What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

4L80E cooked. Need to swap in a junkyard special

cabledawg

cabledawg

Secret Squirrel
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Posts
2,663
Reaction score
16
Location
Highway to Hell
My 2006 GMC Savana 3500 cooked the tranny last week. Mechanic said $3k to rebuild or $3.8k to put in a new one. Great deal on a new one 'cept I don't have the money for either option. SO I'm looking to get one from a junkyard or CL. My van is a 2006 with the 6.0L gasser and 2wd and should be the 4L80E trans but I'd like to know what model years are compatible and if a 4L80E from a 2500 will work in my 3500.

Thanks in advance!
 
cabledawg said:
My 2006 GMC Savana 3500 cooked the tranny last week. Mechanic said $3k to rebuild or $3.8k to put in a new one. Great deal on a new one 'cept I don't have the money for either option. SO I'm looking to get one from a junkyard or CL. My van is a 2006 with the 6.0L gasser and 2wd and should be the 4L80E trans but I'd like to know what model years are compatible and if a 4L80E from a 2500 will work in my 3500.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I put a 4L80E in my wife's truck from Monster Transmission and it was only like $2,400 with shipping including the return shipping.

It took me by myself about 14hrs to remove and replace.
 
I'm sure if I bought the new trans outright (GM OEM with 10yr/100k mile warranty) it'd cheaper, but that $3800 is including the shop fees as well.

Here's another question for you guys: Say I find a junkyard tranny from the exact same vehicle, will there be any electronic issue to deal with? Such as programming or such? I'm slowly finding sources for used trannies but they are from different models and years (one as far back as 99) and I didn't think about the electronics compatibility. Last two tranny swaps I did were on my old Burbs and electronics weren't an issue (except the speedo in the one, but who cares about that :rolleyes:).

EDIT: Whats the difference between the MJP and MCP codes? Both show up under the same engine size and for similar years. Was the trans built differently or the engine?
 
There aren't many internal changes that I know of, the electronics really come down to a few plugs and solenoids. I think you can swap those between the take out and the new to you one as well.

My point about the Monster deal was that you can end up with a slightly built trans for around $2,500 if you are willing to do the labor. Maybe about the same amount as a used tranny and a shop doing labor?
 
where are you located? most from 97+ will work. That's when they separated the cooling ports. I think 1 bell bolt hole on 97-99 might be different, cant remember. 2500-3500 will still work.
 
99-up is ls in trucks / suv's .

04 -up is ls in vans .

as said when ls engine is used the top right bolt for bell is not used as water jacket is right there. but they started to reuse the #7 top 12 oclock bolt hole to solve this problem .

if you can do basic wrenching and have a floor jack doing a tranny on a van is not that bad since you pop the dog house off and get to the bell bolts super easy .

don't forget to flush the tranny cooler lines and stock or aftermarket cooler also .
 
Thanks for the input guys. I'll have to look at the monster company later down the road. I simply don't have the money and I really need to get this beast back on the road.

Any answers on the MCP vs MJP question?
 
You should find a paper tag the size of a business card on the bellhousing that will have the trans code. Getting the right code is important to interchange so that all components will bolt up as intended. One thing to consider is the output shaft, some will have a slip yoke, others bolt on, that could trip you up if you get the wrong one.
 
Thanks Greg. I'll check that tonight before getting my trans. I found one about an hour away (using carparts.com :waytogo: ) that came from a 2007 Express (Chevy version of my van) with the same engine and a few less miles. It'll work for now, but I'll check the trans tag before I call them up.

Any issues with electronics? I have a laptop with a OBD2 cable and I can buy tuner software if needed. Right now I just have basic code reading stuff, but I'll buy whatever I need to do this right and without needing to haul the van back to a shop. Almost burned the clutch in my Burb trying to tow that 8000lb beast back to my house :eek1:
 
Electronics should interchange without issue , these are pretty rugged transmissions so if you find something with less than 75K on it then you should be golden, I have seen them with over 300K and still going if properly maintained.
 
I'm close to Dayton Ohio. So the other trans sold but I found another from a wrecked 2007 Chevy 2500 p/u with 120k on the ticker. Went and picked it up this morning and it looks to be in good shape. Once I find the motivation, I'll start the swap and let you guys know how it goes.
 
Getting started on the swap and decided to pull the codes from the ECM.

P0757: Shift solenoid B stuck on
P0894: Transmission component slipping

Don't know what failed, but there's the codes. :confused:
 
I know a guy near hamilton that has one sitting. If your new one doesn't pan out he'd probably let it go fairly cheap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom