97 2wd tahoe tranny

[old crewcab]

I have a question in regards to replacing a tranny in a 97 2wd tahoe. will a 4l60e from a earlier model work ( 93-94 ) ? I have been told buy salvage yards this a 1 year specific (97) only. But I ask why and they just say its what computer relays to them. Does anyone have any input on this? It seems to me a truck, tahoe, or suburban 4l60 of most year would work. Any help would be greatly appreciated......thanks dave!!

[tommie]

i have a 97.. never heard of it being a 1 yr only.. when my trans went out, i had it rebuilt, did not go the salvage yard route...

[Alderson95]

i think ur right not about the 1year tranny tho. in 97 gm changed the bell housing design on 4l60e. instead of a halfmoon bell housing they went with a complete detachable bellhousing. i think when they did this it resulted in the trans being about 3in longer than before. because i sold a 2wd 4l60e to a guy with a 99new body style truck. it turned out the trans i sold him was to short for his truck. but he did have the new vortec 5.3lin the truck so im not sure if that would have made a difrence. thats just my 2cents.

[bwood]

I believe the the earilier 93-95 model will bolt up, but will not work with your electronics. If yours is not a two piece bell housing your selection my be limited to just 96 and the 97s like yours. Mine is a 98 with a two piece bell housing. I'm not 100%, but I bet member clinebarger can clarify, he is the man when it comes to transmissions.

[tommie]

my 97 was not a 2 piece bell housing...

and this was the 1st rebuild

[texasfunk]

Hmm..my 99 tahoe isnt a 2-piece either..
Posted via Mobile Device

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

I have a question in regards to replacing a tranny in a 97 2wd tahoe. will a 4l60e from a earlier model work ( 93-94 ) ? I have been told buy salvage yards this a 1 year specific (97) only. But I ask why and they just say its what computer relays to them. Does anyone have any input on this? It seems to me a truck, tahoe, or suburban 4l60 of most year would work. Any help would be greatly appreciated......thanks dave!!

any one else have any more info on this subject? thanks dave

[tommie]

i looked on one of the salvage parts listings i use for a 97 tahoe trans.... it only showed 1997 results... it normally shows the interchange between other years....

maybe it is a 97 only trans.... just never heard of this before...

[clinebarger]

93 & 94 4L60Es are "NON-PWM" and will not work.
LS "300mm" 4L60Es will not work because of the converter spacing.

Your interchange will depend on what 4L60E you have....A 1 peice or a 2 peice case.

The reason for it listing the 97 as a 1 year only is because of the converter clutch friction material...Woven Carbon Fiber Clutch material that was only used on a 1 peice case 4L60E in 97.

The original 700R4 and 93-94 4l60E used an on/off type lockup. Meaning it was off or fully locked on.
In 95 they went to a PWM (pulse width modulated) lockup, which controls the aggressiveness of the apply and release of the torque converter clutch and allows a bit of slippage for a smoother feel.
In 97 GM went to a different strategy called electronically controlled capacity clutch.
In order for this strategy to work a new converter clutch lining had to be developed to withstand the slippage and heat generated. What GM came up with is a woven carbon fiber material that is very porous that allows fluid to flow though it for better heat transfer.
Using a older converter with a graphite composition lining will not work long.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by texasfunk

Hmm..my 99 tahoe isnt a 2-piece either..
Posted via Mobile Device

Thats odd. The 2-peice case came out in 98, But GM could have been using up 1-peice cases I guess.

[tommie]

some other things i found...

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/4l60e.htm

The key distinction of the Later 4L60-E (1997-2006) from the Early 4L60-E (1992-1997) or 4L60 (1990-1992) or 700R4 (1982-1989) is the six-bolt "hex" rear output or tailhousing / adapter pattern. The previous versions featured a four-bolt square bolt pattern at the adapter or tailhousing. Additionally, the removeable bellhousing is also another distinguishing feature.

[old crewcab]

clinebarger, my trans has the one piece case, so if i used my converter with an older 4l60e (pre-97) would this combination work?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

clinebarger, my trans has the one piece case, so if i used my converter with an older 4l60e (pre-97) would this combination work?

Yes, You can use yours or a rebuilt 97 & up converter, It still limits you to 95-97 transmissions. If the trans you have is burnt-up/broke the converter needs to be rebuilt/replaced. & be sure to flush the cooler lines.

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

Yes, You can use yours or a rebuilt 97 & up converter, It still limits you to 95-97 transmissions. If the trans you have is burnt-up/broke the converter needs to be rebuilt/replaced. & be sure to flush the cooler lines.

just to clarify, only 95-97 tranny will work if i use 97 converter. or will 93-97 (4l60e with 1pc case) tranny work with a 97 converter? Sorry to keep asking but I have good deal on a older tranny, but do not want to install if it will not work. Thanks...Dave!

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

just to clarify, only 95-97 tranny will work if i use 97 converter. or will 93-97 (4l60e with 1pc case) tranny work with a 97 converter? Sorry to keep asking but I have good deal on a older tranny, but do not want to install if it will not work. Thanks...Dave!

A 93/94 will not work, They do not have a PWM solenoid.

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

A 93/94 will not work, They do not have a PWM solenoid.

thanks for all of the info!! dave

[old crewcab]

hey clinbarger (or others) found a doner truck '96 1/2ton 4l60e. if i am correct,this tranny will work? you say 97 converter... is it a stand alone piece (at the parts stores) or do i need to ask for something specific? also, how long do you estimate the '96 converter would run if i used the one thats in the doner truck? thanks!!!

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

hey clinbarger (or others) found a doner truck '96 1/2ton 4l60e. if i am correct,this tranny will work? you say 97 converter... is it a stand alone piece (at the parts stores) or do i need to ask for something specific? also, how long do you estimate the '96 converter would run if i used the one thats in the doner truck? thanks!!!

any info?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

hey clinbarger (or others) found a doner truck '96 1/2ton 4l60e. if i am correct,this tranny will work? you say 97 converter... is it a stand alone piece (at the parts stores) or do i need to ask for something specific? also, how long do you estimate the '96 converter would run if i used the one thats in the doner truck? thanks!!!

I whouldnt risk running the converter, But if both the codes on the converters are the same....Go ahead, But I highly doubt they will be.

If you run the wrong converter.....The lock-up clutch plate will burn up.

You can have your 97 converter rebuilt. Or buy one. The actual name is Torque Converter.

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

I whouldnt risk running the converter, But if both the codes on the converters are the same....Go ahead, But I highly doubt they will be.

If you run the wrong converter.....The lock-up clutch plate will burn up.

You can have your 97 converter rebuilt. Or buy one. The actual name is Torque Converter.

clinebarger, the reason for all of the questions is that this tranny and torque converter was put in about a couple of years ago, but there are not a lot of miles on it. that being said i am wondering if i got hosed on my purchase. with all of the info i have been gathering (mostly from you-thanks) it sounds like all the characteristics of wrong components. now, after all of that, will a 95,96,97 4l60e with a new 97 torque converter do the trick? If I go to the parts houses there should only be one listing for the converter (97 only) ?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by old crewcab

will a 95,96,97 4l60e with a new 97 torque converter do the trick? If I go to the parts houses there should only be one listing for the converter (97 only) ?

Match the code on the converter that "originally" came on your truck!
Yes you can run those year transmissions.

[old crewcab]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

Match the code on the converter that "originally" came on your truck!
Yes you can run those year transmissions.

no original converter to match numbers with. so parts house converter for '97 hopefully will do the trick?? thanks