Finally got a new car..

[Steel]

Werd up. Screw you, banks!

I'm recieving a FREE '91 Lumina Z34, courtesy of my girlfriends parents wanting it the f*** out of their driveway. Works out great. Complete with the 3.4l DOHC motor that uses a timing chain AND timing belt, and the bastard of a 4T60-E POS GM transmission.

Now to the questions. This thing (77k on chassis and tranny, <30k on motor... ex b/f hydrolocked motor) is displaying the classic TCC lockup problems in that, the TCC doesn't disengage when stopping, causing the car to stall. And pretty soon i imagine that it will start displaying the classic TCC symptom of the TCC control valve wearing its bore to the point where it can't hold pressure and the TCC shudders, overheating the the TC and just generally causing headaches.

Now, I have no problem with taking out the valve body and replacing the TCC solenoid, but i don't have to tools/ experience to rebore the TCC control valve and whatnot... so I figure i'd just bring it to a tranny shop to have them do that work. How much money would i be saving myself by removing the valvebody myself and reinstalling it myself? I know its a real PITA, but nothing i can't handle. I hope to spend no more than 250-300 bucks for parts and labor. Don't even suggest a manul swap, begas the getrag 284 trannies are IMPOSSIBLE to find, and if by hance you do find one with aobut 300k on it, people want STUPID prices for them. Forget a rebuilt, it's more than the cars worth.

So... answers? I know i can just disconnect the TCC circuit as a bandaid, but since i do a lot of freeway driving, i really want it to be locked up to save myself a bunch of gas. These engines are capable of 31MPG if doen right. I was also thinking as another bandaid, is to hook up a switch in the TCC circuit, so that once i get on the freeway, and into OD, i'd just hit the switch and let it engage. Then once I'm getting onto the offramp, disengage it. Or something. Let's just hope that the solenoid isnt STUCK on.

Thanks for the help.