chevy 1500 transmissions

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

The 4l60e is a 700r4 but it is electronic. These are petty good transmissions from what I have seen.

A buddy of mine has a 1990(?) 1/2 ton with a 700 series behind a 305. The truck now has almost 350,000 miles on the original motor (which has oil pressure issues and is in need of a rebuild). He got nearly 275,000 miles out of his 700 series before it needed a rebuild. Not bad by my standards.

 

[Jspafford]

When they get about 150K on them, the plastic tube that runs fluid to the rear of the tranny crumbles and the planitary gearset runs without proper lubrication- it'll start making noise in low and reverse but the noise goes away once it shifts out of low- the needle bearings from the planitary fly all over the tranny and then it is toast. If you catch it early they are rebuildable. Not a bad transmission overall.

It happens at exactally 150K? Damn those engineers are good. Does the warranty run out on it at 149999K?

I think the only 1500 that got the 4L80 was the 1500HD. It had a lot of the 2500 features.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I'd like to know why they are such a good transmission in the 1500, but they crap out on the Camaros... It's not just mine either... I know a friend who has the same problem with his, he bought his with 20k miles on it, and is super anal about everything (oil change at or before 3k miles, he took time off work to get his oil changed) and his car is bone stock... I know poor maintenance and modifications have probably made mine crap out earlier than most, but I still hear of them doing poorly... Maybe automatic tranny's just hate me, lol...

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Does the warranty run out on it at 149999K

Wow... 149,999,000 miles is one heck of a warranty, haha...

 

[alaskan155]

i say just toss a turbo400 in and be done with it best chevy auto in my opinion, the th375 is next, then maybe the 700r4(which i would say is the Chevy equivalant to an AOD)

 

[snake]

It happens at exactally 150K? Damn those engineers are good. Does the warranty run out on it at 149999K?



Hmmm... If you examine the quote closely, I believe the word "about" is in there. Comparable words, "or so", "approximately", even, "almost" etc. Just like you "almost" spelled "exactally" correctly.

Exactly. e-x-a-c-t-l-y. Exactly. Now we're all cleared up and can move on.

 

[ryan]

FWIW advanced adapters has an adapter to put a 700r4 behind a 4.0. if your engine is good, it's cheaper than putting a 4.3 or 350 in

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

FWIW advanced adapters has an adapter to put a 700r4 behind a 4.0. if your engine is good, it's cheaper than putting a 4.3 or 350 in

I think they also made a kit to put a AOD behind the 4.0 as well, but then the 4.0 was never offered in a GM 1500 pickup.

 

[KELLY88]

Here you go hope this helps you out.. Also I was wondering what your swapping the trans in... http://www.ls1truck.com/forums/front-page-news/14163-how-4l60e-4l80e-trans-swap.html

Even though it wasn't RBV that was still a really good write up.

 

[bobbywalter]

the later units break on hard upshifts they dont generally see in 1500's


seems a few of the v8 equipped f body guys occasionally
tend to drive a little more aggressivly then 1500 owners

 

[JohnnyU]

There are different components used between truck and car applications. Don't beleive me? Call a transmission shop and ask for a quote on a rebuild. The good shops/techs will ask you what the trans is out of, as well as what you intend to do with it. They aren't just doing that for conversation's sake. I've been inside and around more 700's than than any other transmission. When built with aftermarket parts, they're darm near bullet proof. Granted a Powerglide might be stronger yet, but the extra two gears are much more preferable.

You'll be fine with the 60E; you could always go with a transgo shift kit, mag-hytech deep sump pan and a larger cooler with synthetic fluid if you want extra insurance.

 

[bobbywalter]

There are different components used between truck and car applications. Don't beleive me? Call a transmission shop and ask for a quote on a rebuild. The good shops/techs will ask you what the trans is out of, as well as what you intend to do with it. They aren't just doing that for conversation's sake. I've been inside and around more 700's than than any other transmission. When built with aftermarket parts, they're darm near bullet proof. Granted a Powerglide might be stronger yet, but the extra two gears are much more preferable.

You'll be fine with the 60E; you could always go with a transgo shift kit, mag-hytech deep sump pan and a larger cooler with synthetic fluid if you want extra insurance.

well i used to think that too. if you been building trannies and know the 700 and the later 60's factory hard parts then you know they leave alot to be desired...it comes down to long term use reliability and cost. this is why the poor f body and typhoon/syclone bastards step up to the 4l80 beast. they do use a little more fuel and power for sure...but compared to a 3 speed they are way ahead.

i am waffing myself between building a nice 700 myself right now or keeping the 4l80 in my ranger...i like the 4l80, but it is computere controlled and under the truck so i have some reservations with it, but it does have great default to second and keeps reverse so its definatly livable...i may even just put one of my aod's behind the damn 6.5 as i have bullet proof versions of that already so i would be money ahead....

but that 307 gear sure is nice to have wheelin.



the bottom line here is this.....


if i were looking for a tow rig...i would be looking for a 4l80..cause i dont want to have to r&r and rebuild a tranny 3 times to get it "ok" when i can just do a vb upgrade and go like hell..

 

[JohnnyU]

Behind a stock 5.3 towing a Ranger though? The factory parts while not the best available, would get the job done the few times he's going to use it.

While for overkill's sake, I could tell you that you HAVE to have at least a 3/4 Ton truck with a 300+hp diesel and Allison, I honestly don't think that's necessary.

 

[bobbywalter]

Behind a stock 5.3 towing a Ranger though? The factory parts while not the best available, would get the job done the few times he's going to use it.

While for overkill's sake, I could tell you that you HAVE to have at least a 3/4 Ton truck with a 300+hp diesel and Allison, I honestly don't think that's necessary.

yeah....trucks a tow bitch though....so you know others are gonna put it to work...my psd's got/get worked for all kinds of shit i dont want to do.

especially when the wife volunteers your ass...you know what i mean?


he can just tow it with another ranger too...a late model ranger would probably tow that load better then a older 1/2 ton....


well...no, i take that back i would rather tow with the 5.3 and put a better rear end in it....


looking for a tow rig? get a big rear axle and tranny..manual or auto...


otherwise any 1/2 ton will do.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Yeah, I've been looking around and it looks to be just because the 4L60E's in the F-body LT1's see more of the torque limit of the tranny, plus operating at higher line pressures for firmer shifts, and the "abuse" they normally take is the reason for their problems... I know mine is about to go, the previous owner put one of those "Shift Improver" kits in it instead of a real shift kit... So my 4L60 operates at even higher line pressures, which I've heard is a no no without a real shift kit... If I could find a T-56 they put in the F-body my 4L60 would be gone, haha...