't know which snap ring you are talking about but transgo and a couple of the master rebuild kits come with thicker snap rings that hold the major components into place. In all of my reading I haven't found any green frictions. Course I don't know if I need funny car capable frictions. From my motorcycle off road days sounds like a favorite color of EBC.

I've got my eye on the Hughes master kit that 2005 Silverado chimes in with. It uses the Alto frictions and Kolene steels. It also appears that it uses more frictions and steels in some of the assemblies which may not be the "drop in" that I'm wanting.

Last night I got the victim (spare 80e) down to removing the pump. Then stared at it for several minutes. Pulled the first assembly out (overrun clutch) then basically got to hmmmm.... now what, and like to have never got it back in. I honestly cannot believe I am tearing down this transmission. It is pristine. I live by the addage, 'if it isn't broken, don't fix it."

 

You run fast;eventually, there will be.

Prolly cause they're so strong to begin w/., no one saw the need.

At this time u don't.

Back in the day, Alto & Kolene were the shiznit. Just cause a tranny or driveline part isn't broke, dosen't mean it can't be. Then again, were talkin the beasty 4L80E.

 

The HD-2 Transgo has thie larger snap ring as well. The larger snapring goes in after the low/reverse band.

Be careful of the "extra" friction and discs. using them along with the modifications the transgo kit has you do may cause issues. Transgo kit was designed to work with stock trans components. Not sure how well it would work if you remove all the wave plates to make room for your "extra" friction and disc.... And from my motorcycle background I learned stock friction and discs FTW.

 

Just my two cent's Rodger, but why don't you just shift kit your spare tranny and put it in, then rebuild the one you KNOW is broken. That way since you have a spare, built and ready to go tranny, the stock one will never break, lol.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Everybody is making valid points and solid advice.

Now I'm leaning more toward just shift kitting the spare transmission, but the entire Transgo HD-2 kit, go in at least deep enough to do the springs and heavy duty snap ring. Then take my time beefing up the broken one.

 

I read this whole thread thinking the same thing beef up the new trans and rebuild the broken while you're truck is already up and running.

 

I'm getting lazy though.... more like freakin sick of, swapping transmissions. If I just shift kit the spare and put it in, then build the broken one I then have to pull the spare transmission back out and put the built one in. If I build the spare I only have to swap them once. If I build it right

 

That's good info right there! So my guess is the Transgo kit designed for 60e is again for stock components?

I like that idea - swap once! The only time I want to swap trannies is, after u blow up a stock one, build the **** out of one, swap blownup for built. Done. In theory.

 

I am with dusty on this one. Shift kit the spare,and build the broken one.

My two cents.

I too have purchased a prestine 4l80,and pushed my other 4l80 to the batters box. I have not decided on building or buying the next.