trans question?????

malibujames

Daily Driver
Jan 4, 2009
41
0
0
New Carlisle Ohio
i was reading in a different forum about adapting an ls engine to a th 350 but my question is does anyone make anything to adapt an old small block to a 4l60e or any electronic trans or would it be easier to throw a 700r4 in it for overdrive. and whats the difference it gear setups it is for a street car so not much hp or tq is there.
 

Betcha618

Frequent Racer
Sep 19, 2007
327
0
0
coram, NY
the 700r4 and 4l60's are the same transmission's internally. the only difference would be the "e" which means it has an electronically controlled valve body. you actually wouldn't want that because the stand alone trans control units are like $800-$1200. either get a 700r4 4 speed auto or the 4l60 4 speed auto, both are virtually identical internally but the 4l60 is a little stronger.
 

SSedan64

Dragway Regular
Oct 5, 2009
948
0
0
MACON, GA.
There's no strength difference between the 700R4 & 4L60. GM just changed the designation in 93 from 700R4 to 4L60 = same Trans.. although it does have the most factory upgrades. 700R4's from Trucks with 'K' cast into the Case are thicker castings.
Gears etc..>> http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm
A 2004R Trans would be a much better choice.
 

Betcha618

Frequent Racer
Sep 19, 2007
327
0
0
coram, NY
SSedan64 said:
There's no strength difference between the 700R4 & 4L60. GM just changed the designation in 93 from 700R4 to 4L60 = same Trans.. although it does have the most factory upgrades. 700R4's from Trucks with 'K' cast into the Case are thicker castings.
Gears etc..>> http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm
A 2004R Trans would be a much better choice.

I read the 4l60 has a higher spline count on the input and output shaft then the 700r4.
 

SSedan64

Dragway Regular
Oct 5, 2009
948
0
0
MACON, GA.
82 thru early 85, 700R4/4L60 has 27-Spline Input Shaft same as all 2004R Trans. Early 85 700R4/4L60's Input Shaft changed to 30-Spline.
The TH2004R/200C, TH700R4/4L60/4L60E/65E, TH350 etc.. Output Shafts are 27-Spline.
TH400/3L80 & 4L80E/85E Output Shaft is 32-Spline.
 

Betcha618

Frequent Racer
Sep 19, 2007
327
0
0
coram, NY
thank you for the clarification. some times people write articles that you need a decoder ring to figure out. or they leave out info like the year it changed over. lol.
 

SSedan64

Dragway Regular
Oct 5, 2009
948
0
0
MACON, GA.
Yeah, it does get confusing sometimes.
Another 700R4/4L60 change occured around 87, the "Auxillary Valvebody" was added, which corrected a few internal fluid circuit design problems. The regular 87-92 and 93 T/A & Z-28 models are the best Cores to build. 93 was a transition year to the "E" 4L60E electronically controlled Trans.
 
malibujames said:
i was reading in a different forum about adapting an ls engine to a th 350 but my question is does anyone make anything to adapt an old small block to a 4l60e or any electronic trans or would it be easier to throw a 700r4 in it for overdrive. and whats the difference it gear setups it is for a street car so not much hp or tq is there.

A 4L60E as well as the 4L80E will readily bolt up to a first generation small block engine. No adapters are required. As was previously stated by another member, an aftermarket electronic controller will be required for the 4L60E to function properly in a retro-fit application. The only advantage of retro-fitting a 4L60E is the increased tunability you have with the electronically controlled transmission and aftermarket controller. You can fine tune line pressure, shift firmness, shift speed, and switch between automatic and full manual modes with a properly designed controller. However, the cost associated with this conversion is typically not justified for most street car owners that are simply looking for the advantage of an overdrive transmission.

All gear ratios are identical between the 700R-4, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E, and 4L70E. However, many 4L65E and all 4L70E transmissions feature stronger 5-pinion planetary gear sets. These gear sets will retro-fit into an earlier 700R-4, 4L60, or 4L60E transmission for those people that are looking to help maximize the durability of an earlier transmission in a higher horsepower and/or higher torque application. However, this gear set swap would be entirely unnecessary in a basic low-to-medium horsepower street car. The normal 4-pinion gear sets are more than sufficient for basic cruising and moderate performance use. The 4L60 family of transmissions does offer a 3.06 first gear ratio which can be advantageous for a person that is wanting to increase low gear torque multiplication and performance without having to change rear axle ratios. Of course, this increase in first gear ratio results in a larger RPM drop on the 1-2 shift as compared to the remaining gear changes. This isn't really problem in a street car, but does provide for a different feel in terms of drivability as acceleration is not as linear upon each gear change as compared to other transmissions that have a more balanced spread in gear ratios such as the 200-4R, which features a 2.74 first gear ratio (still an improvement over any 3-speed auto trans first gear ratio).
 

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