Flamingtaco
Active Member
- Messages
- 25
- Location
- Kentucky
Greetings!
I'm in the market for an H2 or 3 this winter, and have some questions regarding the transmission in the H3. I've been reading the forums a lot as I've been looking at Hummers for about a year now, and as a recent transmission failure in my Escape has made my wife nervous about my desire to purchase a used vehicle, I want to be able to assure that there will be no unexpected issues. Her fears stem from the failure of a transmission that went 245k, that had it's last trans oil change at 30k miles when we bought it. Yeah, she's a bit silly, but it failed four hours away at summer camp, and though it was no big deal to me (rented a dolly for $100 and towed it and my trailer home), she was not amused.
For starters, I'd like some comments on the longevity of the 4L60-E behind the 5.3L. My understanding is the 4L60-E is designed for use (including towing) in vehicles up to the 6000Lb class, and so it should be aok in a sub-5000Lb vehicle. At the same time, I'm seeing comments about it being a slushbox, going out between 75k and 100k miles, or maybe lasting over 175k. What's the reality here? I'm looking for a vehicle between 50k and 100k miles, but don't want to pay a premium, only to have a transmission failure within a year or two.
Next: What are the best options for bulletproofing the transmission? A nice big cooler is a given for all transmissions. I've been reading about some of the rebuilds, like the PATC Raptor Level 3. Can anyone state their total expenditure to install such an uprgrade? The sites are a little lacking in defining what exactly is required for the H3, and some do not list any prices. Hard to call and get pricing when I don't yet know what year/model I will end up with, but I want an idea before I lay down for a vehicle as what I will want to do will play affect my offer.
What about a 4L65-E swap? Everything I've read says the 4L65-E is a 4L60-E but with beefier parts where it counts, and the only incompatibility exists in the input shaft and converter. However, I can't find any info on anyone swapping a 4L65-E into the Alpha. From memory (have done three clutch jobs and swapped one converter), the converter bolts to the starter ring, so it seems the question, is, will the 4L65-E converter bolt to the 5.3 starter ring? Of not, will a 6.0 ring bolt to the 5.3? I ask because performance rebuilt 4L65-E's are cheaper (ex. Monster Transmission Super Duty 4x4 4L65-E + 1800 stall converter + 1yr warrantee = $2378 Vs PATC 4L60-E Level 3 + 1800 stall converter + 4wd output shaft + 6 month warranty = $3324).
Where do the 6L80-E swaps stand? I've only found two posts about them, and it seems they are in the 8k-10k range? I'd love to go this route, but it would take finding a very low price on a mechanically sound, low mileage H3, and a plug and play swap that I could pull off in a week.
Last questions: I don't remember if I was reading about the H2 or H3, but somewhere I read that holding the 4hi and 4hi lock buttons (IIRC) for a number of seconds places the transfer case in neutral. Is this a secret economy mode? Is our transfer case just a regular 4x4 case, capable of sending all of the 5.3's torque to the rear wheels, or is it purpose built for splitting the torque, and that would destroy it quickly? Or is there something else going on, like a clutch set between the input shaft and internals?
Thanks in advance for all replies. Reading through this forum the past year has solidified my resolve that a Hummer is exactly what I want. Ready for most trails, highway comfort, decent towing rating. I don't see anything out there that checks all of these boxes without needing a major cash expenditure to match the balance a Hummer brings to these three requirements.
I'm in the market for an H2 or 3 this winter, and have some questions regarding the transmission in the H3. I've been reading the forums a lot as I've been looking at Hummers for about a year now, and as a recent transmission failure in my Escape has made my wife nervous about my desire to purchase a used vehicle, I want to be able to assure that there will be no unexpected issues. Her fears stem from the failure of a transmission that went 245k, that had it's last trans oil change at 30k miles when we bought it. Yeah, she's a bit silly, but it failed four hours away at summer camp, and though it was no big deal to me (rented a dolly for $100 and towed it and my trailer home), she was not amused.
For starters, I'd like some comments on the longevity of the 4L60-E behind the 5.3L. My understanding is the 4L60-E is designed for use (including towing) in vehicles up to the 6000Lb class, and so it should be aok in a sub-5000Lb vehicle. At the same time, I'm seeing comments about it being a slushbox, going out between 75k and 100k miles, or maybe lasting over 175k. What's the reality here? I'm looking for a vehicle between 50k and 100k miles, but don't want to pay a premium, only to have a transmission failure within a year or two.
Next: What are the best options for bulletproofing the transmission? A nice big cooler is a given for all transmissions. I've been reading about some of the rebuilds, like the PATC Raptor Level 3. Can anyone state their total expenditure to install such an uprgrade? The sites are a little lacking in defining what exactly is required for the H3, and some do not list any prices. Hard to call and get pricing when I don't yet know what year/model I will end up with, but I want an idea before I lay down for a vehicle as what I will want to do will play affect my offer.
What about a 4L65-E swap? Everything I've read says the 4L65-E is a 4L60-E but with beefier parts where it counts, and the only incompatibility exists in the input shaft and converter. However, I can't find any info on anyone swapping a 4L65-E into the Alpha. From memory (have done three clutch jobs and swapped one converter), the converter bolts to the starter ring, so it seems the question, is, will the 4L65-E converter bolt to the 5.3 starter ring? Of not, will a 6.0 ring bolt to the 5.3? I ask because performance rebuilt 4L65-E's are cheaper (ex. Monster Transmission Super Duty 4x4 4L65-E + 1800 stall converter + 1yr warrantee = $2378 Vs PATC 4L60-E Level 3 + 1800 stall converter + 4wd output shaft + 6 month warranty = $3324).
Where do the 6L80-E swaps stand? I've only found two posts about them, and it seems they are in the 8k-10k range? I'd love to go this route, but it would take finding a very low price on a mechanically sound, low mileage H3, and a plug and play swap that I could pull off in a week.
Last questions: I don't remember if I was reading about the H2 or H3, but somewhere I read that holding the 4hi and 4hi lock buttons (IIRC) for a number of seconds places the transfer case in neutral. Is this a secret economy mode? Is our transfer case just a regular 4x4 case, capable of sending all of the 5.3's torque to the rear wheels, or is it purpose built for splitting the torque, and that would destroy it quickly? Or is there something else going on, like a clutch set between the input shaft and internals?
Thanks in advance for all replies. Reading through this forum the past year has solidified my resolve that a Hummer is exactly what I want. Ready for most trails, highway comfort, decent towing rating. I don't see anything out there that checks all of these boxes without needing a major cash expenditure to match the balance a Hummer brings to these three requirements.
