Help with 92 700R4/4L60 Transmission

[thr3efi5ezer0]

I have a '92 G20 Chevy Van with a 700R4 (I think) trans which is about to have catastrophic failure! 190,000 miles. It doesn't owe me anything.

So I need to know what to look for. I know that around 92 they also changed its' designation to the 4L60, before became electronic 4L60E shortly thereafter.

But I don't know if anything but the name changed. Or if actual internals changed too.

I guess it doesn't much matter to me, as long as I know what to look for to replace it with. I'm assuming the late 80's and early 90's Burbs and K5 2-wheelers will have the same transmission, and I may have better luck finding one here than anywhere else.

Local yards want $500 to $800 for 100,000+ mile transmissions... not gonna happen. I need to find someone parting out a vehicle, but I don't know where all to look.

Besides the vans that I know will interchange, there are the Burbs and K5's mentioned above, but also Impala/Roadmaster/Family that I believe is also the same.

Thanks.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Your trans could be either a 4L60 or 4L60E The 700R4 was introduced in 1982 and then renamed the 4L60 in 1990 and finally redesigned and called the 4L60E in 1992. Look at the tail housing and see how many bolts hold the tail housing to the case, if it's 4 then it's the 4L60 if it's 6 then it's the 4L60E. My guess being that it is a G20 van is that it's the 4L60E.

EDIT: The 6 bolt tail housing did not start until 1997. You need to see if there is a TV cable, no TV cable = 4L60E.

 

[toomany]

Local yards want $500 to $800 for 100,000+ mile transmissions... not gonna happen. I need to find someone parting out a vehicle, but I don't know where all to look.

Check www.Craigslist.com I see lots of them on there all the time.

 

[thr3efi5ezer0]

Your trans could be either a 4L60 or 4L60E The 700R4 was introduced in 1982 and then renamed the 4L60 in 1990 and finally redesigned and called the 4L60E in 1992. Look at the tail housing and see how many bolts hold the tail housing to the case, if it's 4 then it's the 4L60 if it's 6 then it's the 4L60E. My guess being that it is a G20 van is that it's the 4L60E.

EDIT: The 6 bolt tail housing did not start until 1997. You need to see if there is a TV cable, no TV cable = 4L60E.

OK I'll go out and crawl under it in the mud and slop later today (high top van won't fit in the garage!!! ) but I did look on craigslist and much more realistic pricing there!!!

I don't think it's an 'E' but will verify.

If it's *not* an 'E', does it matter whether I replace it with a 700R4 or a 4L60? I have some experience with the 'dumb' 700R4's, meaning they have a lockup converter and some sensors that tell the computer when it's in overdrive, but aren't actually 'controlled' by the computer.

Looks like it'll be much cheaper if I don't need a 4L60E?

 

[4X4HIGH]

The 700R4 AND 4L60 are the same trans GM just change the designation.

 

[thr3efi5ezer0]

The 700R4 AND 4L60 are the same trans GM just change the designation.

OK finally crapped completely this morning right in the middle of the busy intersection near my house!!!

It looks just like every other 700R4 I've ever seen, TV cable on the passenger side and the standard '4-prong' electrical plug on the driver's side. 4 bolts in the taihousing. Same pan I'm familiar with. It also has MD8 cast into the bellhousing.

So 700R4 or 4L60 makes no difference in used shopping? How can I tell a 4L60E from a 4L60 when I'm looking? I'm assuming it has more (or different) wiring?

I also see lots of used ones from 4x4 applications, but as I recall the 4x4 transmissions generally have a shorter output shaft that mates to the transfer case?

 

[toomany]

So 700R4 or 4L60 makes no difference in used shopping? How can I tell a 4L60E from a 4L60 when I'm looking? I'm assuming it has more (or different) wiring?

I also see lots of used ones from 4x4 applications, but as I recall the 4x4 transmissions generally have a shorter output shaft that mates to the transfer case?

A 700R4/4L60 will have a TV Cable on it. A 4L60E will have no cable, a bunch of plugs though.

The 4x4 ones will have a shorter output shaft. It also may have a differnt spline count.

It should be fairly easy to find the correct trans for your application. There are thousands of them out there.

 

[4X4HIGH]

You really want to look for a 700R4/4L60 between 1988-1991 to be safe. The earlier 700R4's had issues that GM corrected by 1988 and those early ones are why the 700R4 got a bad rap. If you plan to rebuild whatever trans you buy then it doesn't matter what year as it can be upgraded to the better parts (but from the sounds of it you want a plug and play trans). Personally, i would have yours rebuilt IF you can find a way to pay for it as most people selling a 700R4 are usually pretty used up.