Hello from NE Ohio

drcook

Member
I joined last month, but got prodded into introducing myself, instead of just reading. So, Hi my name is Dave and I am a performance junkie, have been for most of my 61 yrs. When I was younger, I had a 383 Roadrunner, a couple 5.0 Mustangs, a Z28 and a 69 SS 396 Chevelle. Cars were cheap. The one I liked most and still regret having to sell (due to being a single dad and the money went into the house so we had a place to live) was a '65 ragtop Corvette that I redid.

I have recently returned to the performance would and am in the process of modernizing, fixing up a 1996 LT1 Corvette.

I live close to Summit Racing and take advantage of all the 20 off 100 and other incentives that they send me. I am buying my parts linearly instead of all at once, patience allows me to average the cost down.

So far I have a complete Dana 44 differential (driveshaft,cbeam) to swap in (its an A4 car). Heads to port, an LT4 cam, American Racing headers, Comp Cams roller rockers, roller timing chain (like the one in the LT4's, not the extreme duty one though). A rehabbed and upgraded Optispark (there is an automotive engineer here in Ohio that reworks Opti's using the Mitsubishi optics), a hotter coil, MSD 6A box, and a 52mm throttle body. Already did a DeWitts radiator, new rear bearings, going to do the front, a complete Banski Motorsports rear suspension and Global West Del-alum front bushings. Oh and new Bilsteins.

The car only had 11,800 miles on it when I bought it in July 2016, but had sat for most of the 10 years before I bought it. It has a 1996 only HVAC issue I will be fixing, also the headliner had drooped. We fixed that. The pic of my wife fixing the headliner is below.

I had really wanted a 6-speed, but have a damage right hand and sometimes shifting is an issue, but one day, if all works out, I will get another, maybe a 1989 or a 95 M6. White with red interior of course. I have grown to like white with red.

The stripes on my car are painted. I picked out the red and black to match the torch red interior. We found some material at JoAnn Fabrics that matches the torch red perfectly. We used that to create the cover for the harness bar. The bar I bought is from Exotic Muscle and I put it in to tighten up the hoop. Works like the bulkhead behind the back seat on a notchback Mustang (etc). There is also a camber brace that I installed.

When I was in high school (I graduated in 1975) all my compadres were jacking the back of their cars up. I was learning how to make a car handle.

The Corvette key fob went into my toolbox (I have a Gerstner for my precision tools, was a tool & die maker before I started writing commercial/business software for a living). I put it into the toolbox in 1991 and it stayed there until 2016 when I bought the '96.

I don't have the money to buy a new Corvette, but I still have the skills to build one that will be a great cruiser and fun car (and keep up with the base models, not the kicked up, LS based ones though, just the base models). I am not into drag racing, more twisty roads, up through the mountains of PA. and the country here in Ohio.

As such, I sourced the Dana 44 from a 4+3 car (pre-89) so it would have the 3.07 ratio that is currently in the car. I just wanted it to be stronger. Then the next task is to learn about rebuilding the trans and to upgrade the 4L60E to handle the power I am building into it. I will be upgrading it to 4L65/4L70E specs with 5 pinion carriers etc. I might even put a fan cooler back where the spare tire went. I took it out and am going to fabricate a brace, similar to the factory spare tire delete bracket that has become very hard to find.

I am rebuilding the Dana 44. All that is left is to get the c-clips that control end play on the stub shafts and new clutches for the posi. I found the special tool set on eBay that is used to service Dana 44's for a steal. It was brand new. I have also sourced the tools for the LTx balancer removal and the set for servicing the water pump/timing chain cover.

GM was "good" about having to have special tools to work on these cars. Probably worse on the newer ones.

I learned a lot about cooling fixing my 2004.5 2500HD Duramax with the LLY engines. The 04.5's and 05's were overheaters, however some enthusiasts developed a fix and I put an auxiliary radiator in behind the bumper, a bigger trans cooler, bigger, freer flowing hot and cold side pipes and a better intercooler (charge air cooler) along with the complete air intake system from a 2006 Duramax (to fix the turbo inlet issue).

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

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welcome to the website!
THANKS for the introduction and GREAT posted pictures!
its rather rare too see a C4 corvette maintained in that good condition.. CONGRATS
 
This site, as well as the other sites have really helped me climb the learning curve to get the car where it is today.
I spend hours and hours reading and searching in order to get it right the first time.
I really am standing on the shoulders of giants who have figured it all out before me.
 
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If your 4L60E is working & shifting nice its a good time to pull it this winter & tear it down to rebuild & make upgrades.
Everything is all aluminum in the valvebody & when a 4L60E fails trash is blown throughout the valvebody & it gets chewed up.
Used in all C5 Gen Corvettes too the 4L60E with the rear diff direct attached sort of like a Transaxle layout.
4L60E has a million issues.
If you keep Hp at stock to 450 Hp they will last built up.
550 Peak short term how long it lasts NOT LONG LIKELY.

Real Power & 100 % Reliable you need a Turbo 400.
Beat on it 10,000 drag strip passes & it will not fail.
1,000-4,000 Hp input.

4L80E is good. Need Real money to pull it off in a c4 Corvette.
About $5,000 cash.

TH 400 close to free but need to fab yourself...No overdrive.
 
You want to buy the Transgo HD2 shift kit for a 4L60E.
Rebuild kit depends upon what you can afford & power goals.

I use Alto Red Eagle frictions & Kolene steels in my own transmissions.
Overkill on the street but how I do things.
 
here are the links to the parts I am thinking about. HOWEVER, I have recently found out that the oem GM 5 pinion planetaries are actually better than the aftermarket ones. I found a site that I will have to find again that has them for less than the aftermarket.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-370100/overview/ $215.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-370000/overview/ $371.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-373900 $91.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trg-4l60e-hd2 $77.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sox-77767k $70.71

https://www.gmtransmissionparts.com/...4l65e-1982-up/ $20.95

http://www.americanpowertrainwarehou...ts-82-rzp-001/ about $70/75

rebuild kit, $380 to $400

$1303.59 plus tax so far
 
Welcome to the forum from Oklahoma!

You certainly have skills that are way above average! It will be fun to watch and learn from your posts.
 
here are the links to the parts I am thinking about. HOWEVER, I have recently found out that the oem GM 5 pinion planetaries are actually better than the aftermarket ones. I found a site that I will have to find again that has them for less than the aftermarket.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-370100/overview/ $215.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-370000/overview/ $371.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-373900 $91.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trg-4l60e-hd2 $77.97

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sox-77767k $70.71

https://www.gmtransmissionparts.com/...4l65e-1982-up/ $20.95

http://www.americanpowertrainwarehou...ts-82-rzp-001/ about $70/75

rebuild kit, $380 to $400

$1303.59 plus tax so far
It ongoing confussion.
The Last Good set of 4L65E Planetary 5-pinion gearsets were made from heat treated 8620 steel. Made in Ohio.
Factory installed for the 2005 model year C5 Corvette with a 4L65E trans, Only year Corvette to have it.
About 50 front & rear 5-pinion planet gearsets were swiped stolen from the Ohio Factory.
They made their way around on Corvette Forum 2008-2010. For the c5 Corvette Drag Racers.
Back then it was Dodge Viper against C5 Corvette, 1st car to hit the 8's in 1/4 mile. Dodge Viper did it 1st twin turbo Boost Power.

After 2005 production of the GM 4L65E 5-pinion planets were made in Mexico.
Some were Billet steel yet.
Most are powder pressed metal constructed just like a Moden LS connecting rod is made.
Not as strong.

Sonnax & others typical sell China made copy cats.
Terrible for strength.
Stock Chevy Truck & Vette 4l60E 4- pinion planets are stronger superior.

The best solution is to find a used 4L65E from a Chevy- GMC Trailbazer with a 5-cylinder or inline 6.
Tear it down & rob the 4L65E planets. Have a good rep for holding up to moderate power.
Find them on ebay sometimes used Trailblazer 4L65E planets.

I was one of those guys on Corvette forum, A guy had 10 sets of those NOS Ohio made GM 4L65E planets, came as a full kit in a Blue GM shipping crate container.
I paid $450 to make them mine back in 2010.
They sold out in just 1 hour on ebay his Buy It Now Listing.
In my 700R4 trans in my 1987 Corvette convertible.
 
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