your where I was last year, it's chronic, the GM tranny's in our VX's were never meant to pull the weights and demands of 4WD all the time, it's a 4L30E which began it's service as an automatic tranny in Chevy Chevets. To make matters worse, the radiator intercooler is a joke, I have a cross section picture of it somewhere, by design and location there is no way it can be effective, may as well just be running an external loop of hose and run it back to the tranny. Buying a tranny from a salvage yard isn't the best idea because there may be problems there; re-build is the best option. Installing a master rebuild kit and any other parts, in my VX, even my case, was damaged, only someone with decades of experiance knows what to look for and see. I didn't believe my "case" was un-useable until it was demonstrated to me as being defective. A good tranny shop as lots and lots of table top space. Tranny's are the biggest jig-saw puzzles I've ever seen had I not seen it with my own eyes. 50X more complcated than an engine. Easily the most complicated piece of equipment in any vehicle. Be easy on them after rebuild cause there is a breakin period.
The fact that we have Isuzu's is meaningless. You want to call around to transmission repair shops and say you have a GM 4L30E that you want to rebuild, get a FLAT RATE rebuild price and a 1 year warranty. I forgot my millage on the warranty, I think it was 12K. I also installed a true intercooler and bypass the lines in the radiator all together and had the intercooler mounted to the front of the radiator where it will get plenty of air first. IF THE OWNER OF THE SHOP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT A 4L30E IS, MOVE ON. You should not have to mention any more questions.
The reasons for getting a flat rate qoute are simple, I didn't get burned when it was shown to me that even my case was fried. I had worn groves in the input shafts. They got me a used case that didn't have these worn groves.
Second, at this age, the bolts that hold up the crossmember that runs under the tranny and drive shafts has to come off, and nearly all the bolt heads broke off even after I had been treating them with penetrating oils for weeks. I took my time selecting a tranny shop. And took time located a used tranny. Shop talked me outta just installing another tranny with unknown condition inside. It was a good call.
since all those bolts broke off, you have to cut into the sides of the member, welding, to knock out old bolts and drop in new ones. I had my exhaust totally removed up to the header pipes and I took the opportunity to strip and paint them for preservation. all of it was rusty, some rotted. I bought a new OEM muffler at great cost but I'm a believer in preservation of cars in stock condition not modifying. I like OEM rims not aftermarket.
after you get some numbers from tranny shops, go see them, a good owner will show you around, introduce you to his rebuild guys and they should have jig-saw puzzles in front of them and you can see the operation at work. Check the BBB, online reviews, for me that was enough, but you can also maybe ask for a reference. Mom and pop shops are cheaper; Danco will rape you. All in, I was at or under 2K. 3K with new tail pipe that cracked off from muffler, and a new OEM mufflers, hangers and other OEM hardware I bought. The only think I wish I would have done was have all the O2 sensors removed and replaced; I'm looking at taking my exhaust down again to do that this winter but it will all come down easier cause I used stainless steel hardware and it's new so it won't seize and breakup off on me again.
My VX never felt so good the day I test drove it then paid. It was awesome!
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Originally Posted by CowboyErik
