First trans build

05chevy

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
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36
I'm about to get into my first trans rebuild this week. Going with a gmax 5 and percison converter. Any hints or tricks anyone wouldn't mind letting me know. And also was wondering what trans fluid should i use when I get the install finished? Hope to here some advice.
 

durallymax

New member
Apr 26, 2008
2,756
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Under The Hood
Dex III Fluid. Pick your pleasure. Honestly thats all that matters. There will be the Amsoil preachers and the Transynd preachers and the $20 per gallon preachers.

You will want to build yourself a couple of tools. One would be a bench stand. This is simply a heavy plate that bolts to the 6 bolt PTO flange on the side of the trans. If you have an engine stand, get yourself a pipe that slides into it and then weld that pipe to the plate you made earlier. Drill two sets of holes in that pipe so you can rotate the trans in 90* increments. If you dont have an engine stand but have a very sturdy bench that is bolted to the ground you can just get two pieces of pipe tjat slide into each other, weld one end to the PTo flange plate then weld the other pipe to a plate that you wan bolt to your table.

Another piece you will want to build is a compressor for the C1 spring cage. Take some scrap 4" exhaust pipe and cut a slit in it, this will be the acess point for your snap ring pliers. (O ya, buy a good pair of transmission snap ring pliers)Then put a plate across the top of this pipe and then you can use a shop press, a vice, heck even a drill press to push down on the pipe to compress the spring cage. I chose to build an entire apparatus dedicated to performing this task.

You may need to build a tool to hold the Main shaft in place as well. To do this simple get a piece of scrap and drill two holes in it so it will bolt across the bellhosing. Then drill another hold in the middle and weld a nut on it. Then thread some ready rod through the nut and once you have your main shaft set grab another nut to jamb the rod into place.

Keep lots of trans assembly gel (or vaseline), lots of shop rags and lots of rubber gloves handy. Just keep everything clean and take your time it will go fine.

Heres pics of my tools i built.

DSCN0139.jpg


DSCN0138.jpg
 

05chevy

Active member
Jun 10, 2010
1,086
0
36
OK don't sound to bad. Thanks for the advice I was figuring I was going to either have to make some tools or buy some. Once again thanks forthwith advice can't wait to dig into it.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
 

kenny

kennydiesel
Mar 5, 2009
319
0
0
washington state
If you have a chance, please update with any/all info on how the tranny build goes for ya. Feedback on lessons learned or difficult stages and pics if possible would be awesome for heads up. Also any references you would recommend or used too. I'm gonna be tearing into mine and doing the same as well next month. Its well overdue...:D Thank you.
 

stacks04

Member
Nov 16, 2007
792
0
16
Terryville,Ct
Imo the more difficult parts are getting the huge snap ring out that is clipped into the main case, and taking apart the c1 spring cage. There was a thread here a while back that resulted in a ruined case because a tab broke off from prying wrong or something. I got nervous when doing mine because of that but I learned what not to do from it.
 

jmaz268

Lead from the Front
May 20, 2010
2,895
0
0
41
Springfield IL
Dex III Fluid. Pick your pleasure. Honestly thats all that matters. There will be the Amsoil preachers and the Transynd preachers and the $20 per gallon preachers.

You will want to build yourself a couple of tools. One would be a bench stand. This is simply a heavy plate that bolts to the 6 bolt PTO flange on the side of the trans. If you have an engine stand, get yourself a pipe that slides into it and then weld that pipe to the plate you made earlier. Drill two sets of holes in that pipe so you can rotate the trans in 90* increments. If you dont have an engine stand but have a very sturdy bench that is bolted to the ground you can just get two pieces of pipe tjat slide into each other, weld one end to the PTo flange plate then weld the other pipe to a plate that you wan bolt to your table.

Another piece you will want to build is a compressor for the C1 spring cage. Take some scrap 4" exhaust pipe and cut a slit in it, this will be the acess point for your snap ring pliers. (O ya, buy a good pair of transmission snap ring pliers)Then put a plate across the top of this pipe and then you can use a shop press, a vice, heck even a drill press to push down on the pipe to compress the spring cage. I chose to build an entire apparatus dedicated to performing this task.

You may need to build a tool to hold the Main shaft in place as well. To do this simple get a piece of scrap and drill two holes in it so it will bolt across the bellhosing. Then drill another hold in the middle and weld a nut on it. Then thread some ready rod through the nut and once you have your main shaft set grab another nut to jamb the rod into place.

Keep lots of trans assembly gel (or vaseline), lots of shop rags and lots of rubber gloves handy. Just keep everything clean and take your time it will go fine.

Heres pics of my tools i built.

DSCN0139.jpg


DSCN0138.jpg

I'm not going to lie....this is probably one of the simpiest and most informative posts I've seen in a while.
 

06blackmax

New member
May 21, 2010
87
0
0
Ramer,TN.
I'm gonna keep up with this. Mines not going out but I think that doing it before you tare it up is better than waiting till something is hurt needing replaced.
 

durallymax

New member
Apr 26, 2008
2,756
1
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Under The Hood
Personally I don't think there is one specific part of the process that is hard. But I would say the c1/c2 hub is the most time consuming part. The snap rings can be a pain and getting some of the apply pistons can be tricky but everything is easier with the right tools and experience. It took me 3hours to get the c4 snap rings out the first time I did a trans.

Also keep some phone numbers handy. I can't thank Mike L. Enough for all thehelp he's given me. As well as some other people as well.
 

durallymax

New member
Apr 26, 2008
2,756
1
0
Under The Hood
Personally I don't think there is one specific part of the process that is hard. But I would say the c1/c2 hub is the most time consuming part. The snap rings can be a pain and getting some of the apply pistons can be tricky but everything is easier with the right tools and experience. It took me 3hours to get the c4 snap rings out the first time I did a trans.

Also keep some phone numbers handy. I can't thank Mike L. Enough for all thehelp he's given me. As well as some other people as well.