Transmission only shifts manually.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 286
Thats an excuse, Biggest thing getting high quality sonnax parts in 4l60s like 3/4 input drum. Heard 50/50 things on Monster
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 22
From: Los Angeles
No I'm still waiting for a response to see what they say I just hope I don't have to remove the transmission again and send it back and have to pay another $500 for shipping
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 853
From: Albuquerque NM
Monster, not what you bargained for
I really hate to say this but Monster transmissions are not what they use to be. Just do some searches for reviews on them now an you will see how bad they really are now. I don't believe anyone in the custom or performance world uses them anymore and I have been told the quality of the parts they use now are cheap chinese parts (manufactured by Locin in china), bottom line IMO, Monster charges a premium,and they don't stand behind their products.
I have built many a trans and can tell you when you use quality parts like a Sonnax drum module its nearly impossible to have a drum/ring failure. Monster's excuse they provided holds no water for someone who has spent any time building auto transmissions, ring failure usually only occurs when there is drum damage to start with or when the retainer rings were removed or installed incorrectly. ie: mishandling, stretching or over compressing.
My last build was what would be considered a Sonnax level 3 build I did used their Input drum, sun shield, output shaft, clutches, steel sprag and solenoid kit plus incidentals. the parts alone cost me close to 3K. Keep in mind this was nearly 4 years ago. I can only imagine what they would cost now. So you can see if your Monster originally cost you under 3K you can only imagine what they used in it. I will say that $500 seems a bit pricey for shipping, especially when you consider they strap it to a pallet and ship it bulk freight. After all its only a trans and not a big bulky diff or heavy V8.
Sounds like your getting gouged all around. If I had to bet I would say they took an old trans, put a Chinese rebuild kit in it, kicked up the line pressure then painted it pretty and sent it to you after charging you a fortune. You seriously may want to consider cutting your losses at this point with Monster. There are lots of other options, if you are pushing any real HP on your H2 and plan on having it for many years to come you may want to consider abandoning the 4L65 (and monster) and doing a 4l80 retrofit. Short of an Allison 1000 it's the best trans you can install in your H2 and it will still be going long after both you and your H2 have gone the way of the dodo.
If you still want a 4L65, you can contact Sonnax and ask their recommendations for a rebuilder that specifically uses their parts or, Consider this, I recently had a acquaintance that needed a 4L65 trans for a 69 Chevy Nova with LS3 he is finishing up, he went to the local Chevy dealership, paid under $2600.00 for it with a 3 year warranty included ready to go he flipped them an old junk yard trans for the core. (or you can buy outright without a core) The GM rebuilt trans came with all upgraded internal parts so what you end up with is a like new transmission with the latest upgrades.
No they don't use Sonnax parts but the internals are Genuine GM. So Zero issues! And if you want their are optional warranty you can get the R&R costs option, simply drive to the nearest GM dealer and say fix, costs you nothing and no work required. (this is what I would do if my 08 6L80 dies with a major issue, but then again I am getting to old for heavy duty wrenching)
So, unfortunately this is the world we live in today where companies that used to make outstanding products have slipped in mediocrity and don't give a crap about what they sell nor do they want to stand behind it. I wish you the absolute best and suggest having some serious conversations with Monster management even though you have probably already done this. Plus don't forget lodging a formal complaint with the BBB. This costs nothing and it can create reputation issues for Monster and may save someone else from experiencing your situation.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can get it sorted out, I know stuff like this can be aggravating as hell.
I have built many a trans and can tell you when you use quality parts like a Sonnax drum module its nearly impossible to have a drum/ring failure. Monster's excuse they provided holds no water for someone who has spent any time building auto transmissions, ring failure usually only occurs when there is drum damage to start with or when the retainer rings were removed or installed incorrectly. ie: mishandling, stretching or over compressing.
My last build was what would be considered a Sonnax level 3 build I did used their Input drum, sun shield, output shaft, clutches, steel sprag and solenoid kit plus incidentals. the parts alone cost me close to 3K. Keep in mind this was nearly 4 years ago. I can only imagine what they would cost now. So you can see if your Monster originally cost you under 3K you can only imagine what they used in it. I will say that $500 seems a bit pricey for shipping, especially when you consider they strap it to a pallet and ship it bulk freight. After all its only a trans and not a big bulky diff or heavy V8.
Sounds like your getting gouged all around. If I had to bet I would say they took an old trans, put a Chinese rebuild kit in it, kicked up the line pressure then painted it pretty and sent it to you after charging you a fortune. You seriously may want to consider cutting your losses at this point with Monster. There are lots of other options, if you are pushing any real HP on your H2 and plan on having it for many years to come you may want to consider abandoning the 4L65 (and monster) and doing a 4l80 retrofit. Short of an Allison 1000 it's the best trans you can install in your H2 and it will still be going long after both you and your H2 have gone the way of the dodo.
If you still want a 4L65, you can contact Sonnax and ask their recommendations for a rebuilder that specifically uses their parts or, Consider this, I recently had a acquaintance that needed a 4L65 trans for a 69 Chevy Nova with LS3 he is finishing up, he went to the local Chevy dealership, paid under $2600.00 for it with a 3 year warranty included ready to go he flipped them an old junk yard trans for the core. (or you can buy outright without a core) The GM rebuilt trans came with all upgraded internal parts so what you end up with is a like new transmission with the latest upgrades.
No they don't use Sonnax parts but the internals are Genuine GM. So Zero issues! And if you want their are optional warranty you can get the R&R costs option, simply drive to the nearest GM dealer and say fix, costs you nothing and no work required. (this is what I would do if my 08 6L80 dies with a major issue, but then again I am getting to old for heavy duty wrenching)
So, unfortunately this is the world we live in today where companies that used to make outstanding products have slipped in mediocrity and don't give a crap about what they sell nor do they want to stand behind it. I wish you the absolute best and suggest having some serious conversations with Monster management even though you have probably already done this. Plus don't forget lodging a formal complaint with the BBB. This costs nothing and it can create reputation issues for Monster and may save someone else from experiencing your situation.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can get it sorted out, I know stuff like this can be aggravating as hell.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 22
From: Los Angeles
Ok so I got the transmission back from monster transmission installed it drove it for about 80 miles everything was good but then I came to a 4 way stop then I give it gas and half way thru the intersection lost power motor just revs up have no reverse no drive in any gear could this be the transmission again or the transfercase ?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3,192
From: BX NY North East
if it rolls like it is in neutral in park drive or reverse. it may be the transfercase is in neutral or snapped it's internal chain. could be a driveshaft issue as well but i think you would see them hanging.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 853
From: Albuquerque NM
Place the transfer case in the 4wheel lock mode, make sure you see the lights change to reflect that the encoder motor actually changed the transfer case mode. If its a transmission issue the vehicle symptoms should not change, if it begins to drive normally you can now focus on the transfer case (and probably a bad encoder motor, broken shift forks and the outside chance its the chain etc) If its a drive shaft issue your going to hear a lot of racket when you do your test drive. Good luck!