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Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

Unfortunately the transmission codes and problems didn't went away. So a transmission replacement is next.
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Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Well after much thinking and considering I decided that I'm going to rebuild my transmission myself. There are some nice detailed and well explained, step by step videos on YouTube for the 4180E transmission tear down and rebuild and the rebuil kits are $600 with top quality pieces so might as well take advantage of that. I'll do a write up. Including the links of the videos I use and the rebuild kit number I use and all that once I have everything figure out so if any body else here want to rebuild their transmission on their own. I believe it is a good learning experience and adventure. So for those interested stay tune...this should be taking place by the end of this month. Hopefully I can have it all done in 2 days max sooner would be better. But I'd take my time since it is my first major mechanical repair.


Torres
 

ReconH3

Guardian Angel
Messages
2,288
Location
Raleigh, NC
Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

Got a day off and before celebrating mother day I drop in panzer's new battery. Odyssey 31M PC-2150M.
Even tho the battery is huge as hell it dropped in like it belonged there.
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Not beaker would be needed it in order to make it work, and the OEM sling
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should be reusable if you cut it and sew a piece of sling material to make it longer as yo cal see in the pic is a tad short.
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You can go ahead and buy the bracket but that's $90 and I'm all about saving resources.

Torres

Just a couple of questions before I go ahead and take the leap. How much clearance do you have from the hood when it's closed? I can't tell from the pics. Is yours an Alpha or I5? Thanks in advance.



"Ex Umbris Venimus"
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

Just a couple of questions before I go ahead and take the leap. How much clearance do you have from the hood when it's closed? I can't tell from the pics. Is yours an Alpha or I5? Thanks in advance.



"Ex Umbris Venimus"

I have I5, and I'd say about 1" to 1/2 it is hard to tell. But I can tell you this it closes as it would normally would. There's no signs of it touching on top of the hood when close as you'll see in the pictures. The hood concavemakes the battery fit nicely you can always add some rubber terminal protector just to have a piece of mine that in the case the battery bounces up or for whatever reason it touches the hood it won't short circuit.
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Note in this picture below the side plastic moldings where the hood rest is well above the heigh of the battery.
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Torres
 

ReconH3

Guardian Angel
Messages
2,288
Location
Raleigh, NC
Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

One last question! You wouldn't happen to know the thread of the bolt that holds the strap down? I'm guessing it's metric. I can't access it without pulling everything apart. I want to extend the thread as opposed to the strap since I don't have the sewing skills. :D



"Ex Umbris Venimus"
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Torres's 07 H3 A.K.A "Die PANZER"

One last question! You wouldn't happen to know the thread of the bolt that holds the strap down? I'm guessing it's metric. I can't access it without pulling everything apart. I want to extend the thread as opposed to the strap since I don't have the sewing skills. :D



"Ex Umbris Venimus"

Yeah no man I don't whats the thread on the nut, I could get that info to you tomorrow morning since I work till late tonight. However if you want to pull the nut you only have to unplug your battery, and remove the plastic cover and use a ratchet to unbolt the nut and then take it to the auto supply store. Or you can also go down to lowes or home depot and get a piece of Velcro and replace the strap with Velcro just use the ends.


Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Finally after so much set backs I got to touch the tranny since I dropped couple of months ago now...I was suppose to have it all broken down and inspected today...but for some unforeseen even a job that should of have taken not more than 15 min took me about 8 hrs total.
I clean the exterior of the tranny since it was covered in dust mud and oil. Then I proved I remove the damn bell housing bolt. Which are a total of 8 bolts. Simple you might say how hard can that be, I thought the same to myself. I even went ahead and bought the damn "torx plus 50 IP" beat that's "require" to properly and safely remove them bell housing tranny bolt...well for fortune or misfortune 4 came out no problem and 4 became stripped.
As you can see one bolt of the 4 pairs become stripped coincidence ?!! IDK
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Anyways this raise me a whole new problem, trying to figure out a way to get those damn stripped bolts out without damaging the bell house hole or the thread of the bolt on the tranny, both being aluminum so I figure I need to be extra careful.
So I and to nhapa first to see if they have new transmission bolt, which they said no, but looking around I came across this things.
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That I have previously use when my buddy over torque and snapped one of the bolts from the transmission oil pan.
I pick a set and thought I was set. But then bolts weren't going to give in that easy...I manage to stripped the thread from this things and they weren't gripping to that bolts that well either.
At this point I said Fvck it brute force. Went to home depot picked me up a decent set of drill beats and a cordless drill since the ones I had before were cheap ones and just knew werent going to cut it.
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Finally after going thru 2 sets of drill best I was able to literally drill the heads of from the bolt body (tomorrow I'm going to homedepot and having a replacement on the drill beats since most of them took a pretty bad beating).
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After drilling them out I was able to finally disassemble the bell housing and with some pressure pliers, grip the body of the bolts and twist them out.
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Tomorrow I'll finally get to crack open and gut this tranny for sure.



Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Yeah finally this svcker is apart and ready for inspection cleaning and fitted with new and improve components. Now that I've taken it a part and mess around with it for a little while seeing how everything works...I must say it is pretty neat and interesting, and not intimidating at all anymore.
The whole take down took me about 6 hrs, 4 of those hrs were spent running back and forth to the auto supply store, trying to find a set of "Snap ring plier" that weren't too bulky as well long enough to remove a damn snap ring try 4 different sets and went to three different stores oreally was finally the one that had the ones I need, little sucker had me second guessing myself weather there was one in it or no.
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What it all looks like...it's like a giant puzzle.
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As well cleaning the old maze gasket that became melt to the transmission maze is going to be fun.
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Torres
 

CaseyS

Well-Known Member
Messages
755
Location
Louisiana
Keep going! You are about halfway through the teardown. You need to disassemble the input drum and low reverse drum and inspect all the clutches and steels. Also the piston at the bottom of the case is a real pain to get in and out. The pump also disassembles too. Have you posted an upgrade parts list. I can help you on that one too.
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Keep going! You are about halfway through the teardown. You need to disassemble the input drum and low reverse drum and inspect all the clutches and steels. Also the piston at the bottom of the case is a real pain to get in and out. The pump also disassembles too. Have you posted an upgrade parts list. I can help you on that one too.

Thanks, I did disassemble the input drum and low reverse drum I just put it all semi back together to keep the integrity of things so I don't get lost or mix or misplace pieces, I did as well inspected all of the clutches, band and steels none of them burn or anything, didn't get to the pump tho, yet I plan on overhaul about as much a s possible in it.
I am plan on going with this kit since it seems it has everything in it or most of it. What is your input on this. I mainly want to change as much as possible without going over $1000 and have a hope that the tranny last another 3-5 years. What's your opinion on this kit. Is it worth it ?
http://www.monstertransmission.com/...ter-In-A-Box-2003-06_p_5086.html#.Vi0OQF9HanM

I know for a fact I need a new speed sensor and harness since both of them short circuited and fusion together after burning.
And this was basically my transmission codes I was getting it was an electrical issue rathe than mechanic...yet now that I'm this far I want to rebuilt and change as much as possible.


Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Keep going! You are about halfway through the teardown. You need to disassemble the input drum and low reverse drum and inspect all the clutches and steels. Also the piston at the bottom of the case is a real pain to get in and out. The pump also disassembles too. Have you posted an upgrade parts list. I can help you on that one too.

Have a question for you mate ?.
So I had one of my step-father's friends who's a tranny mechanic inspect the transmission with me, and he said that everything inside of it, clutches, bearing, gears, etc look in pretty good shape. Not visible or tangible wear and tear and good sitting in the bushings. He told me that as far as he could see the only issue he could see, was the obvious the wiring harness and sped sensor which were burned at the connection, he said if he was me first he would replace those and upgrade some of the electronics and call it the day...however if I wanted to overhaul the tranny for piece of mind then to do it. So now I'm left with the question of what I should do ?
Do that quick repair and see how long it last or overhaul it all and hopefully not worry for another 40k miles.
The wiring harness and speed sensor. The codes I originally got was of this and solenoid which could be attribute to the hardness being burn and short circuiting.
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Torres
 

CaseyS

Well-Known Member
Messages
755
Location
Louisiana
No. I think its crazy to invest that much time and labor to pull and tear down a trans and not service it while its out. Plus the labor to reinstall it.

Here is my take. I would lose the kit with electronics and just buy the electrical parts you need. Any solenoid should it fail down the line can be replaced from the pan with the trans in the truck.

The next thing is there are a couple of things mandatory during a rebuild. Beast or hardened sun shell is one, that is a known failure point ($50). Check to make sure your kit includes this.

The next minimum step I would take is to replace all the steels and frictions and the band. That kit can be had for under $200. I chose to upgrade the 3-4 stack to 7 clutches from the standard 6 giving additional holding power. I used the borg warner HD frictions. Corvette servo is also a cheap $20 upgrade which will improve 1-2 shifting and holding power.

A standard rebuild kit will include all the seals, pistons, gaskets, plus frictions. You can likely get the monster kit you have listed without electronics for less than $500 either there or at www.bulk part.com. You may have to customize the frictions if you upgrade the 3-4 stack. I simply ordered one additional friction and some 0.080 steels to supplement what came in my kit.

Edit: also you want a new torque converter to go with the rebuild. With labor yourself, you should be able to do a full rebuild with a torque converter plus your burnt electrical parts in the $800 range
 
Last edited:

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
No. I think its crazy to invest that much time and labor to pull and tear down a trans and not service it while its out. Plus the labor to reinstall it.

Here is my take. I would lose the kit with electronics and just buy the electrical parts you need. Any solenoid should it fail down the line can be replaced from the pan with the trans in the truck.

The next thing is there are a couple of things mandatory during a rebuild. Beast or hardened sun shell is one, that is a known failure point ($50). Check to make sure your kit includes this.

The next minimum step I would take is to replace all the steels and frictions and the band. That kit can be had for under $200. I chose to upgrade the 3-4 stack to 7 clutches from the standard 6 giving additional holding power. I used the borg warner HD frictions. Corvette servo is also a cheap $20 upgrade which will improve 1-2 shifting and holding power.

A standard rebuild kit will include all the seals, pistons, gaskets, plus frictions. You can likely get the monster kit you have listed without electronics for less than $500 either there or at www.bulk part.com. You may have to customize the frictions if you upgrade the 3-4 stack. I simply ordered one additional friction and some 0.080 steels to supplement what came in my kit.

Edit: also you want a new torque converter to go with the rebuild. With labor yourself, you should be able to do a full rebuild with a torque converter plus your burnt electrical parts in the $800 range

Thanks sir that helped a lot and I called monster transmissions today but was told for the whole over haul I was looking at about $800 and some change with pretty much everything and top shelf...except the wire harness 'cause according to them that's only a GM piece that one must get straight from them...I'd give them a call tomorrow again to get a details ascribe ion of everything that's in the kit...I didn't got all the facts today due o the lady I was speaking with wasn't too helpful and rushing me like if I knew sh!t when I specific told her I was a rookie at this. And at the same time the $800 tag sort of out me off since I can pretty much get a already rebuilt tranny from a local shop here for that price, but I want to fix and rebuilt my own. Since I'd know what's inside it.


Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Edit: also you want a new torque converter to go with the rebuild. With labor yourself, you should be able to do a full rebuild with a torque converter plus your burnt electrical parts in the $800 range

Alright sir, so I decide to follow one of my motto "buy once cry once" and went with the overhaul monster in the box, which once it is all installed it would be consider what they sell as a SS Mega Monster Transmissions
http://www.monstertransmission.com/...r-Duty-4x4-2006-2009_p_6171.html#.Vi-zMl9HanM
Which should be plenty more than good enough if I decided to upgrade to a 5.3-6.0L in the coming years.


As well ordered me this torque converter
http://www.monstertransmission.com/4L60E-4L65E-Torque-Converter-1650-Stall_p_4866.html#.Vi-xhV9HanM

Sh!t was by no means cheap, compare to my first initial budget of no more than $800, but once all its done the saving would of be of about 55% by doing the rebuilt and install myself rather than have bought the already rebuilt tranny they have in their listing, hopefully a good investment.


Torres
 

High Five H2

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,627
Location
West Texas
I used to have a 94 camaro with a 4l60E in it. It was only shifting into 2nd and 3rd. I did some research and figured out that one of the solenoids might be bad. I got under there and changed both out and did a fluid and filter change and fixed it. I was pretty proud of myself... until I saw this thread. You're a braver man than me.
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
I used to have a 94 camaro with a 4l60E in it. It was only shifting into 2nd and 3rd. I did some research and figured out that one of the solenoids might be bad. I got under there and changed both out and did a fluid and filter change and fixed it. I was pretty proud of myself... until I saw this thread. You're a braver man than me.
I originally did that when I first got the tranny solenoid code and it fixed it for about 1-2 weeks and then threw me the code again...which is why I started looking into rebuilt and options, and finally decided to crack it open and was were I found the wiring harness burned out and speed sensor which was another code I got the second time...I am a bit too careful most of the time, and because of this it takes me awhile to make a decision since I like to see and weight out all options specially when money is involved, anyways thanks for the complement and either I'm too brave or too dumb to know better or a mix of both lol...good learning experience...and luckily after 20+ years of this tranny being on service there are plenty of instructional videos out there and all kinds of info.

This would definitely be my biggest mechanical overtake ever.



Good luck!

Thank you mate ! [emoji106]


Torres
 

HummerLuis

Active Member
Messages
31
Location
Houston, TX
My transmissions starting to skip second but only does it when I start driving. After its warmed up it doesn't happen. I haven't looked into it and haven't changed the oil in it since we got it used in 2007.
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
My transmissions starting to skip second but only does it when I start driving. After its warmed up it doesn't happen. I haven't looked into it and haven't changed the oil in it since we got it used in 2007.

Well now or should be the time.
I found this users to be very helpful...they cover pretty much everything and all well explained. Browse thru their channel there are plenty of videos each one covering different aspects and stuffs. Just get a comfy chair and a tall glass of whiskey and watch away.
http://youtu.be/mcUo3rDHaLU
http://youtu.be/7u0c50zWWis


Torres
 

Panzer07

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,548
Location
Ontario, CA
Some goodies came in !!! Missing one front 5160 shock that wasn't in stock so is shipping from the manufacturer.
Xmas has came in early for Panzer. All but one front shock is missing. Bilstein 7100 12" travel with reservoirs. And Bilstein 5160's 8" travel with reservoirs.
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Still waiting on my monster SS overhaul rebuilt kit and torque converter, and daystar one inch body lift.


Torres
 
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