The real differences in 700r4/4l60/4l60e transmissions by year

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98_k1500

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I have been compiling this info for a while, finally got around to posting it. I could not find a thread on here that outlined the actual differences in the automatic transmissions of our trucks. Feel free to comment or ask questions if you need anything. I BELIEVE all this is correct, but feel free to correct me if i have made a mistake or overlooked something. Maybe this will help everyone figure out what will and will not work between years.

1988, 89, and 90- 700r4 trans. Nothing changed

1991, 92- Name changed to 4l60. No changes were made from the 700r4.

1993- first year for the 4l60-E. In its simplest terms, it is an electrically controlled 700r4. No PWM. 11 pin connector

1994- NOTHING changed between 93 and 94. Transmissions are directly interchangeable. No PWM. 11 pin connector

1995- Stand alone year. First year for PWM. Has an extra solinoid to control the PWM. 3-2 shift AND TCC are PWM in this trans. Has a different 3-2 control solonoid, and a extra wire in the harness to facilitate the PWM TCC lockup. Addition of a trans mounted neutral safety switch. If you put a 95 trans in a 94, it will not recognise the PWM circuits and will go in to limp mode. If you put a 94 trans in a 95, the check engine light will stay on, and the TCC and the 3-2 clutch pack will burn up after just a few miles. If you put a 96 trans in a 95, the 3-2 clutch pack will also burn up after a few miles. 95 has a 10-15 ohm TCC solenoid and a 10-15 ohm 3-2 solenoid. 12 pin connector.

1996- 3-2 shift is NON-PWM. It was changed back to a on/off arrangement. The 3-2 solenoid was changed to a 20-31 ohm unit. The 3-2 control valve was changed to "design 2". TCC is still PWM and uses the same 10-15 ohm solenoid as a 95. You can create a 95 trans out of a 96 or vice versa, but you have to change the 3-2 solenoid, the valve body, and the separator plate. If only the 3-2 solenoid is changed (and not the valve body casting), the transmission will 'cut loose' on 3-2 downshifts (shift from 3rd to neutral, then to 2nd as the accelerator is released). 12 pin connector.

1997 (one piece bell housing)- Identical to 1996. Direct swap. 12 pin connector.
1997 (two piece bell housing)- Identical to 1996 EXCEPT the addition of a transmission ground wire in the harness. This was done to address poor transmission grounding issues on the previous models. Can be interchanged with the 1 piece bell housing, but the ground wire should be added to the harness if you are using the 2 piece. 2 piece bell housing models also had hardened sun shells to address the sun shell fracture issue common to the previous model automatic transmissions. Identical in fit, function, and design, the material just changed. 13 pin connector.

1998- Identical to 1997 2 piece bell housing.

1999-up Identical to 1998 and 1997 2 piece bell housing
 
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GMRedline

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That looks pretty consistent with everything I have read on the internet.

Do we have active mods on this forum? I have not seen anything new go up as a sticky since I joined.
 

98_k1500

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We do but sometimes it takes a little to get their attention. Im hoping this will get stickied so it will be easy to find.
 

MinnesotaChevy

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I have a what I believe is a 1996 tahoe transmission I was wondering what models and year trucks it would fit
 

MinnesotaChevy

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Well it would fit 96 and 97 four sure.

ok I didnt see that he went so in depth on what the 95 tranny could do and what trans you could out into a 95. I grabbed the tranny for free just for the hell of it. Thought i could put it my friends 95 but i guess not thank you
 

98_k1500

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You can create a 95 trans out of a 96 or vice versa, but you have to change the 3-2 solenoid, the valve body, and the separator plate. If only the 3-2 solenoid is changed (and not the valve body casting), the transmission will 'cut loose' on 3-2 downshifts (shift from 3rd to neutral, then to 2nd as the accelerator is released).

Quoted from above. You can make a 96 work in a 95 or a 95 work in a 96, but you have to change the things mentioned above. It will work in a 95 if you have a donor trans where you can keep the valve body, separator plate, and 3-2 solenoid with the correct year truck.
 

MinnesotaChevy

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Just thought of something what about the drive shaft are all of the transmissions the same length and what about the transfer case sorry not much of a transmission know it all.
 

98_k1500

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All the transmissions themselves are the same. They can be interchanged between 2wd and 4wd by changing the output shaft and tail shaft housing. This is a vairly deeply involved process in these transmissions tho.
 
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