Critical - need advice asap!!!

[coolken84]

Doing my rebuild today - had Dave rebuild my valvebody and sell me a torque converter - got as far as the accumulator and when I disassembled it, theside nearest rge output pipes looks normal, but the two sides are different in structure and spring sizes, the were installed in opposite directions - what's the deal -w- this? - should I re-assemble it like it came apart??

[Trannyman95]

I cant make much sense out of what you are askin here....
"theside nearest rge output pipes looks normal, but the two sides are different in structure and spring sizes, the were installed in opposite directions "

If you have pics and can point out what you are asking that would help, otherwise sorry but what you are asking isnt making much sense.

[coolken84]

Sorry about the incoherence - typing errors - was about 100 degrees in the garage & the laptop was overheating. I'll disassemble it again and take pics, but basically when I disassembled the unit, one side had the larger and smaller spring underneath the piston, which was installed smooth side up. I'll take some pics in the next few days & show you what I mean.

[Trannyman95]

I have a thread on here somewhere that shows the correct order of the accumulator parts, it may be in the tech writeup section though it would be nice if there was a specific trans tech section so you dont have to go hunting for it. I will add it to this reply if I can find it.

Link found!

http://www.grandprixforums.net/shift_kit.php

[coolken84]

Well, this is what I have, the assembled pic shows how it was when I disassembled it. The second shows the parts removed. One of the pistons is thicker than the other and the spring sizes are way different. Everything I have seen on this shows two identical sets of parts for each bore...why is this one different?

[Trannyman95]

??????? That looks like a 4T60E accumulator body! I have never seen that in a 4T65E and it shouldnt be in one though I suppose there are rare cases with this. What exactly did this come out of? Car/Engine/Year Also what is the ID tag info on the back of the case, there should a number followed by two larger letters in the middle of the tag, the number being the last number of the model year.

[coolken84]

The car is a 2001 Grand Prix GT with the naturally aspirated 3800 v-6
The Tag you indicated has 1 BC and along side from top to bottom 611BCBW8249
Case has a number cast into it as well GM-B 2420-9508 - what should I do??

[Trannyman95]

I have built many of those and never seen that accumulator body before! Not sure what to tell you other than if you need I have the correct arrangements here. I dont recall what all you were doing but assume you have a complete rebuild/gasket kit? There is a gasket-plate that goes between the accumulator body and top plate, take that and match it up to both halves and let me know if all of the holes line up OK. If not then somehow you have a 4T60E accumulator body but you will need to match that gasket plate to find out for sure. If that is the case then you either use what you have exactly how it came apart OR I can send you the correct pistons and springs.

[coolken84]

Yes I have the rebuild kit and the gasket was included - checked it against the old one and they match perfectly - fits the accumulator ok. I guess I can use it as it came apart, but would the side with both springs under the piston even do anything?? It was shifting correctly before the 4th clutch hub went bad. This is a puzzler...maybe someone replaced it with the wrong unit at some time in the past?? What would be your recommendation? I've spent way too much time and money on this for it to fail right off the bat.

[Trannyman95]

If it worked fine before than leave it as is and it should work just as well as it did before. That setup is used in 4T60E transmissions exactly like that, and not all of them just some of the setups so it is OK for the one side to appear upside down, that is why one piston looks different. I really think I have read or seen that arrangement used in certain vehicles, maybe even 3400 powered minivans but I have not seen one myself from any 3800 trans or even impala/monte 3400 cars.

[coolken84]

Well, I've just about decided to tear back into the tranny again...I think that a pressure problem is at the root of all of my issues. I intend to inspect and replace the reverse servo seal if necessary due to my reverse issues (slipping badly almost inoperable sometimes, and sometimes working relatively well), but I'm also concerned about the issue I had when rebuilding this where Dave aka Trannyman said he'd never seen an accumulator like the one I had in an 01 GP gt 4t65e. Would I be money ahead to replace the accumulator with the correct one for my engine/tranny combo? And could that be a contributing factor in my pressure problems? It seems like it takes too many rpm's to take off from a standstill in 1st, and when accelerating say up an onramp, if I nail it, it will slip badly and overrev almost to redline before catching. If I need to replace the accumulator, where would be a good place to locate one? and is there anywhere I can just get that reverse servo seal without buying a rebuild kit?
I need this thing in better shape before winter!!!
Thanks in advance

[Trannyman95]

I have accumulator pistons/springs and also new reverse servo lip seals. I cant remember but did you install the transgo kit in your trans when you had it apart or not?

[coolken84]

Nope, just put it back together stock.