[Ashton]

So I know my transmission is going to crap out on me soon. Slight rumble at mid-high rpm, clutch material in the last fluid change, and a code for tranny slippage when I travel at highway speeds for about 30mins. Also aggressive shifting after the code pops up.

I'm curious as to what transmissions are interchangeable. I read a thread where people were talking about swapping to a 4L80e. I know they are a tad longer and from what I've read, not plug and play. I've also read about people swapping to a 700r4 (I believe that's what it's called).

Does anybody have the knowledge of what transmissions are interchangeable with ours, if any? If I were to upgrade should I go that route, or just upgrade the internals of the 60?

 

[Brad_]

So I know my transmission is going to crap out on me soon. Slight rumble at mid-high rpm, clutch material in the last fluid change, and a code for tranny slippage when I travel at highway speeds for about 30mins. Also aggressive shifting after the code pops up.

I'm curious as to what transmissions are interchangeable. I read a thread where people were talking about swapping to a 4L80e. I know they are a tad longer and from what I've read, not plug and play. I've also read about people swapping to a 700r4 (I believe that's what it's called).

Does anybody have the knowledge of what transmissions are interchangeable with ours, if any? If I were to upgrade should I go that route, or just upgrade the internals of the 60?

I havent seen any completed transmission swaps on these, probably best with a rebuild with strengthened components

 

[metalmike187]

I havent seen any completed transmission swaps on these, probably best with a rebuild with strengthened components

That's what I did.

 

[Ashton]

That's what I did.

One guy on Facebook in one of the groups switched to a 4l80 and tows around bigass trailers. I asked him what he all did but he hasn't answered back yet.

 

[Ashton]

Would I possibly be able to swap to a 4l70e? What I'm reading is that its the same thing just upgraded internally. I'm just not sure if it would be "plug and play"

 

[Brad_]

One guy on Facebook in one of the groups switched to a 4l80 and tows around bigass trailers. I asked him what he all did but he hasn't answered back yet.

That's super cool! If he does respond back to you, relay that info along to us (or convince him to join) cause I gotta know how he pulled it off. I'm betting a standalone ECU, but I'm curious.

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

Build whatchu got and upgrade the internals with hardened, larger or more.

A 4L60-E is a good base --- pretty good really becuase it lasts as long as it does with factory specs.

Add the 3" 2-4 band and a new drum and (possibly) the so-called "Corvette 2-4 servo" with a PWM Delete, 5-pinion rear planets, a 4.3 Torque Convertor.

If you use your unit as a rebuildable core you will not have to play with internet opinions as to what interchanges or not.

 

[Ashton]

Build whatchu got and upgrade the internals with hardened, larger or more.

A 4L60-E is a good base --- pretty good really becuase it lasts as long as it does with factory specs.

Add the 3" 2-4 band and a new drum and (possibly) the so-called "Corvette 2-4 servo" with a PWM Delete, 5-pinion rear planets, a 4.3 Torque Convertor.

If you use your unit as a rebuildable core you will not have to play with internet opinions as to what interchanges or not.

Alright, thank you.

 

[Brad_]

Build whatchu got and upgrade the internals with hardened, larger or more.

A 4L60-E is a good base --- pretty good really becuase it lasts as long as it does with factory specs.

Add the 3" 2-4 band and a new drum and (possibly) the so-called "Corvette 2-4 servo" with a PWM Delete, 5-pinion rear planets, a 4.3 Torque Convertor.

If you use your unit as a rebuildable core you will not have to play with internet opinions as to what interchanges or not.

do you have any brands of rebuild kit you prefer? any to avoid?

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

Note that I used a V6 4.3 L Astro Van torque convertor.

Why?

It's much more efficient, smaller in diameter, still has L/U-TCC and doesn't run as hot as the OE convretor in the 4.2/4L60E combo we run.

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

I'm old --- antique, really ... and I loved the RPM and Cal-Tex stuff --- but they don't appear to exist any mire.

Shift kits? Gil Younger/TRANSCO only.
Use Gil's PWM-Delete conversion too.
ATP always was generally good --- but buy the Deluxe overhaul kits or you'll need to run down small parts to rebuild your unit.

I'm retired from building, Owner/Operator transmission businesses and I just had an old buddy from where I used to live where he had a competing shop --- "do" my unit for me.

I'll say that my unit is "firm" and will chirp to tires on anything more than 3/4 throttle for the 1/2 shift and it hits really hard at the same throttle for the other two shifts too. It's really nice to get a moderately powerful reminder of how nicely this unit can shift when asked to.

Boulevard shifts are firm-ish, but not excessive and no passengers have complained yet.

Fuel mileage went UP about 4 MPG at 70 MPH and around town went up about a single MPG.

HEAT - no longer exists --- and I tow a 10,000lb trailer full of logs for firewood - often - with the TB. The OE heat exchanger is as it was when it came offa the showroom floor, but this is an ex Cop Car (CHP, really) and it might have over-abilities and over-capacities built in. Meh.

Don't overcool the ATF and do NOT bypass the factory heat exchanger as it's not in the radiator because it wouldn't fit somewhere else.

It has a purpose in swapping heat with the engine and vice-versa. If you don't like to obey the battery warnings --- at least know this --- the minimal need for a 180°F transmission AND engine is as it was designed by guys with a lot more calculators than either you or I have.

FTR ---> I have a rather long curve on getting to 180°F in the transmission even when towing ... so there's that to consider too.

.

 

[Reelhavoc]

Pretty hard to kill an upgraded 4l60e behind a 4.2
Use a tmbx convertor instead of the vjcx.
10vane rotor kit , 7 3/4frictions. Transgo skit or superiors power tow kit. stock Borg band is all you need .lube mods and bypass radiator with aux cooler

 

[VoyBoy919]

So I know my transmission is going to crap out on me soon. Slight rumble at mid-high rpm, clutch material in the last fluid change, and a code for tranny slippage when I travel at highway speeds for about 30mins. Also aggressive shifting after the code pops up.

I'm curious as to what transmissions are interchangeable. I read a thread where people were talking about swapping to a 4L80e. I know they are a tad longer and from what I've read, not plug and play. I've also read about people swapping to a 700r4 (I believe that's what it's called).

Does anybody have the knowledge of what transmissions are interchangeable with ours, if any? If I were to upgrade should I go that route, or just upgrade the internals of the 60?

No respect to any other forum members, but I love how the answer always seems to be, "spend money and rebuild it". I wasn't poor growing up but I definitely wasn't rich. In my humble opinion, too many answers fall along these lines..I dont know what you guys do for a living but paying big money,(big, in my opinion) to rebuild things isn't always possible. If it's possible for you because you have the money, more power to ya, and bless ya, but a lot of us won't go that route, CANT go that route. I'll try to answer the question directly...you've already touched on the problem with trying to put an 80e in...bigger yoke, longer tranny, not plug and play(although I've seen a 60e-to-80e swap harness on ebay for less than 100 bucks) and it's a bigger tranny so it may hit the floor and other things. Most ive seen aren't removable bellhousing either, ive heard that some newer ones are. So the ones that aren't won't have the right bell to put it on a 4.2 if that's your engine. Concerning the 700r4...same thing with the bellhousing not being removable..so can't use it with a 4.2....and trying to use it on a 5.3 for example wouldnt wirk because you have to install a tv cable, and theres no throttle linkage or carb to hook it to....wouldn't be feasible. Having said all that, there are thousand of 4l60e out there used. I've had good luck buying ones i can test that are still drivable in the vehicles, although those are hard to get because if it's a running vehicle people aren't likely to be parting them out, but you can find them occassionally. Ive bought a couple out if running vehicles where the engine is knocking badly but still gets up to 50mph to make sure the tranny shifts. Bought one from a trailblazer with a rusty frame, still ran enough to go down the street a 1/2 mile and back. A used tranny might last as long as a rebuilt one, in fact I've seen lots of rebuilt trannies fail earlier than the stock oem units. My point is, I would love to see more people on forums being supported in their need to get the job done on a budget rather than "rebuild, rebuild, spend, spend!". No disrespect intended.

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

I'm not reading monoparagraphs sgain.

 

[Reelhavoc]

No respect to any other forum members, but I love how the answer always seems to be, "spend money and rebuild it". I wasn't poor growing up but I definitely wasn't rich. In my humble opinion, too many answers fall along these lines..I dont know what you guys do for a living but paying big money,(big, in my opinion) to rebuild things isn't always possible. If it's possible for you because you have the money, more power to ya, and bless ya, but a lot of us won't go that route, CANT go that route. I'll try to answer the question directly...you've already touched on the problem with trying to put an 80e in...bigger yoke, longer tranny, not plug and play(although I've seen a 60e-to-80e swap harness on ebay for less than 100 bucks) and it's a bigger tranny so it may hit the floor and other things. Most ive seen aren't removable bellhousing either, ive heard that some newer ones are. So the ones that aren't won't have the right bell to put it on a 4.2 if that's your engine. Concerning the 700r4...same thing with the bellhousing not being removable..so can't use it with a 4.2....and trying to use it on a 5.3 for example wouldnt wirk because you have to install a tv cable, and theres no throttle linkage or carb to hook it to....wouldn't be feasible. Having said all that, there are thousand of 4l60e out there used. I've had good luck buying ones i can test that are still drivable in the vehicles, although those are hard to get because if it's a running vehicle people aren't likely to be parting them out, but you can find them occassionally. Ive bought a couple out if running vehicles where the engine is knocking badly but still gets up to 50mph to make sure the tranny shifts. Bought one from a trailblazer with a rusty frame, still ran enough to go down the street a 1/2 mile and back. A used tranny might last as long as a rebuilt one, in fact I've seen lots of rebuilt trannies fail earlier than the stock oem units. My point is, I would love to see more people on forums being supported in their need to get the job done on a budget rather than "rebuild, rebuild, spend, spend!". No disrespect intended.

A good rebuild can be done for not much more than cost of a LKQ salvage unit doing it yourself .
Unless your talking about using a pull your own yard cost .extended warranty companies have skyrocketed the price of junkyard transmissions !
Then at least you know what you have . Your used trans worked until it started failing . So how do you know when that day is on a LKQ unit ?

 

[Ashton]

No respect to any other forum members, but I love how the answer always seems to be, "spend money and rebuild it". I wasn't poor growing up but I definitely wasn't rich. In my humble opinion, too many answers fall along these lines..I dont know what you guys do for a living but paying big money,(big, in my opinion) to rebuild things isn't always possible. If it's possible for you because you have the money, more power to ya, and bless ya, but a lot of us won't go that route, CANT go that route. I'll try to answer the question directly...you've already touched on the problem with trying to put an 80e in...bigger yoke, longer tranny, not plug and play(although I've seen a 60e-to-80e swap harness on ebay for less than 100 bucks) and it's a bigger tranny so it may hit the floor and other things. Most ive seen aren't removable bellhousing either, ive heard that some newer ones are. So the ones that aren't won't have the right bell to put it on a 4.2 if that's your engine. Concerning the 700r4...same thing with the bellhousing not being removable..so can't use it with a 4.2....and trying to use it on a 5.3 for example wouldnt wirk because you have to install a tv cable, and theres no throttle linkage or carb to hook it to....wouldn't be feasible. Having said all that, there are thousand of 4l60e out there used. I've had good luck buying ones i can test that are still drivable in the vehicles, although those are hard to get because if it's a running vehicle people aren't likely to be parting them out, but you can find them occassionally. Ive bought a couple out if running vehicles where the engine is knocking badly but still gets up to 50mph to make sure the tranny shifts. Bought one from a trailblazer with a rusty frame, still ran enough to go down the street a 1/2 mile and back. A used tranny might last as long as a rebuilt one, in fact I've seen lots of rebuilt trannies fail earlier than the stock oem units. My point is, I would love to see more people on forums being supported in their need to get the job done on a budget rather than "rebuild, rebuild, spend, spend!". No disrespect intended.

My only counter to this, is that the 4l60e's are junk. And always have been. My dad was telling me originally not to buy these because of this issue. He informed me that he had to replace the tranny in his truck on 3 separate occasions.

I would really like to not stick with a stock 60 if I don't have to. Either upgrading internally, or swapping for a different model.

I've read that the 4l65e is the same unit, just bulked up on the inside, I was curious if this would just be able to just be put in and be plug and play. No matter how much I look online I can never find good evidence of this theory.

I understand what you're saying and I agree with majority of it because I also am a budget builder. I try not to spend more then I have to. I'd rather do all the work on my own then send it in somewhere because of this. (And my lack of trust with auto shops around here.)

 

[Brad_]

My point is, I would love to see more people on forums being supported in their need to get the job done on a budget

Generally, I agree, but transmissions are one of the few spaces where I cant.

The goal of this forum is to provide good diagnostics and repair advice, and advising somebody buy a used transmission is much too big of a gamble to recommend to someone who wants help.

If my transmission went out, I'd buy a used one while I work towards rebuilding my old one. But I should know better than buying a used transmission, so if I get burnt its my fault.

If we recommend used transmissions to people who are asking for help and may not know better, and they get burnt, kinda makes it our fault? Sure there's no re-course, but why recommend a risky solution to someone who needs help.

 

[Reelhavoc]

My only counter to this, is that the 4l60e's are junk. And always have been. My dad was telling me originally not to buy these because of this issue. He informed me that he had to replace the tranny in his truck on 3 separate occasions.

I would really like to not stick with a stock 60 if I don't have to. Either upgrading internally, or swapping for a different model.

I've read that the 4l65e is the same unit, just bulked up on the inside, I was curious if this would just be able to just be put in and be plug and play. No matter how much I look online I can never find good evidence of this theory.

I understand what you're saying and I agree with majority of it because I also am a budget builder. I try not to spend more then I have to. I'd rather do all the work on my own then send it in somewhere because of this. (And my lack of trust with auto shops around here.)

A quality built 4l60/e lasts a long time if properly maintained. My personal trailblazers have 195000 & 160000miles on them . Both vehicles bought for a steal when grants failed right out of warranty .
don’t confuse how oem builds them with how speacialists build them .!

 

[Ashton]

A quality built 4l60/e lasts a long time if properly maintained. My personal trailblazers have 195000 & 160000miles on them . Both vehicles bought for a steal when grants failed right out of warranty .
don’t confuse how oem builds them with how speacialists build them .!

I agree, I got mine with 178k and it was already having some issues. I'm just unsure if what the best path is as of rn. I'm thinking I should just get it rebuilt.

 

[Reelhavoc]

I agree, I got mine with 178k and it was already having some issues. I'm just unsure if what the best path is as of rn. I'm thinking I should just get it rebuilt.

Those mileages are since I built them . Trailblazers have 250k on them .
you can’t loose money by fixing a trailblazer ! One of gm’s best vehicles . They sell for more than tahoes and Yukons in same condition