I have spent much time combing the posts for transmission rebuilding tips and torque converter choices and I'm still scratching my head in frustration. My factory bone stock 89 GTA has a slipping transmission so i want to rebuild it or replace it. The car has 166,000 miles on it. I want to rebuild and upgrade the ttransmission and torque converter so they perform better than factory. I drive tthis daily, no I don't race it, I drive freeway and in town all the time, want to maximize durability, responsive throttle and low rpm cruising speed on hwy. I don't want to be into this for more than 1,500 max. Who sells a complete rebuild kit with upgraded parts? The converter seems to be a rather opinionated topic. My car has the 350 and is bone stock so a modern converter for a factory car with the correct stall speed for factory HP, rear end gears and a bit more responsive quick downshifting abilities when cruising and I step on it to pass somebody is all I'm looking for. Is their an ideal torque converter that can inhance launch, throttle response, quicker downshift for passing, increase torque at higher rpm and improve mileage with lower RPM while I drive to work? FYI the speed limit is 75 MPH an is a 40 minute drive going over mountain passes so I need quick acceleration to zip past all the slow trucks. Please help me as the choices are way to vast.

 

Launch , throttle response come from a higher stall with compromises elsewhere
http://www.hardtail.com/techtips/sel...converter.html

Downshift is a primarily a function of the trans calibration , need a suitable shift kit

You can't make any more torque than what the engine makes

Need taller ( lower numerically ) diff gears .
A T700 has a lockup convertor so once it is in 4th and the convertor locked up ( no slippage ) it plays no part in the equation

So the bottom line is one convertor is not going to give you what you seek

 

Okay so a shift kit will make a difference from what I just read. I think I basically just need a modern rebuild kit with better quality parts than stock? I have seen some kits advertise a corvette servo? I just want the best rebuild kit for a stock application. I may tweet the exhaust some and make other subtitle upgrades. B&B advertises rebuild kits as well. Just want the most for my money.

 

Just my

Don't shop just price of the parts. Buy the kit from someplace that will answer your tech questions as well.

I just bought a kit from these guys for a 4L60e that lost 3rd gear:

http://www.700r4l60e.com/

They offer several kits with upgraded parts. I have heard nothing but praise for Pro-Built and Dana on this board and others.

 

I agree. I have checked out those sights as well. The stall on the torque converter is something I'm not sure on either. What did a factory GTA come with? Would a slightly higher stall be an advantage?

 

vetteoz would have more experience with your converter questions. IMO, I would pass on anything but a stock converter in your case.

I will say that the only car I've ever driven that had a higher than stock stall speed was a '77 Z28.

It was stock with no mods other than a B&M shift kit and the high stall converter in the TH350. I hated driving that thing. To me, it actually felt slow because it no doubt wasn't matched to the power of the engine or the differential gearing.

 

If it were me, I'd call Dana at Pro Built Automatics.
Very knowledgeable on 700r4 and 4l60.
I will probably be buying a shift kit from him in the spring.
Even though I have not bought anything from him yet, I have emailed him with some questions and he was nice enough to share some knowledge with me!
If you tell him what you have and what your looking for in performance, he can custom build a kit just right for your needs. His prices are normally pretty fair too!

 

I used 3 rebuild kits from Dana, with great results.
Here a peak at what is involved https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...build-pro.html

 

Yea same here good guy , got my 4l60e upgrade kit from him
its pretty easy if you have the right tools