Hmmm, my 80E has bout 100 miles on fresh build and Zero noises.

Now im gunna be paranoid , DAM IT!!!

 

I've noticed different problems with different year 80e's. And with different applications(boost & non-boost). I worry cause I have a lot of man-hours in my builds and just wanted some feedback. Sorry Tim didn't mean to get you paranoid!

 

I've noticed mine whines occasionally through 1st gear at light throttle and at the top of 1st it really gets to whining but I kind of like it. If I'm not mistaken its the 4L85Es that have the straight cut gears. A couple of our school G vans did along with 6.0s and in and around Dallas they got flogged pretty bad but it was nice listening to those gears sing. Makes me want straight cut planets just for the sound.

 

My dad's '07 van makes that whining sound, as well as many other vans I see/hear driving around town. I never seem to notice the noise coming from trucks though???

 

Ya I want to say it is the 85's that has the straight cuts. Although mine is outta of a new 2500, and has the whining. Also it makes perfect since it gets louder with RPM. I would worry about it, as long as it shifts good.

 

HaHa No problem Bud! After 4 60e's im still nervous LOL!!

 

Let me shed a little light on this topic. These units sometime in the later years had some issues and it seems that the 04 and later ones are worse. I have seen this issue as early as 99. The the noise in first gear is in the rear planet and the sun gear. What happens is these two pieces do not wear correctly and produce a funny wear pattern on the gears. Instead of the wear pattern being as it should on an angle following the curve of the gear, it is actually straight up and down.

I have seen this many times while building these units and by just replacing these two pieces you can get the noise to go away but it might return! I've seen it in less than 5K. Being that I know a bunch of people in this industry I have got a few opinions on this subject and what is done to correct it. As I mention above changing the planet and sun gear is one. The gm serta plants when they see this they replace the worn parts and also the case. Their thoughts are that the center lines of the different components are off. This causes the parts to not be centered and cause the wear we see. I'm guessing they feel the issue is with the case.

I have seen some weird bushing wear in these units and I can believe that the center lines are off in the later units. What I do when I rebuild these units is to make sure to reduce the end play in the the rear and also the front of the case. There are a few tricks for both but I'm not going to get into all that info at the moment. I could write a book!

Another thing is replacing the bushings in these units when they are built and also install wider bushings where you can. I like to use a TH400 case busing in the rear of the case and also early Th400 bushing in the output shaft(machining required). I feel by doing this you can add some life to the bushings that always seem to wear and cause issues.

By reducing tolerances, adding extra support with wider bushings, bearings or washers, I feel that most of the issues can be minimized and add some life to these units. My theory is if parts are bouncing around they have to be causing unneeded wear. Just my opinion on the subject. Vince