LS 4L60 torque converter troubles

[workingdog]

I need help from the LS geeks out there.

I have a '84 FJ60 that's been sitting for 2 1/2 years because of this problem. I had a 5.3L/4L60 put in 3 years ago. The 5.3L has a Magnason blower on it. The things runs great except that it has chewed 2 transmission in less than 10,000 miles. The guy that installed it says it's my problem. I was so discouraged by the expense of replacing the tranny that I just parked the truck the summer of 2013. I finally took it down a local off road tranny shop and he's what he found - after rebuilding the transmission - and I apologize for the lack of clarity because I got all this over the phone.

Apparently, the torque converter is never releasing. It's supposed to release when the breaks are pressed, but that's not working. This is what has caused the transmission to blow itself up twice. The torque works because they tickled it directly with a computer. It's just not getting unlocked by the TCM under breaking. They had a guy check the PCM/TCM and said it's fine. They check all the wiring, replaced the switch on teh brake pedal and think all that is perfect. They are stumped. I need either someone here to 'splain what's going on so that I can tell them, or I need the name of an LS/4L60 expert in northern California I can take the truck to. I love this truck, I want it back.

All help appreciated - except blaming and/or questioning the Magnason blower - it's worth it.

Peter

 

[NCFJ]

Take it to Georg at Valley Hybrids @orangefj45

Brake switch should be set up to be constant power and pushing the brake turns power off that power, thus releasing the TQ

 

[MItchell17]

^^^^ Agreed Take it Georg @ Valley Hybrids.

He is orangefj45 on the forum as well.

 

[orangefj45]

Thanks for the recommendations guys.

I completed this project after another shop couldn't but that was a few years ago.

Peter, I think your first step is to call the guys at Howell Engine Devrlopment since that's who supplied the computer and harness. Then I would also talk to the guys at Pacific Fabrication where you purchased the Magnusen Supercharger. They have great tech support and do tons of LS conversions as well as supplying parts for these conversions. I've always had a great working relationship with them.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids

 

[shawnfj40]

^ Georg says that so well. I usually tell my customers, "you have already paid someone to do this the right way, don't pay me to finish what someone else started". I am always shocked by the amount of people who will not return to a shop when they find out something is wrong with their modification or repair. Sometimes it isn't anything intentional and it may be a minor adjustment to work out a few kinks.

 

[workingdog]

I appreciate all the reply's. I don't want anyone to think I wasn't listening. But, because Georg has chimed in and the situation is complicated, I'm going to not participate other to say that I took ShawnFJ40's advice and it didn't work out.

 

[srgould41]

Shops and manufacturers don't always come through. When I got my 40 on the road the first stop was a trans shop to adjust my TV cable (4L60). The clutches burned out less than 50 miles later. The guy at the shop blamed a bad worn out trans. I found out it was actually a bad TV cable I bought that was made by TCI. It had a manufacturing flaw that kept it from going full travel. I called them and told them. They found several more on their shelf that were also bad. Who knows how many were sitting on retail shelves somewhere with the same flaw. When I told them about my dead trans they said so sorry, you should have made sure it was working properly.

 

[workingdog]

Exactly.