Built to Hold
Build guides, transmission tech, and install notes from the Gearstar shop floor. Every unit we ship is assembled by one builder, matched to your combo, and dyno-tested before it goes out the door. This is where we show the work: what holds, what grenades, and how to spec it right the first time.
Rebuilt, Remanufactured, or Built: Three Words the Industry Uses Loosely
Ask three shops for a transmission quote and you might get three very different numbers, all for something called a "rebuilt" transmission. One is a...
GM Transmission Problems: Common Issues in Cars and HD Trucks
You feel a slip on the 2-3 shift, a flare under load, or a shudder at highway speed, and you search "GM transmission problems." The first thing to know...
What Stall Converter Do You Actually Need? How to Choose One for Your Cam and Build
Most stall converter shopping starts with a number. Somebody on a forum runs a 3,000 stall, a buddy says his cam "needs" 3,500, and a catalog lists...
How to Identify Your GM Transmission by Shape and Numbers
A swap meet core with no tag. A project car with a transmission nobody can vouch for. A truck that has had two owners and at least one rebuild. Before...
4L60E vs. 4L80E: Which GM Transmission Is Right for Your Build?
The 4L60E vs 4L80E question usually shows up as a horsepower question. How much can a 4L60E take, and at what point do you need the bigger transmission?...
Inside Our Level 4 6L80E: As Featured in All Chevy Performance
The November 2026 issue of All Chevy Performance takes readers inside our shop to follow a Level 4 6L80E from bare case to finished transmission. Writer...
What Kind of Transmission Fluid Does a 4L60E Take?
The 4L60E has earned its place as one of General Motors' most successful automatic transmissions. You'll find it behind everything from daily-driven...