95 k1500 transmision advice

[Yeedonkey]

So I have this 1995 k1500 that I recently bought that needs a transmision. Its a 4l60e and slips in reverse. I have a 4l60e with 140k on it that i can swap in but i was wondering about a 4l80 swap. this truck will be getting a low mile vortec motor (5.7) with a cam, headers and the tbi mods and possibly some other stuff. will be used mostly for towing, hauling, and when i go hunting and fishing
so what would yall do?
stock 4l60e for now then a built 4l80
build the 4l60 and see how long it lasts
or just do a built 4l80 and be done with it
also while im asking whats a good cam and anything i should do to the vortec motor before i swap it in its in a wrecked truck with 20k on it
if it changes anything my foot is made of solid lead so keep that in mind

 

[df2x4]

if it changes anything my foot is made of solid lead so keep that in mind

Considering that info, I would strongly recommend the 4L80E swap.

 

[PWC Repair]

I shifted out my 700r4 at over 6000 rpm waaayyy too many times to count over a 15 year period......in a 4000# suv.....ran 1/4 mile times in the 14's......put over 80,000 miles on it and was still going when I parked it.
The 4l60 will handle it if built correctly, if it doesn't last.....it wasn't built right.

 

[Yeedonkey]

Considering that info, I would strongly recommend the 4L80E swap.

thanks for that
is there a build kit and torque convertor that you recomend? when i do it i want to do it once and be done with it
also what is the wiring like from 4l60-4l80? will i have to do a bunch or is it just plug and play?

 

[Yeedonkey]

I shifted out my 700r4 at over 6000 rpm waaayyy too many times to count over a 15 year period......in a 4000# suv.....ran 1/4 mile times in the 14's......put over 80,000 miles on it and was still going when I parked it.
The 4l60 will handle it if built correctly, if it doesn't last.....it wasn't built right.

is there a build that you recomend? how much would this cost compared to the swap cost to a bigger transmision?

 

[1997]

95 is a 1 year only transmission (truck).
What year is your replacement?

vortec "tbi mods" what's that about?

 

[Yeedonkey]

95 is a 1 year only transmission (truck).
What year is your replacement?

vortec "tbi mods" what's that about?

1 year how? and btw the good transmsion is a 95 also
i have a crate motor with vortec heads witch make more power than the pre-96 trucks
tbi mods are just little things people do to the stock throttle bodys to try and get more power as i will be using the stock 95 efi system and a tbi intake for vortec heads
just to clarify the vortec motor is a 96-98 small block 350, not an ls based vortec

 

[tayto]

1995 is a 1 year only trans vs 93/94 & 1996+ it is first year with PWM TCC valve and last year of the PWM 3-2 solenoid (it went to an on/off arrangement in 1996). you can block the 3-2 solenoid and this would be an non-issue of what year core you use. I do this on all my builds now.

4L80E swap will require the correct PROM and wiring changes. you can repin the 4L60e connector but will need to run a new twisted pair for the extra speed sensor on the 4L80e

 

[df2x4]

thanks for that
is there a build kit and torque convertor that you recomend? when i do it i want to do it once and be done with it
also what is the wiring like from 4l60-4l80? will i have to do a bunch or is it just plug and play?

I have a thread on the 4L80E swap in my red truck here ('97 C1500 4.3L).

https://www.gmt400.com/threads/97-c1500-4l60e-to-4l80e-swap.38819/

I used a $500 junkyard 4L80E that came with what I assume was the stock V8 converter, it's been working great for the past five years or so. If you want something built, I've heard nothing but good things about Gearstar and Hughes.

As tayto mentioned most of the wiring can be done at the transmission connector, and there are people who sell conversion harnesses if you don't feel like repinning that yourself. More info here, scroll down to "wiring conversion."

https://sites.google.com/site/sloppywiki/everything-ls/4l80e-info

The PCM info there is for LS vehicles, so disregard the two pins it tells you to run the ISS wires to at the PCM. You can find those two pins on your stock PCM by checking the factory service manual for your year, available here.

https://www.gmt400.com/threads/88-98-service-manuals.43575/

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I shifted out my 700r4 at over 6000 rpm waaayyy too many times to count over a 15 year period......in a 4000# suv.....ran 1/4 mile times in the 14's......put over 80,000 miles on it and was still going when I parked it.
The 4l60 will handle it if built correctly, if it doesn't last.....it wasn't built right.

Strongly disagree, 4L80E pulled out of the mud is stronger than anything you can do to a 4L60E. My stock 60E failed at 38K miles. The built up 4L65E lasted 40K. My 110K mile junkyard pull 4L85E has handled loads of abuse, towing and plenty of WOT downshifts and upshifts since it has been in place.