Franks Custom Transmissions

06/16/2026

Just working along.

06/15/2026

You know when you are older and been at this TRANS BUILDING for so many years. Then you watch the young guys doing videos just bopping right along fast as hell making all look easy , You think man I once could do that.
Or could I ?
But then you realize they have not been at this 40 plus years, They have not seen the valves that move perfect cool and stick solid at 200f . They have not seen the drums that test NO LEAKS cold but leak like a sift when hot. They have not seen the cracks you cant see in drums till warmed up and bubbles come. They have not seen the crack in the back from some previous person pressing the stator in slightly off causing a leak.
I really could go one and one and what it comes down to is they will likely build that unit really fast and MOST LIKLEY none of that will happen. Until it does.
As someone I call friend said a bit older than even me trans builder PBA AKA DANA "Once you learn about something , You cant unlearn it" this leads down a path of checking this and that and taking things apart others would just look at and say good. Double checking hot and cold, wet and dry, you cant unlearn it and once you do see these yes odd but in some type units becoming less and less odd as they age . You cant unsee and you cant unlearn, So you find yourself taking spending huge time checking this and that under this and that condition, Pressing out stators and shafts that vacumme or pressure test just fine , Just so you can see whats there. And before ya know it, Yes your old and slower but because you know so much you are checking and double checking so much more than you one did when young and were banging out 2 or 3 trans a day.

JUST A THOUGHT ON MY MIND AS I WORK TODAY ,

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06/12/2026

06/08/2026

Some while browsing pictures note old shift solenoids in VB , Shift solenoids are replaces but after VB install. which you can note in final photos. Reason after VB clean and build. I reheat it to 250f or so and check through valves. Then spray while hot with something called EASY GELL L**E by WD40 and then blow out to move and coat all the valves with it. I keep old solenoids till after that and after VB install to avoid melting or breaking them.
The easy gel treatment is because I have no idea how long before unit will be installed, Could be days-weeks-months even years.
The easy gel stays put and keep moisture and corrosion away from valves and vb.

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06/08/2026

Savilli stage 2 4x4 94.

06/07/2026

Strongly suggested for the 4l60e when using after market 4th servos with rubber seals like the Sonnax

GM Genuine Parts Automatic Transmission Heat Shield. These shields help protect an array of transmission components from the heat generated by various automotive systems. GM Genuine Parts are the true OE parts installed during the production of or validated by General Motors for GM vehicles. Some...

06/06/2026

Ok see we have 2 linkage shafts. Short and long. The unit I am finishing up needed a short which is what i ordered..but long came.. Now with camaros and any cable type you can. Simply flip the shifter arm and it will still work. However this one goes in a 94 truck with with colum shift .
So decisions. Order another wait till Tues to get and finish? Argh. So figured hell I have a lathe a cutter and a grinder.
So I made a long into a short. Took a while as not really set up for that stuff. But success! And can finish trans tomorrow and still be able to ship Monday as planned.
Gotta do what ya gotta do.
Next time if it ever happens I'll be quicker at it. Though looking at the 70 dollar price tag they have on the short ones with 1000s sold hell maybe I'll set up for ebay
someday and make them. I have a crap load of long ones as most of my cores are later model truck cores.
Anyway my adventure of the day. Came out pretty nice imo. Already checked fit. Tighter than stock for arm .
Useless what have I done today post.