flame

iTrader: (13)

The trucks started with the removable bell housing in 96. The cars didn't go that way until 98. I'm using the 97 car trans with the adaptor and one less bolt holding it to the motor. If it were me I'd buy a fresh unit from Performabuilt then you know what you have.

1976CamaroGuy

iTrader: (8)

I ended up buying a 1999 4L60e yesterday from a guy about 2 hours away. The only thing that is different I need to change to work on my 2004 5.3 plug is the P/N switch.

Up until 2003 the switch used two plugs, my 2004 harness used one plug. Both switches look pretty identical as far as bolting to my transmission so I don't think there will be a problem.

If anyone knows otherwise please chime in.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

You should be good to go!

I hope to hear tales of scorched tires and burnt fuel in the near future.

battsup

I finally found a 2wd trans but its 300 miles away. The guy's ad says its out of a '00 LS1 corvette, which from the pics you can see is not possible. It seems to be either out of an F-body or a C4 corvette. I'm having difficulty telling if that bellhousing is removable or not. The more I look at it the more it looks like it isn't. Is there a way to identify this and see if it will bolt right up with a 5.3l?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

That Trans is from a LS1 F-body.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

Yes it is removable, the parting line is behind the small end of the bell housing. The bell housing shape changed once the split cases were made and the removable ones aren't as smooth as their previous cousins. At the tail you can the the torque arm mounts for F-Body. You can also see in the photos the tail shaft is a 6 bolt style where the early ones were four.

All this means it has to be at least a 1998 or newer F-Body LS style tranny. Now go get it, put it in the tranny shop and have it gone through and get on down the road!

battsup

Thanks guys,

I appreciate the clarification. The seller responded to me and this is what he said,

"nope i pulled this 4l60e out of a 2000 corvette that had a LS1 in it and the motor was in the front of the car and this it NOT a transaxle..."

Either this guy is a big liar and may also be lying about the condition of the trans, thinks he an get more money if he pretends it is from a Corvette, he's just an idiot, or he has vision problems and can't distinguish between a Corvette and a Camaro.

battsup

I passed on that trans as the guy seemed very shady. After I called him on his BS he began to claim that it may have come out of a Camaro but he's sure it came out of a 2000 LS1. I noticed today he deleted his original ad and is now advertising it as a 4l60e out of a 2000 Camaro SS.

I've been searching the forums all day but couldn't find a definitive answer. There is a 4l60e 2wd out of a 2003 Savana van for sale 10 minutes away from me. I know it's recommended that the easiest swap with the 5.3's is a 4l60e from a 2wd truck from 2002+, does anyone know if the vans and trucks have the same transmissions? The guy that's selling it thinks they are the same. I called the local wrecker and he said they're different and that is what caused doubts in my mind.

Sorry to keep bothering you guys with these questions, i just don't want to make a mistake.

1976CamaroGuy

iTrader: (8)

I bought one a few weeks ago and the seller said it came out of a 1999 Tahoe...he was going to put it in a Astrovan which would have bolted up.

If the savana van is the GMC version of the astrovan the biggest engine in those were the 4.6 liter V6....which means the transmission may not handle the power with the 5.3.

Also make sure you get the park / neutral switch with the tranny because they cost around $30 new. They also changed the switch design in 2004 so if your engine harness is a 2004 + then you need that version of the switch which costs $55 + . Make sure you grab the dipstick too...that's another $30.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

Remember when something like the Park / Neutral switch changes that changes the part number for the complete transmission "assembly." Yard monkeys are just like parts store monkeys and don't really know what interchanges without a little help because they usually aren't car people - it's just a job. To them a new or different part number is another part number and the monkeys don't know or care why.

As hot rodders, customizers and racers we NEED to know why because there are tons of deals to be had on things that are close to what we need and can be made to fit with little effort. A perfect example is the 5.3 engine...

battsup

Thanks for the help guys! A Savana is the full size van. They come with 5.3's and 6.0's. The transmission I will now be buying was attached to an 03 5.3L engine, I'm going to pick up a '05 L33 to mate to the trans. Intake, injectors, rails, mounts, regulator and pump are all ordered. Looks like i'm on my way now.

deuce4935

iTrader: (2)

Does the complete tear down mean like rebuilding but with adding the 2wd input shaft and a tailhousing. I'm asking because I have an 06' 4wd 4l60-e with very minimal mileage and I wanted to use it on my swap but I've gotten discouraged reading that the 4wd trans requires extensive mods to become a 2wd trans. And I have the tailhousing from an earlier 95' 4l60e that I thought would work.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I mean rebuild. The input shaft is the same from 4X4 and 2WD, the output shaft is where things are different and as you know there is no tail housing on the 4X4. To change output shafts the 4x4 needs to be 99% disassembled as the output shaft is one of the first things to go in the case. If you are taking it down you may as well put in new clutches and such to make it right since doing it later requires yet another complete tear down. The other problem is you also need a 2WD tail and a longer 2WD output shaft.

The tail housing on a new design (split case) trans has six bolts on the tail shaft while the 95 had 4 - no workie, workie.

Can a 4X4 be turned into a 2WD trans? Yes
Is it worth it? In my opinion - No

Unless you have all the right trans parts and tools laying about you will have to pay someone to do this. Factor in the initial cost of said parts and tools vs. paying someone who knows what they are looking at and it's cheaper to start with what you need.

97badass

iTrader: (8)

first: i know this is an old thread, but has great info.
second: so if im reading this correct a 99 truck 4l60e will bolt up and work perfect with my 03 lq4 in my trans am? the donor truck has a gen 1 vortec 350 in it...

1976CamaroGuy

iTrader: (8)

It will physically bolt to the engine but you will need the adapter and six bolts for the flywheel mentioned above

97badass

iTrader: (8)

then the regular ls1 flexplate and t/c will work fine? or should i keep looking?

1976CamaroGuy

iTrader: (8)

Yep those are fine, that's what the adapter and bolts are for. It depends on what you want to do, it's a trade off...you have to offset the costs of the extra parts needed to make it work.

I did this on my 5.3 swap but I am questioning my tranny because the guy that sold it to me may have lied.

I was going to try and find a used replacement and if I did I would look for something close to the same years as my 2004 engine for a direct fit. But that's going to cost a more $$$

But the guys at the camaro forum I frequent said to treat all used tranmissions as cores and inspect and/or rebuild. So I may take the one I have to a shop...and keep the adapter stuff too. It's a 1999 vortec tranny too.

Bottom line, depends on your budget and what you want to spend. Me personally if I had $1200 or more to spend I would get the period correct transmission. But my budget doesn't allow that so I'm making what i have work.

97badass

iTrader: (8)

mine either! haha i bought a bunch of lt1 stuff then decided i was going lq4 a couple days later. and selling lt1 parts is like selling drugs at the police dept.! people want $1500+ for an ls1 t56 and i cant even get $750 out of my lt1 t56

96IMPPUSHA

iTrader: (1)

will a 98-02 Truck/Car 4l60e work with a 96 lt1?

I have a 96 Impala ss im going to put a 05 lq4 in but my current transmission just lost 3/4 cutch. so to aviod buying a ltx trans when im going to go lsx soon I wanted to know if a lsx trans would work with my lt1 until i start my swap.

Thanks, hope this contributes to the thread

Chrome_Rust

iTrader: (4)

I have a trans from a 2002 4.3 Blazer. It is a 4L60E, has the removeable bellhousing. Has the 6414 (i think...) converter. Will I need the the crank adaptor to run this behind a 2000 5.3?