What to replace 4L60E with?

[98chevy2500SS]

I am with @df2x4 on this, 4L80E all the way. When my 60 goes out, a 4L80E in it goes!

 

[Curt]

Nah, I just put it in Drive and basically floor it every possible opportunity because I love how my exhaust sounds. I never shift it manually. I also plan to do some towing and off-roading in the future, as well as maybe a mild lift. All stuff hard on the trans.



Thank you for the recommendation, Pleasanton is only like an hour from me... I'm so tempted to buy the $1200 or so transmission through work but I'm hesitant because it is a stock rebuilt unit by a company that does thousands of trannies a day so they don't really actually care if it works out long term.

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No problem. If you want a second opinion on that rebuilt transmission, you could call Alan and inquire about it. It took me by surprise when he started talking about the different companies and his experience with them and hearing his opinion about companies and their products.

I personally wouldn't put a 4L60e in my truck again, killed it's second one after 60k miles on the replacement (100k on the original). This 4L65e shifts nice with the vette servo. My guess is that the 4L65e trans will either outlive the GM crate motor replacement, or at least die when the engine dies. I drive my truck with a heavy foot from time to time, I tow with it, and I 4x4 with it so time will tell...

EDIT: Fixed a typo.

 

[jdla140]

I wouldn't say i'm an advocate for the 60e (nearly every 60e equipped truck I've ever owned has had a trans put in at one point) but unless you have 4.10 gears you probably won't be overly happy with the 80e. It'll be a total dog around town every time you have to take off from a light. even my 6.5 was doggy down low compared to my 6.2. If you have the trans rebuilt with even just a shift kit it should easily outlast the stock one easily. if it doesn't it wasn't built right. Hell I put a 4.3 blazer trans behind the 5.3 in a 99 silverado I owned, had 233k on it but it worked great. it was a blast with the high stall torque converter and a g80!

EDIT: I'd also suggest having a 5 pinion planetary to effectively upgrade it to a 65e. My Sierra Denali's lasted 301k behind an lq4, my 6.2 tore out a 4l60e in 90k miles (and it doesn't even have a hitch....)

 

[Supercharged111]

65E seems like a waste. How many of you are detonating planetaries? You're all smoking 3-4 clutch packs, killing bands, and exploding other hard parts. A 5 pinion planetary won't save you from the usual modes of failure or fix the inherent weakness of the transmission. Yes they can be built stronger than stock but it's still a huge time bomb IMO. OP it sounds like you don't beat on your truck bear as hard as you think you do. Merely flooring it does not equate to abuse.

 

[df2x4]

You're all smoking 3-4 clutch packs

 

[Daniel Brown]

Normally I don't pipe in on such conversations because I am not a trans guy but, that being said. My 96 has a 460e in it with 246,000 miles. I did notice it beginning to slip a bit so I decided that before replacing the whole trans I would try a couple of things. 1st I flushed the trans and refilled it with dex6, then replaced both the servos with corvette servos and a longer shaft. As it turns out, the darn thing has more life in it still. Would I try and pull a trailer across the US? oh hell no. But for running around every day, hauling rock and dirt and such it seems to be holding up quiet well.
That's my 2 cents.

 

[malibu795]

4L80 "98 and newer the better.. cast to steel pistons, cast to steel/billet steel TCC piston, 34 element sprag is stock older ones had 8 or 16 roller style sprag newer has better oiling as well center bearing support better shafts, biggest tell tale is cooler lines are split one up front like the 350/400/460s and early model 480s late models have cooler line at the rear..
will need something to adjust the gear ratios between the 4l60 and 4l80

 

[smdk2500]

How many of you are detonating planetaries?

I know this is a old post but I did. I don't know how but I did it.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I know this is a old post but I did. I don't know how but I did it.

I have killed 2 sets of 700r4/4L60E planets myself. Along with an input shaft/drum and a 4L65E case. Sheared the aluminum lugs that hold the steels for the low/reverse clutch right off the case.