LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

Chug

Chug

That Guy With the "Jimmy"
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

super-gt said:
Hey guys, hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving so far.

Since I've got some free time, I just thought I'd do an update to let you all know whats up with the truck as of lately.

We actually turned the key on it 2 Sundays ago and Damn does it sound good!

But we ran into a problem with the trans. It seems that we didn't get the converter seated onto the pump right:oops: So the truck wouldn't move. As a result the truck is down at my dad's work on a lift right now with the trans pulled (Big thanks to my dad and my good friend Wade).

So....I sent the converter back to Yank to have it checked out just to make sure it is ok. I also decided to do alittle trans work while it was out. Well one thing led to another and I ordered a few things...

The List
"Front pump"
Seal retainer
Late design seal
13-vane rotor with vanes, slide, rotor guide & pin assembly
Trans-Go steel rings & priming spring (over 5,500 rpm)
New replacement stator support
with .500 boost valve

"Clutches, Steels And Pressure Plates"
4 Borg-Warner reverse/input clutches .078
4 Reverse/input "low drag" Turbulator steels .078
1 Reverse waved steel (eliminates the belleville spring that tears up the inside of the drum)
5 Borg-Warner forward clutches .070
5 Forward steels .090
2 Borg-Warner overrun clutches .078
2 Overrun steels .091
5 Borg-Warner low/reverse clutches .087
5 Low/reverse "low drag" Turbulator steels .068
9 Borg-Warner Hi-Energy 3-4 clutches .065
5 3-4 steels Kolene .060
3 3-4 Steels Kolene .076
1 3-4 pressure plate top .128"
1 3-4 pressure plate bottom .220"
1 3-4 snap ring .062"
Borg Warner dual cage 29 element design

"Other" (these are additional parts that come in this kit)
Sealed Power Beast sunshell
Borg-Warner low/reverse roller assembly (late design)
Vamac 3 lip rear seal (prelubed)
Transtech paper & rubber (gasket) kit
Transmission filter (OEM)
Bushings (latest updates, including Teflon front pump & extension)
Thrust washer kit
Sealing ring kit
HD Bearing kit (Timken)
Borg-Warner Hi-Energy 2-4 band
Trans-Go Performance Shift kit w/accumulation for nice part throttle shifts
New steel molded rubber piston for 3-4
New aluminum 2nd, 4th & forward accumulator pistons
New oem 4th accumulator pin
New 2nd & forward "hardened" (RC52) accumulator pins
HD steel sleeve, overrun piston, & steel molded rubber forward piston for the input drum

t-201-32.jpg


The trans should be able to hold up to about 675HP now so what I'm planning on doing in the near future hopefully won't grenade the trans too fast.lol

So were still chuggin along...I'm gonna try my best to get some video up ASAP of the thing running but it will be alittle while.

-Taylor
Click to expand...

Did you get that kit from Pro Built (700r4l60e.com) That looks exactly like the kit I put in my 4l60e in my Z28. If so, you WON'T be dissapointed!!!!!
 
turbodig

turbodig

Active member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

George Blake said:
DON'T put 9 clutches in the 3-4 clutch pack. Do 7 and use the thickest steels possible to get it to .050" clearance and use the hi rev spring kit from transgo.
Click to expand...

Not trying to pick a fight here... maybe just a little discussion.

The 7-pack guys want thicker steels to dissipate heat to the drum.

The 9-pack guys want more fiction material, and more surface area on the plates (more plates), the theory being that there's more surface for the oil to take heat from the plates.

I had originally put an Alto Red 9-disc/kolene pack in my trans a few years back. Upon pulling it apart, I found that it looked *very* good, with no significant signs of excessive heat. I was tempted to re-use it, even, but I didn't.

This was a trans that saw *lots* of 400 HP full throttle shifts.

I did put a 7-pack thick steel/raybestos blue pack back in... we'll see how this one takes it. It's a bit of an unfair comparison, since the motor is making a bit more power now.

I guess my point is, that I don't see anything wrong with either approach. Clearances are a big deal. Play with steel thicknesses until you get it right, and don't give up until you do. If you have to order some different thicknesses to get it right, do it.

As far as the rest of the build goes, what George told ya is gold. And, anyone who tells you a clutch setup with a few odd hard parts is good for 675, is probably being a bit liberal with the truth. Hope they stand behind that for ya!
 
George Blake

George Blake

DONATING MEMBER
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

The thinner clutches have notoriously failed in higher HP 700r4 apps. That why most go with Raybestos gen 2 blues and put 7 clutches with thicker steels. You've got to keep the heat pulled off that clutch material. The 700r4/60e has it's unique dual function of the 3-4 clutches that makes it a "dynamic" clutch that cycles a LOT. Much more opportunity to slip. 400 HP doesn't really even require a reinforced drum. He's talking 675 HP. Much different animal. That hi rev 3-4 spring kit will help push that piston off quicker and prevent that issue to some degree.
I've built a LOT of these. 3-4 clultches are normally toast because of this.
Just thought of something else. In that HD2 kit you've got, it should have the little blue spring to help push the 4th servo off. But for the 2nd servo to help release the band quicker so it doesn't hang any more than it has to, is to use the 2nd manual band servo spring from a Th400/4L80e. This spring is quite a bit heavier than the stock spring and fits perfectly.
You did the right thing pulling the 9 and going 7. The blues have a higher coefficient of friction and their wear is *significantly* better.
It's a racing part. They can tell you it takes 900HP. In the end, there is no garantee. That's why they keep peddling the 700/60e goodies for more than what they can take.
That's why I say, for HIS circumstances: 2wd, 60e controller setup already in place, it would've been really really easy for him to go 80e 2wd and never worry about it again.
Remember what I said on that pump. Clearances are critical. If you actually started it and spun it up with the converter not seating, you basically made a press out of the entire assembly.

turbodig said:
Not trying to pick a fight here... maybe just a little discussion.

The 7-pack guys want thicker steels to dissipate heat to the drum.

The 9-pack guys want more fiction material, and more surface area on the plates (more plates), the theory being that there's more surface for the oil to take heat from the plates.

I had originally put an Alto Red 9-disc/kolene pack in my trans a few years back. Upon pulling it apart, I found that it looked *very* good, with no significant signs of excessive heat. I was tempted to re-use it, even, but I didn't.

This was a trans that saw *lots* of 400 HP full throttle shifts.

I did put a 7-pack thick steel/raybestos blue pack back in... we'll see how this one takes it. It's a bit of an unfair comparison, since the motor is making a bit more power now.

I guess my point is, that I don't see anything wrong with either approach. Clearances are a big deal. Play with steel thicknesses until you get it right, and don't give up until you do. If you have to order some different thicknesses to get it right, do it.

As far as the rest of the build goes, what George told ya is gold. And, anyone who tells you a clutch setup with a few odd hard parts is good for 675, is probably being a bit liberal with the truth. Hope they stand behind that for ya!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
super-gt

super-gt

New member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

Awesome! Thank you George and Turbo for all your input!

My main goal with this kit was to just do some upgrading while the trans was out of the truck. I know this thing won't be bullet proof and I really hadn't even planned on doing much to the transmission for another year or so and for this reason, I really didn't have a whole lot to spend on the trans.

You actually hit the nail on the head with the 80e conversion though George. That was and still is my plan in the long run. like I said though, I just don't really have the money to get a built 80e right now and since my dad's friend offered to help me rebuild the transmission on the side for practically nothing, I couldn't say no.

I feel that the knowledge gained from watching/helping a professional with the trans rebuild as well as hopefully having a stronger unit is very worth it to me.

Either way, I'm sure a 4L80E is going to be necesary eventually and when that time, comes, I'll be giving you a call.

(BTW George, what are your prices on built 4L80E units? I tried to check it out on your website but it appears to be getting worked on.)

Thanks again for taking time to give me some advice!

-Taylor

EDIT: Oh and just to clarify, with my planned mods, I should be looking at about 500rwhp. I won't be looking to go higher than that until some kind of built short block goes into the truck. Then the 600+ horsepower will start to become more of a reality.
 
super-gt

super-gt

New member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

Chug said:
Did you get that kit from Pro Built (700r4l60e.com) That looks exactly like the kit I put in my 4l60e in my Z28. If so, you WON'T be dissapointed!!!!!
Click to expand...

Yes it is, good to hear it held up well for you!
 
George Blake

George Blake

DONATING MEMBER
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

You don't have to get it from me.
Get a junk yard 2wd 4L80e, put new gaskets and seal and filter kit, 34 element sprag, bonded steel pistons. New clutches, TransgoHD2 kit, new bearings and thrust washers, ohm out the electronics, probably need a new internal harness, and a no walk rear case bushing. It'll hold up to what your doing ALL DAY LONG. 80e is just on a different scale altogether.

super-gt said:
Awesome! Thank you George and Turbo for all your input!

My main goal with this kit was to just do some upgrading while the trans was out of the truck. I know this thing won't be bullet proof and I really hadn't even planned on doing much to the transmission for another year or so and for this reason, I really didn't have a whole lot to spend on the trans.

You actually hit the nail on the head with the 80e conversion though George. That was and still is my plan in the long run. like I said though, I just don't really have the money to get a built 80e right now and since my dad's friend offered to help me rebuild the transmission on the side for practically nothing, I couldn't say no.

I feel that the knowledge gained from watching/helping a professional with the trans rebuild as well as hopefully having a stronger unit is very worth it to me.

Either way, I'm sure a 4L80E is going to be necesary eventually and when that time, comes, I'll be giving you a call.

(BTW George, what are your prices on built 4L80E units? I tried to check it out on your website but it appears to be getting worked on.)

Thanks again for taking time to give me some advice!

-Taylor

EDIT: Oh and just to clarify, with my planned mods, I should be looking at about 500rwhp. I won't be looking to go higher than that until some kind of built short block goes into the truck. Then the 600+ horsepower will start to become more of a reality.
Click to expand...
 
super-gt

super-gt

New member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

Alright, it's update time.

Cladding is almost all back on, interior is also almost complete (Still need to put in the headliner), and the the truck is getting real close to being back on the road. but rather than type too much, I'll just post some pics :)

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Picture013.jpg


Picture012.jpg


Picture022.jpg


All in all, the truck still needs alot of little things here and there and is no where near done but it sure is gettin close! So far I've driven the truck around quite abit in the last couple weeks and it just feels excellent. It handles like it is on rails, the brakes work great, the trans is shifting firm, the A/C blows cold, the cruise control works, all the gauges are working, and it rides suprisingly well for how low and stiff the shocks are set. Couldn't be much happier with it at this point.
 
ThaJokr

ThaJokr

Super Member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

That thing is coming along great Taylor. Can't wait to see it on the road. I just moved into Mesa a few weeks ago so hopefully I'll see it around some time.
 
super-gt

super-gt

New member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

ThaJokr said:
That thing is coming along great Taylor. Can't wait to see it on the road. I just moved into Mesa a few weeks ago so hopefully I'll see it around some time.
Click to expand...

Which crossroads to you live near? I'm on Mcdowell and Ellsworth..

Thanks for the comments guys, It just has to hit the paint shop one more time for acouple fixes in probably 2-3 weeks. After that it should be pretty much ready to put insurance back on it and drive it around. Wooo!
 
Daron

Daron

Active member
Re: LS1-Sonoma GT build (updated with pics)

damn dude you nailed that... it is hot. How about some good engine pics?
 
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