Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

Like the title says... 1st year for factory 4L80E in a (non-diesel, 8 lug) K2500 - anyone know?

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

1991

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

Thank you! Had found a few different answers, wanted to confirm. Now for the bonus round - did it become standard equipment (of an automatic was ordered) or was it an optional transmission that year (if an automatic was ordered)? Thanks for your help.

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

The 4L80E was the only automatic offered in 8 lug trucks starting in 91. The only way to get a TH400 in 91 was to buy a leftover from the previous year.

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

Thanks! Guess that's why it's so hard to find a decent, low mile, 91-94 K2500...

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

Well, I almost jumped on this - but have a fairly long commute, so O/D is kind of a must for a dd. This seems to be an exception to the rule for 91s with 4L80Es. All others 91 8 lugs I've looked at have had the 4L80E (as you mentioned 95 S), and all the 90s have had a TH400, so this must've been either special ordered (if that was even possible) or a very very early production in the model year: https://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/d...658482472.html

a different truck, a 95 K2500 with only 40K miles, slipped thru my hands by being a few hours late to call the seller last week - DOH! - there just don't seem to be many left that aren't trashed, have mega-high mileage, or something wacky going on. I thought the reg cab K2500s would be a bit more plentiful! They sure were when I was shopping for one in the mid-90s... Seriously looking for a 93-94 Reg cab long bed K2500 in a color that doesn't suck and with fairly low mileage - that kinda scratches all my itches.

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

I suspect in 1991 the TH400 was the base automatic and overdrive might have been an option.

I have a (1989 I think) shop truck with a 4.3lV6 and a TH400. Base truck where they wanted an automatic but didn't order an OD

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

I think '92 was the first year only the 4L80E was available for automatic. I have no facts, but would make sense since that was the first full-line year for GMT400s. They never offered the NV4500 in any squarebody built through '91. I think the 4L80E was an option, same as the 700r4 was before that in squarebodies. It may have been standard in GMT400s but TH400 still offered in squarebodies and available for GMT400?

I think clean used low mile trucks are hard to find because people are hanging onto them as the best/oldest modern truck to drive. They run forever and are a cost effective older vehicle to run yet. Repair bills and diagnostics are way easier/cheaper than issues with newer ones you pay more for in the first place. I daily drove my '92 (work truck) from new for 22 years. I found a three year newer Suburban with 120k and that is my daily driver (work truck) now. Very reliable. I was looking for a pickup or utility body and what I found was, on the average, you could buy a comparable Suburban for a minimum of $1,500 cheaper than a pickup. I figure an old pickup is still very useful and an old Suburban is just an older SUV with no status points left with way less features than newer ones. They make great old do it all trucks, though! I'm thinking about buying another loaded one. You can find them clean much easier as well.

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

There aren't very many low mileage 27yr old anythings on the road. Even rarer when a vehicle used to do work stays that way.

Re: Factory 4L80E in a K2500 - what was the first year?
 

I dunno, low mile trucks a decade or two older than that keep showing up. And low mile with these means 100k +/-. My K2500 Suburban had 120k on it at 20 years old when I bought it. That's low miles.