Can just the Valve Body be done with trani in the car? for instance; Even if you had to drop the Crossmember and support the trani. Kind of like doing a 'Shift Kit'/ Manual Valve Body swap in a TH400

 

You can definitely drop the valve body with the transmission still in the vehicle. It is just slightly more involved than a filter change. Once the pan is off, you have all of the clearance needed to pull the valve body.

 

Just a thought.. Probably not smart to do unless you have the trani out and can thoroughly clean. But as far as valve body leakage,
Some Race trani advise is to Block Sand the Valve Body and the Mating surface.

Good to know I can get at the Valve body without dropping the whole deal.

 

Been to the tranny experts today.
They tell me basically what Kyle says - Fix the VB & it could end being something else!
They want to rebuild completley for $3000!

As far as they are concerned the 4L60E is a weak box. They are still being used here & Australia in the Holden Commodore. (around '98 to current models)

The guy suggested I get a good used tranny from Bunce (the Chevy guys) which will cost way less. I've already spoken to the chevy guys so I'll pop in tomorrow & just buy it. They can fit it while they're about it.

 

Pros/Cons of a used transmission:
Pro - Cheaper
Con - Could suffer the exact same fate as the previous transmission

Pros/Cons of rebuilding your current transmission:
Pro - If done right, it will be much more reliable than even a new GM replacement.
Con - Higher cost and reliability is dependent on the rebuilder and components used.

It is always a choice. These 4L60E transmissions are quite possibly one of the most common automatic transmission ever used. They are all over the place. There exists the potential for problems with any automatic transmission. With high production quantities, come higher than usual defect claims. Shops see this as just a number, "We've done 10 of these this month, they are junk." But when compared to the overall production numbers, 10 is barely even a grain of sand on a beach.

 

Give me a TH350 or TH400 any day over these borderline tranis.

Just about the time Fuel Injection dominated the Production cars so did lightduty tranis.
Bearings were replaced with Bushings, steel and aluminum replaced with plastic.
Light weight and fuel economy ruled over Robust functionality.
You used to be able to by a 1/2 ton Pickup and Snow plow with it and fill it with 1 ton of sand. In today's world If you don't buy the Super Duty blah blah blah, you will break the thing in short order. Robust .. that's what today's vehicles are missing.