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-   -   SkinnyG's '61 Apache (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=756182)

SkinnyG 11-02-2021 07:40 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Is it that it now has engine braking in all the gears, or what? I've never driven one; it just seemed like a good idea.

The Rocknrod 11-02-2021 07:46 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Yes it does.

SkinnyG 11-04-2021 01:52 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
I waited WEEKS for my TH400 direct piston to arrive so I could run 6 clutches.

Did a wack of research, did some measuring, followed someone's advice, and discovered that my late 4L80E bonded direct piston is 0.675" tall. To run 6, I'd can only machine the TH400 piston down to 0.625", but I'd still need to run thinner steels (maybe all .077's instead of .092's, maybe a couple .060's as well) to get the right clearance.

That, then, is the debate: Do I stuff in an extra clutch for 20% more grip at the potential cost of 17% less heat resistance?

I'm thinking it's not worth it. In a 4000lb 2wd 60's pickup with 650rwhp on 8" tires and zero traction control.

5 clutches are well known to handle 1000hp just fine....

Grrr. Over-thinking. Just like buying the cam at the bottom of the page.

SkinnyG 11-04-2021 08:05 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
A wack of research, a wack of reference material, me staring at the TH400 piston I machined too small, and a wack of clutch-assemble/measure/disassemble/change/repeat only to receive a butt kicking....

Somehow, between yesterday and today, with nothing more than a "let's have another look here" disassemble/mic/reassemble, I now have a direct clutch pack with 0.060" clearance (yay) using six 0.077" forward steels and six 0.080" frictions (double yay), on the bonded piston.

Not sure what happened, but here I am. I will stop measuring and just blindly reassemble. Maybe hang the ruined TH400 piston on the wall.

SkinnyG 11-05-2021 12:40 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
The rear axle appears to be out of ~1980 Ford Econoline Van. It has 3.50 gears.

Pumpkin is removed:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ut-672x379.jpg

Detroit TrueTrac (helical "Torsen" style differential) is purchased:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ac-672x381.jpg

Timkin carrier bearings are installed:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...gs-672x381.jpg

Ring gear boiled and hot, slipped onto frozen carrier to aid in reassembly:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...on-672x378.png

This is when I discovered the old diff is also a Trac-Loc "clutch" type limited slip (with no "limited," but extra "slip"), and the ring gear bolts are too long. And they look stretched. So new ARP bolts ordered and installed (ARP recommends 85ft-lbs).

This is a semi-hunting gearset, and the ring and pinion must be "keyed" together. Luckily there are marks:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...on-672x380.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ar-672x379.jpg

Diff installed, carrier bearing preload set by turning in the adjuster until you see the outer bearing race just move, then turn each adjuster ONE hole more. Then adjust backlash (spec is 0.010-0.016"). I measured 0.016" when I took it apart, I set it to 0.015" on reassembly. Carrier Bearing caps are torqued to 80ft-lbs.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...sh-672x381.jpg

Now just need a slather of Permatex Ultra Black on the sealing surface, axles in, and some Redline 75W90NS GL5 goes in.

The Rocknrod 11-05-2021 07:20 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Man I sure love the 9 inch and miss it.

jmarkha1 11-05-2021 07:26 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Good result on the TH400 piston setup.
Installing the ring gear in the kitchen - brave man :-)
I remember using the dishwasher to clean a vw autobox casing - just the once...

C10matt 11-05-2021 04:18 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
This thing is coming along nice.

SkinnyG 11-06-2021 02:33 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Direct drum is in. Forward drum is in. Pumpkin is in.

SkinnyG 11-06-2021 11:49 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
MOD 6: Dual-Feed Direct Clutch (Part 2)

I removed the center lip seal in the drum, which is part of dual-feeding the Direct apply piston. This removes the separation between the Direct and Reverse sections of the apply piston.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...al-672x380.jpg

MOD 7: 6-Clutch Direct

Lots of internet opinion between running a TH400 direct piston, vs just keeping the 4L80E bonded piston. I kept the bonded piston, tossed the wave plate, and squeezed in six frictions by using six 0.077" forward steels. Clearance ended up a perfect 0.060" (0.010" per clutch).

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...es-672x381.jpg

MOD 8: Rollerized Forward Hub

The Direct Drum is pretty sloppily supported. We are going to reduce the slop, and add a Torrington to better support the Drum.

Following Interweb advice....

To do this, the Forward Hub "shoulder" gets machined to fit Ford AOD Torrington bearing (I used 1F1Z-7F404-AA). The "shoulder" is machined down: (bearing thickness) minus (original thrust bushing thickness) minus (about 0.030" clearance reduction), which in my case should have been 0.050", which I thought I initially cut. I may not have.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ne-672x379.jpg

Now, you also need to know that Direct Drum to Forward Hub clearance should be 0.003-0.008" when rollerized. I'm not exactly sure how to measure this, you can't exactly get a dial indicator in there. Machining the shoulder more, should move the Forward Hub closer to the Direct Drum. With what I had initially cut, there was a noticeable amount of drum-to-hub play. I also ended up with ZERO front end play in the trans.

I don't know if this is correct, but I measured the distance from the Direct Hub to the mainshaft, and got 1.911"

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ng-672x378.jpg

I installed the forward bearing (0.143" thick) and got 1.933"

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ng-672x378.jpg

Again: I don't know what I'm doing.

The difference was 0.022", and in my head it made sense to cut 0.017" more off the Forward Hub (0.005" clearance), which makes NO sense to me right now. But this gave me 0.010" front end play in the trans, which is bang on what I wanted (.005" more than the rear). I hope this works.

NOTE: The 0.050" cut will get you in the ball park. You really need to assemble the trans and check the Front End play, and machine the shoulder to get the end play where you want it.


Front end play should be 0.002-0.005" GREATER than the rear end play (if you are NOT lifting the output shaft to take up rear end play).

4th clutch installed:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ch-672x379.jpg

Overdrive installed:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ve-672x379.jpg

MOD 9: Overdrive Lube Feed

Overdrive lube hole drilled out to 1/8":

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...be-672x379.jpg

MOD 10: Converter Charge Line

Drilling a 0.050" hole provides the converter with charge oil regardless of pressure regulator. This will increase pressure in the converter, and more oil drain back.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ge-672x379.jpg

MOD 11: Converter Oil Drainback

The existing drain might not be large enough for the increased oil, so we'll drill it out to 1/4".

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...in-672x378.jpg

MOD 12: Pressure Regulator & Boost Valve

This is just remove and replace. I used the one in my TransGo kit. Allegedly Sonnax is more desirable, but my interweb research suggests it really doesn't matter which one you use. This was annoying to install.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ve-672x378.jpg

Pump installed:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...mp-672x379.jpg

Rear seal inserted ONLY enough to allow the snap ring to snap into place (makes sure oil gets to rear case bushing).

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...al-672x380.jpg

Extension Housing installed.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ng-672x380.jpg

Next, I'll be getting into the valvebody with some changes.

SkinnyG 11-07-2021 06:23 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
My references for what I'm doing:

Articles taken from Gears Magazine (issues on their website):

4L80-rollerize-output-and-center-support

4L80-rollerize-carrier

Threads referenced for the build:

Bob Is The Oil Guy: 4L80E

Bob Is The Oil Guy: 4L80E Rebuild Questions That Have Not Been Answered

SkinnyG 11-10-2021 11:18 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Latest Video:


SkinnyG 11-11-2021 01:45 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Now things become smoke and mirrors:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...32-672x378.jpg

Paul Y 11-11-2021 03:59 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
I don’t know, step away from the keyboard for a few minutes and Skinny goes from banging body panels and using a blaster to whittling bits of tin and using his best measuring squint.

Enjoyed the video.

Now let’s see some burnouts on the way to get ice cream.

P. :D

SkinnyG 11-12-2021 09:32 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Borrowed a friend's kit to re-machine the Actuator Feed Limit valve and insert a new and more wear-resistant valve, a common issue with 4L80E's.

Also ordered up a new Torque Converter Clutch regulator valve as well. They're cheap, and I'm in there.

SkinnyG 11-13-2021 09:26 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
I reamed the AFL valve more to fit the new (larger) TransGo valve (Thanks Darcy!).

I also did all the mods in the valve body and separator plate required for the Sonnax Over Running Clutch Valve (which applies said clutch for when you forget to drop out of Square-D (Overdrive). Good safety insurance, because I'm getting old and forgetful. VERY nice product, and super clear instructions.

Reassembled the valve body with the remainder of the parts from the TransGo HD2 kit. I drilled 2nd to 0.093" and 3rd and 4th to 0.101". Did not install, as I am waiting for the TCC valve.

Also drove in the 3/8" cup plug to block the reverse feed to the Direct Clutch. I did NOT use the HD2 separator, I dual-fed internally (remove 2nd seal from center support, remove center seal from direct drum, and plug reverse feed).

jkeating1 11-19-2021 12:55 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Can’t wait to see how this transmission acts in operation.

SkinnyG 11-19-2021 07:57 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Me too!

The TCC valve arrived today, so I should be able to finish it all up this weekend, maybe get it on the motor and back in the chassis. I have most of the video edited (still need to narrate it), got 20hours of video down to 30 minutes with enough detail to be useful.

SkinnyG 11-20-2021 01:31 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
TCC valve came in, so I installed it.

Installed the valvebody.

Installed the Overrun Clutch Valve.

Finished the valvebody, but forgot to get a filter.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...49-672x378.jpg

SkinnyG 11-20-2021 09:16 PM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Picked up a filter, attached the pan, and a spray of Aluminum engine paint.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...56-672x378.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...26-672x378.jpg

Tomorrow - hang it off the motor, and set it in the chassis.

SkinnyG 11-22-2021 11:02 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Latest Video:


SkinnyG 11-23-2021 11:17 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
The driveshaft got painted. Bear's Performance out of Ontario, 1350 u-joints:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...32-378x672.jpg

88Stanger 11-23-2021 11:19 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Damn SkinnnyG you are the MAN! Thank you for all the detail and vids on all this stuff, that is just awesome!!!

SCOTI 11-23-2021 11:34 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Stanger (Post 8998901)
Damn SkinnnyG you are the MAN! Thank you for all the detail and vids on all this stuff, that is just awesome!!!

x2.

SkinnyG 11-27-2021 01:47 AM

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 
Cab placed on the chassis for hopefully the last time. Energy Suspension cab mounts (63-66) with front top bushing machined down to 5/8" thick as per original bushing. PQY fuel pressure regulator mounted.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...50-672x378.jpg


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