Need Transmission advice

jedi3622 · 08-25-2008, 06:31 PM

Hi this is my first post. I need some help, I just bought a 97 1500 with 5.7 and 4l60e 4WD. The transmission was bad. I have removed it and was in the process of trying to find a new one, well new to me but used, and to find out that in my area they are a highly sought item. My question is without having to tear the trans apart to change the output shaft, is there any other transmission that i can use like a blazer trans or a tahoe trans or any other year that will work woth the electronics inside the trans. Any ideas will help!!!!! Thanks tons in advance.

heavychevy85 · 08-25-2008, 07:08 PM

i don't know personaly but i'm sure some of these senior members can help ya out so just hold on be patient and i was wondering what area are you from

jedi3622 · 08-25-2008, 07:09 PM

Hey I see you are from muncy I am from Towanda. Of course you probably haven't heard of it noone ever has. I am North of scranton about an hour close to the NY state line.

z07 · 08-25-2008, 07:20 PM

The entire 700r4 lineage is plagued by the 3-4 clutch pack failures. Buying a used one will only put a little bit of time on the clock. But if you get it rebuilt by someone who knows them they can address the known issues with better than stock parts at cheaper than dealer prices.

87c10slammer · 08-25-2008, 07:59 PM

were getting alot of guys from pa n here. lol welcome to the club

brad4eva · 08-25-2008, 09:03 PM

Yeah! no fair

im from tn no one here from tn but me!! and also DO NOT BUY A USED 4L60E get it rebuilt YOU will regret it if you don't

gmctrucks · 08-26-2008, 12:42 AM

I agree get the 4l60e rebuilt it's cheaper in the long run this time have (THE BEAST) Sun shell put on this trans along with HD parts it will last longer.

PAPA BEAR · 08-26-2008, 06:08 AM

i agree with zO7 and Gmc a beast and other up grades make for a better transmission

jedi3622 · 08-26-2008, 10:58 AM

Well a rebuilt is still an option but not for at least a few weeks maybe even a month or two or even three. I would really like to get it up and running just so I can have it. Some of the u pull it yards up here only charge 50-75 per trans so if I could throw a used one at it till I can afford to purchase a rebuilt one I will. And also is the 4L80E a heavier duty trans versus the 4L60E and is it a direct swap?

75K30 · 08-26-2008, 11:38 AM

Is it an 80E direct swap for a 60E????
In a word, no. While they will bolt up with minimal modifications, the small modifications do not make this a real good solution. Since this is an electronic transmission, your controller will not only not plug in, it will not control the 80E trans.
While you are at the salvage yard, you may check to see what the real cost of this transmission will run. I find it hard to believe that a 4L60E, or 80E can sell for 50 bucks.
Core charges are far greater than this. Heak, if you could buy them for this price, you should buy every one you could get your hands on. You can sell them as cores for far more money.
These are expensive transmissions, and sell for more money than you think.
Around my area, even a core Th350 or 400 brings more money than 50 bucks.
You will also want to make sure you get the correct transmission for the right engine.
LS"X" engines use a different bellhousing than the earlier gen engines. Truth is that they will bolt up except for one bolt, but thetorque converters are metric for the later LS engines, and this will not bolt up.
This can be an easy repair, but could get ugly in a hurry. Save your time and money, and do it right the first time.
Balancing that transfer case and trans is not a fun job, and doing it over and over agin just does not sound appealing to me.
I would never install a used transmission in anything for the above reasons.
Doing it right the first time is a time and money saver in the long run.

08-25-2008, 06:31 PM	#1
jedi3622 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Towanda,PA Posts: 7	Need Transmission advice Hi this is my first post. I need some help, I just bought a 97 1500 with 5.7 and 4l60e 4WD. The transmission was bad. I have removed it and was in the process of trying to find a new one, well new to me but used, and to find out that in my area they are a highly sought item. My question is without having to tear the trans apart to change the output shaft, is there any other transmission that i can use like a blazer trans or a tahoe trans or any other year that will work woth the electronics inside the trans. Any ideas will help!!!!! Thanks tons in advance.

08-25-2008, 09:03 PM	#6
brad4eva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 331	Yeah! no fair im from tn no one here from tn but me!! and also DO NOT BUY A USED 4L60E get it rebuilt YOU will regret it if you don't __________________ //B-rad

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08-25-2008, 07:08 PM	#2
heavychevy85 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Muncy, PA Posts: 262	i don't know personaly but i'm sure some of these senior members can help ya out so just hold on be patient and i was wondering what area are you from

08-25-2008, 07:09 PM	#3
jedi3622 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Towanda,PA Posts: 7	Hey I see you are from muncy I am from Towanda. Of course you probably haven't heard of it noone ever has. I am North of scranton about an hour close to the NY state line.

08-25-2008, 07:20 PM	#4
z07 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 176	The entire 700r4 lineage is plagued by the 3-4 clutch pack failures. Buying a used one will only put a little bit of time on the clock. But if you get it rebuilt by someone who knows them they can address the known issues with better than stock parts at cheaper than dealer prices.

08-25-2008, 07:59 PM	#5
87c10slammer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 2,197	were getting alot of guys from pa n here. lol welcome to the club

08-26-2008, 12:42 AM	#7
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,966	I agree get the 4l60e rebuilt it's cheaper in the long run this time have (THE BEAST) Sun shell put on this trans along with HD parts it will last longer.

08-26-2008, 06:08 AM	#8
PAPA BEAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 112	i agree with zO7 and Gmc a beast and other up grades make for a better transmission

08-26-2008, 10:58 AM	#9
jedi3622 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Towanda,PA Posts: 7	Well a rebuilt is still an option but not for at least a few weeks maybe even a month or two or even three. I would really like to get it up and running just so I can have it. Some of the u pull it yards up here only charge 50-75 per trans so if I could throw a used one at it till I can afford to purchase a rebuilt one I will. And also is the 4L80E a heavier duty trans versus the 4L60E and is it a direct swap?

08-26-2008, 11:38 AM	#10
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,630	Is it an 80E direct swap for a 60E???? In a word, no. While they will bolt up with minimal modifications, the small modifications do not make this a real good solution. Since this is an electronic transmission, your controller will not only not plug in, it will not control the 80E trans. While you are at the salvage yard, you may check to see what the real cost of this transmission will run. I find it hard to believe that a 4L60E, or 80E can sell for 50 bucks. Core charges are far greater than this. Heak, if you could buy them for this price, you should buy every one you could get your hands on. You can sell them as cores for far more money. These are expensive transmissions, and sell for more money than you think. Around my area, even a core Th350 or 400 brings more money than 50 bucks. You will also want to make sure you get the correct transmission for the right engine. LS"X" engines use a different bellhousing than the earlier gen engines. Truth is that they will bolt up except for one bolt, but thetorque converters are metric for the later LS engines, and this will not bolt up. This can be an easy repair, but could get ugly in a hurry. Save your time and money, and do it right the first time. Balancing that transfer case and trans is not a fun job, and doing it over and over agin just does not sound appealing to me. I would never install a used transmission in anything for the above reasons. Doing it right the first time is a time and money saver in the long run.