Okay guys, I know topics about transmissions have been beat to death in the past, but I want to start getting a game plan out for the Buick's future. I know my trans is on its way out, but I don't have the money right now to go throw it in the shop. It'll probably be a few months out, simply because I'll have to wait for my school refund checks, as well as a time where Ashlee and I can share her Toyota for the week.

Anyway, I'll get straight to the point. I'm still debating whether it will be more economical for me to either rebuild my 4t65e, do a full L67 drivetrain swap (this is probably going to be the route I take as long as I can source the parts for a good price), or other options.

My questions to you are assuming I'll keep the car N/A. What are some of the options as far as beefing up the non-hd 4t65e? I'm sure I could swap to the HD differential, but that would require a tune for the change in gear ratios. I also know there are probably kits out there with hardened clutch packages, etc, (sorry, not that familiar with all the transmission terminology) but what are some options for making a bullet proof trans for a N/A setup? What all would be involved in just swapping in a 4t65e-hd? A tune, wiring, what other differences are there?

If I keep a N/A setup, the car will definitely be getting rockers, exhaust, possibly headers, and some other mods, so I'd like the trans to be pretty stout.

Also, I apologize if I missed any articles, I did try searching, but couldn't find anything specific on HD-diff. swaps, or hd transmissions into a non-hd car.

Like I said, this build is months away, I just want to see what the possibilities are.

Thanks in advance

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Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten

Definitely install a TransGo shift kit. And, make sure the shop that does the work uses a kit with all the little upgrades such as the hardened 4th gear shaft that GM put into the 2003+ transmissions.

If the local shops want more than $2000, look at Triple Edge Performance. You could get a rebuilt non-HD transmission with all the upgrades shipped for about $2000, IIRC.

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco - Current car

1999 Buick LeSabre Custom - Former car

Learn from the mistakes of others, that way when you mess up you can do so in new and interesting ways.

There are a lot of upgrades that come standard now in overhaul kits, as it's GM's spec upon rebuild. 4th hub, different clutches, replacing the solenoids with improved units, etc are all generally SOP upon rebuild.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

So in the long run would it be worth it to do an HD conversion to the trans as well, or would it be stout enough to keep it just the regular 4t65e once the rebuild is finished? It'd be a matter of me finding a reputable shop around me to do the rebuild (no good tranny shops in Athens directly that I've found yet) versus I could get a built 4t65e-hd for around 1500 + tune. Hopefully if I can find a good tranny shop though, I can get the tranny built that's in it now. If I do the drive train swap, that's probably a year or so out, so I doubt my trans will hold out that long.

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Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten

The 4t65e is good behind the N/A, I wouldn't convert/swap to the HD unless you found a HD replacement for a darn good price (remember you will need the HD passenger side C/V axle). I can't recall, but I thought the TCC was bigger and needs a modified N/A flywheel to bolt on to.

This comes from the HD swap I did to our Montana mini-van ($150 for trans, C/V, and I modified the flywheel on the 3400), plus what I've learned on my L67 swap.

If you only need a year or two, then a junkyard trans swap might be cheaper and help you save toward your L67 goals?

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Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

Thanks for the info Matt! I guess I need to start calling around to see what a rebuild will run on my trans. I'm wondering if it'd be worth picking up a cheap junkyard trans and having that one built so that my car doesn't have much downtime, then get the trans swapped in real quick.

The only thing is that if I build my 65e, I'm probably going to stay N/A and build my L36 up pretty nicely.

Also, my dad came down today and I gutted the airbox on his PAU for him. I took it for a spin, and suprisingly my Lesabre feels a ton faster. The PAU didn't throw me back into the seat, but it still had about the same 0-60 time as the Lesabre. Kind of makes me want to build up my L36 a little more to see what it can do. I'm sure if my trans wasn't slipping like crazy, my car would feel a ton quicker.

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Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten