Does anyone know the exact reason why the trans are year specific? 99-00, 01 only, 02 only, and 03-06? I have a 01 that the trans just grenaded in and can not find another 01 to save my life for under $700. I want to know why a trans from a 2000 or 2002 won't work in an 01?

 

I put a 01 firebird tranny into my 98 Z28,works fine for 4 years now.

 

Any '98 - '07 4L60E with a 300mm input shaft (indicated by bolt hole in the 12 O'clock position of the bell housing) and FWD will work perfectly in your '01.
Ideally I would aim for a '03-'07, preferably a 4L65E.
While there are some incompatible differences in the early years and the later years, your '01 will work with the wide range I indicated.
Note that some '98 (maybe some '99) from V6 engines had the incompatible 298mm input shaft. Also all C5 Vettes had the 298mm input shaft and should be avoided.

 

mrvedit good info!

I'm wondering about vehicles that didn't get the ls platform until 03 (cargo vans is all i can think of off the top of my head). Up until 02 they still got the old school vortec 5.7

Do they share the same bellhousing, input/output shafts etc?

I guess this is one area i've just never looked into in depth

 

No those years with the 5.7 while they did get the bolt on bell still used the earlier input shaft and the more shallow bell. You cannot retro the LS styles to it as the converter pilot is to long unless you have a custom converter made.

As for the 98 up LS1 styles they can be used from 98 to 2008 some 2007 and all 2008 did ad an ISS input speed sensor but since no circuit exist earlier model simply don't see it . As for some 2007 and all 2008 they do require the ISIS while earlier models will install and work you will be stuck with a check engine light and ISIS code that last I heard cannot be turned off in tuning,

 

Actually I think that the ISS started in some '05 and most '06 4L60E. As stated, your '01 will not even connect to the ISS pins and therefore ignore it.
Somewhere around 2009 a significant and incompatible change was made - the 3-2 downshift solenoid was deleted; these also have a different connector key and pinout.
I believe that these were all called 4L70E although perhaps some '07 and '08 models were also called 4L70E.
IMHO GM should have changed the model number when they made various incompatible changes.

 

So, even if i were to swap bellhousings from the vortec style to LS style, the input shafts would be different? Are they the 298mm shaft? are the lengths different? These crossover years really get ya!

 

Yes they would be completely different - the LS is a 300mm input shaft and the LT style is a completely different 298mm input shaft.
They take different converters.

 

Ok, so riddle me this, just for sh--s and giggles. If i were to say, take a 99 vortec bellhousing 4l60, rebuild it with the 300mm shaft, pump stator,and a new ls bell housing, would I be in business?

 

I might be missing a detail, but yes, you can convert a 298mm into a 300mm trans by swapping the input shaft, the pump and the bell housing.
I'm not sure if swapping just the stator shaft on the pump is enough, but swapping the entire pump should do it. And this only applies to '96+ transmissions as the '94 and '95 are incompatible with anything else.

However, since you are talking about a 15+ year old trans, when you open it up you may tear the teflon rings on the input shaft and stator shaft and see/cause other problems which are best handled with a complete rebuild. If the trans was rebuild recently, then no problem.

 

Got it. I figured that was the case. I'm not sure why anyone would want/need to do this, but I just got curious if it could be done.

As always mrvedit, thanks for your library full of knowledge!

 

"Would work" has many different meanings.
It will only work if you add a spacer and mod the flexplate.
Not downshifting is likely an electrical or PCM problem.
However, if it is determine it is an internal trans problem, then your trans is only worth a core. Instead of using it, get an LS-style 300mm input shaft trans, which will definitely be '98 or later.

 

What years can fit in it i lost 2nd and 4th in mine throwing code for 1-2 solenoid 2-3 solenoid wondering if theyre worth replacing or should i replace trans has 240000 on stock trans

 

I have an 04 suburban with the 4L60E 4 wheel drive the Trans. Crapped out. Trying to swap with a 99 4L60E 4 wheel dr. Out of a suburban with a trash motor. Will I run into any issues?

 

The 1999 Suburban should have a Gen-I Small Block Chevy V8 Engine...
The 2004 would have a Gen-III/ IV Small Block Chevy V8 Engine.

The 2 Transmissions are not a Direct swap.

Find a Transmission from the same Engine Family (Gen-III/ IV Small Block Chevy V8).

 

I suspect that the '99 for a Suburban is the older 298mm type transmission. You need a 300mm which will have a bell housing bolt hole in the 12 O-Clock position.
Look for a 4L60E from between 2002 and 2008. Yes, the 2006+ with ISS will work in an old vehicle.

 

Will a 4L60e 4WD from an 02 4.3 blazer work in a 04 Silverado 5.3 that’s also 4WD? The trucks 4WD is floor shift and the blazer has push button im not sure if that makes a difference?

 

I'm having similar problem

I own a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 4WD with a faulty transmission. Luckily, a friend gave me a 4l60e transmission. However, I noticed some differences. While the bell housing holes lined up, I realized that the shafts were different. After conducting some research, I discovered that my truck has an LS motor and requires a 300m shaft, while the one my friend gave me is for a non-LS motor with a 298m shaft. Both have a removable bell housing and the same bolt pattern, if my understanding is correct. Some people have suggested that all I need to do is get a 4l80 flywheel and a different converter and it should work. However, when I brought this up to my boyfriend, he seemed to ignore my suggestion. Maybe because I'm a female, I don't know. Does anyone have knowledge on this topic? I hope my explanation was clear.

 

Please see posts #9-#12 above. They answered your question...

Not sure where you got that information about the 4L80e; that's a completely different transmission and you don't need to that and it won't work on the 4L60e as far as I know.