Well today I left my place heading to Vancouver to help a friend unpack from a move. Nice day, decided to drive the Z.

About two years ago my stock tranny went ****! I was expecting that as you can't put a whole lot of horsepower and numerous 1/4 mile runs on a stock tranny and expect it to last forever.

So I bought a "stage 4" tranny built by Chuck at FLP. I did not actually buy it from FLP but from a guy who had bought it from FLP, put 300 miles on it and decided he wanted to go with a T56.

I have put about 3,000 miles on it over two Summers. It is a good strong shifting tranny. So back to today...

I am getting on the freeway normal on ramp driving, mind you I am actually real easy on my car I don't beat on or drive it hard except for at the track, so as I start to accelerate the whole tone of the car changes. I got the tunes cranked so I gotta turn down the tunes. Now I hear a serious grinding, metal on metal grating, marbles in a can sound..****...coming from under the car from the tranny. I guess a good description of the noise is it sounds like brake pad rivets on brake rotors when you are dumb enough to let your pads wear down that much.

The sound was worse and loudest, going up in tone, as I accelerated through first. It still shifted and pulled just fine and actually quieted down in second and third. When I would start to brake for a stop it would start up grinding down as I slowed.

I took it to a friends shop and put it on the rack. Put it in neutral and as he rotated the drivetrain by turning the back tires I listend to the tranny. Grinding noise is coming from the tailshaft! Any idea? Could it be the output shaft or what. This tranny is $2200.00 new cost me $1800.00 and should not be going **** with 3500 miles on it. Definatley not the bands or anything like that as I said it still pulls and shifts OK though I only drove it a short distance with it acting up. Long enough to get it to the shop and back home!

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.

Ken

 

sounds like someone has a bad o/p shaft bearing. Tranny might have the wrong type of fluid or a bad bearing from the factory. Either way it needs to come apart to get all the crap out.

If you do find shrapnel. It would probably be best to do a rebuild.

 

The fluid is good I put it in myself. It does sound like a bearing now that you mention that, just like a rear end bearing going out! Once it started grinding I only drove it about 5 miles so I hope there is not a lot of crap in it!

Tranny is coming out probably have my vigi restalled to 3500 and then sell it and drop in a turbo 350. *shrug* will have to see once I get it out and diagnose it!

Thanks

Ken

 

Hey Ken, what is the stall speed on your Vigilante right now???

 

Advertised by Vigi 2800. I cant hold it at the line with Hoosiers much more than 1500 before it starts pushing!

Ken

 

If your going to be selling that I am interested What is the STR on it? Thanks

 

I'm real sorry to hear that about your tranny. And I really appriciate your help unloading that truck. Again thanks for the help.

 

Ken it blew up a planet. sorry man. I have seen a dozen in the last year. mainly from people using offshore stuff.

I know you recently got your house and I could help you out this time IF you are interested

If you want to go th350 I can help there also

i plan on running my 4l60E behind my 427 with 600+ HP..till about the third one then I have a TH400 to stuff in it. but I want to do some testing first

 

Johnny, IF I sell the transmission it will be a total package tranny with TC. Unsure of a price I will have to actually see what went T!ts in it. I will let you know when the time comes. I won't be able to diagnose it this weekend maybe next weekend.

Ellis, There is a possibilty that I could use your knowledge. Let me get the problem diagnosed and see where I want to go with it. I have gotten a few opinions but as you know we won't know till I actually have a good look at it. I really wanna go with a T350 with a higher stall and transbrake for the squeeze tho.

The onnly reason for a T350 is it is lighter and does not draw as much HP to turn it. Just as good a tranny as a T400 only lighter and less parasitic HP draw. Ya I know, redundant!

Ken

 

In all honesty the TH350 is only as strong as the 4L60E. The TH400 is MUCH stronger then the TH350 for carrying the Weight of a 4th gen.

One of the guys on the LT1 Edit list is now dumping his TH350 after breaking it to many time.

I on the other hand have broken them all so I usually go with what I got till it does not hold up any more..

Just food for thought nothing more.

If you are looking for a full race TH350 get ahold of Mike hillard. He has a built TH350 that he has not even run yet. Light weight parts and all.

 

How do I do that? What is his user name on"The other board?"

Ken