Mudstud
1/2 ton status
What was the year they began putting the 4L6e trannys in the K5 and K10s? Have a friend looking for a K5 or 1/2 ton truck and realy would prefer tbi 350 and 700r4.
CK5
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When did they switch to 4L60e Trannys?
- Thread starter Mudstud
- Start date
92 was the year they switched over to the 4L60e's, first year of the newer Blazer body style with the permanant top.
The 4L60e is a 700r4, GM only changed the name.
The 4L60e is a 700r4, GM only changed the name.
Well...the "E" is electronic, the 4L60E IS a 700R4 based on it's lineage, except there is no TV cable, and the PCM has control over it. It won't work correctly without PCM control. No idea if any diesel 4L60E's exist that had a standalone computer.
4L60 (no "E") is a 700R4 though, that was just a change in how GM described them...4 forward speeds, longitudal (I have no idea how to word that) mounting, 60 being relative strength. (same break down as a 4L80E for example) A 4T60E would be tranverse (FWD) application.
Ahhh, thanks for explaining about the letter "e", I've wondered what that meant up until now.
redneckdude
1/2 ton status
gm changed name from 700r4 to 4L60 in 91, when they also debuted the 4L80e. A couple years later (93 or 94) they started making them electronic, 4l60E.
700r4/4l60/4l60e/4l65e/4l70e are all the same basic POS.
pauly383
Daddy383
I know 93 has one , my K2500 longbed has nearly 200,000 miles on it ( knocking on wood ) and there is a big hole on the TV cable bracket where the cable used to be 
I've said it before, but I'll say it again:
Our '91 1500 Suburban had a 4l60E. I guarantee it was like that from the factory (bought it new) and I guarantee that it was a 4L60E because we had a lot of arguments with mechanics over it. They swore it wasn't a 4L60E until it was dropped.
So the 4L60E's could be found as early as '91, but most started a couple years later.
You make it sound like the 700R4 is better than the 4L60E.
If anything, they have only made improvements to that transmission as time goes on.
My 91 K5 technically had a 4L60 (no E on mine as far as I know). I'll be swapping in an '89 700R4 soon. I don't see any difference between them. I think GM just changed their tranny naming scheme. Now that I've said that I'll probably have all kinds of problems with my swap.
Mudstud
1/2 ton status
Thanks for the replys friends 
zero cool
1/2 ton status
Didn't they make some changes in the Suburbans and pickup trucks that didn't get shared with the K5 for a handful of years? That could be the difference.
vortec
1/2 ton status
just think of longitudinal as meaning RWD. easy to remember. Longitudinal tranny runs "along" the vehicle
. sort of lame, but easy. as you've probably gathered, it's hard to pinpoint a "start year" for the 4L60e. my '94 c1500 has one, but one friend's '93 didn't, another's '92 didn't, but his mom's '91 burban did. i will say this, though, i've never seen a '94 with a regular 4L60 instead of an "e", so that may be the year they switched over completely.
it's like the general went loco
and hired a chimp to run around in the factory, randomly splatting bananas on the trucks he wanted to have the "e" version. i picture him wearing a hat like dick tracy's and a red tie. i bet that was cool.
I don't think it's that hard. I can't find anything saying the 4L60E existed prior to '93, car or truck. I personally don't believe it did. The 4L80E was first, and it took a couple of years for the 4L60E to come out. I believe if anyone thinks they saw a 4L60E prior to '93, it was a 4L80E. If there was a 4L60E available in '91, it would HAVE to be in the service manual for that year or an addendum, period. If the documentation doesn't exist, neither did the transmission. 
I'm about to go research camaro brochures, and see if I can find some for the trucks around '91-94.
Can't find much info on the Camaro or trucks really, 1992 was still 700R4/4L60 for the Camaro, '94 first year 4L60E, that much I could find.
Don't forget, auto manufacturers can not "throw together" drivetrain combinations. Any drivetrain sold must be EPA certified, they can't just throw in any leftover engine or transmission in, as that affects the EPA testing. The combination HAS to be certified by the EPA prior to sale.
I'm about to go research camaro brochures, and see if I can find some for the trucks around '91-94.
Can't find much info on the Camaro or trucks really, 1992 was still 700R4/4L60 for the Camaro, '94 first year 4L60E, that much I could find.
Don't forget, auto manufacturers can not "throw together" drivetrain combinations. Any drivetrain sold must be EPA certified, they can't just throw in any leftover engine or transmission in, as that affects the EPA testing. The combination HAS to be certified by the EPA prior to sale.
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Mudstud
1/2 ton status
What about what j**p did around 86 when they seem to have used older parts on the newer vehicles. Same moddle year could have came with any variety of front axle or engine etc.---- as i understand it anyways.
There is no reason they can't make multiple variants in the same body line, but those variations still have to be certified. For instance, GM couldn't put 4.56's in a 1991 R/V Blazer without EPA stamp of approval just because they had some laying around, or someone wanted them. (Of course vehicles destined for overseas or government use aren't required to meet passenger vehicle emissions standards, so there ARE variations we might not be able to get our hands on normally)
Since approving each drivetrain combination costs money, for the auto companies it makes $$ sense to provide the lowest number of options available. Fewer optional transmissions, engines, and gear ratios=more money for the manufacturer.
Since approving each drivetrain combination costs money, for the auto companies it makes $$ sense to provide the lowest number of options available. Fewer optional transmissions, engines, and gear ratios=more money for the manufacturer.
vortec
1/2 ton status
that makes some sense, but doesn't explain away some of the unusual things they did. for instance, my friend had a 93 s10 blazer with a wimpy 4.3L. her parents had a 93 with a much more potent 4.3L. hers was tbi and theirs had the "spider" injector setup. both were bought new from the dealer. they had a horrible time trying to find parts for that thing. apparently, they were so rare that none of the parts stores kept stuff in stock. i don't remember how much the manual said about it.
You can guarantee that if it was cost effective somehow (enough leftover parts, expensive parts, etc) then they would get it certified and sell it.
I'm sure some stuff manufacturers do take a loss on, for brand promotion, etc. Or vehicles like the Aztec lol.
I'm sure some stuff manufacturers do take a loss on, for brand promotion, etc. Or vehicles like the Aztec lol.
Since each seperate model has to be certified individually, it is possible that perhaps suburbans had 4L60Es while K5s and pickups had 4L60s. I have an R/V/P manual at home, I'll check it out later and see if there is any mention of a 4L60E.
BTW, most vehicles are self-certified by the manufacturer and never have to be tested by the EPA. I think the EPA audits a small fraction of all the "certified" car and truck combinations and issues big fines if a self-certified vehicle is found out of compliance. That doesn't mean it is cheap to test and self-certify, but I don't think it is as big of an issue to the GMs of the world as keeping the factories running smoothly (but well below capacity
) by having fewer variations.
BTW, most vehicles are self-certified by the manufacturer and never have to be tested by the EPA. I think the EPA audits a small fraction of all the "certified" car and truck combinations and issues big fines if a self-certified vehicle is found out of compliance. That doesn't mean it is cheap to test and self-certify, but I don't think it is as big of an issue to the GMs of the world as keeping the factories running smoothly (but well below capacity
) by having fewer variations.
It's good now.
No 4L60E in 1991 for trucks, just looked in the manual, and it specifies 4L80E or 4L60.
No 4L60E in 1991 for trucks, just looked in the manual, and it specifies 4L80E or 4L60.
