Rebuilt 4L60E Transmission - Trans-Formational

With a stall speed of around 2,800 rpm (stock is approximately 1,800), this 10-inch StreetFighter torque converter (PN 243106) should boost the car's off-the-line verve immensely. A full complement of beefed-up internals-including needle bearings, furnace-brazed fins, and a heavy-duty lock-up piston-makes the StreetFighter's roughly $580 price tag a relative bargain.

Next to go is the dust cover for the torque converter. You may have to do some creative wiggling to free it from the lines and wires positioned nearby. Take your time to avoid damaging these delicate components.

Sometime hand model Willard unbolts the universal joints to free the driveshaft. (Note stylish Katech Performance work glove.) It's best to use a traditional lift-rather than the dyno variety shown here-for this phase, since you'll need to rotate the rear wheels to access all the U-joint bolts.

Once the driveshaft is out, the torque arm can be unbolted and removed. If you're following along at home, be sure to support the trans with a trans jack before you complete this step.

After an extended bout of painful-looking contortions and creative scatology, Willard is finally able to unhook the radiator lines and begin lowering the trans out of the car with the trans jack. Although this phase of the job should be a piece of cake by comparison, the long-tube headers on our C4 serve to complicate matters immensely. Another hour of fun ensues before Willard manages to finagle the trans body out through the narrow tangle of header pipes.

Removing the speed sensor while the trans is still on the jack makes it easy to catch any fluid that drains out. Frustrated though you may be at this point, fight the temptation to toss your old trans on the scrap heap: Assuming there's no structural damage to the case, you should be able to get at least $150 for it as a rebuildable core.

Here's a look at our used J&D trans in post-rebuild condition. After finishing up the internal freshening, the guys at AV hit it with a coat of black caliper paint to give it a natty new look.

Yes, that is a Sawz-All, and yes, he is using it on our newly rebuilt transmission. After the earlier trauma of the removal process, Willard decided to lop one of the aluminum "ears" off of the case to ease reinstallation. While we don't recommend your duplicating this step at home, in our case it proved to be a shrewd time-saving move.

Here's a look at the speed sensor before it gets cleaned and reinstalled on the rebuilt trans. Forget this step, and all your fresh transmission fluid will spill right out on the garage floor as you pour it in.