4l60e Transmission

4L60E Transmission

The 4L60E transmission is an automatic transmission with four-speeds.  The highest gear is an overdrive.  It is a now one of the most popular renditions of one of the grandest AOD (automatic overdrive) transmissions ever produced, the 700R4.

The 4L60E transmission is a descendent of the 700R4, which was first introduced in 1982.  It makes use of the turbo-hydramatic technology that was developed and produced by General Motors.  This transmission then went through several changes and improvements.  Eventually GM changed the designation to 4L60, and when electronics were added somewhere somewhere around 1997 electronic shift control was added and it subsequently became known as the 4L60E transmission.

It was released and used in both rear wheel drive vehicles (like the high power c6 Corvette) and four wheel drive applications (such as the C series pickups).  The 4L60E transmission core is essentially the same as its predecessor’s, but the shifting mechanisms (valve body, actuation system for clutches, etc) were changed to be run by electronic actuators and sensors.  The 4L60E transmission now has a very strong aftermarket following, and is a very common swap for automotive enthusiasts of all walks.

You will sometimes see people taking the 4L60E transmission, and in an effort to retrofit it to their application, they will remove the electronically controlled components and replace it with the older mechanical components.  Some individuals know this transmission better as just being an electronically controlled version of the 700R4.

4l60E Transmission Identification

The 4L60E transmission has a three piece cast case, made of aluminum alloy.  The components consist of the bellhousing, main case and tailhousing.  However, with the 4wd 4L60E transmission the tailhousing is omitted allowing an individual to bolt up a transfer case instead.

The key difference between the later and earlier models of the 4L60E transmission is the bolt pattern on the rear output / tailhousing.  The later models (1997-2006) has a 6 bolt “hex” type rear output pattern.  However, the earlier models (1990-1992) of the 4L60E transmission and 700R4 had a four-bolt square pattern for the tail housing. 

As a common replacement in 4wd vehicles such as Jeeps, there are adapters available for nearly all of the more popular transmissions on the market.  With the proper adapter both the 2wd and the 4wd version can easily be adapted to these transfer cases, with the main difference being that the 2wd variety has a slightly longer output shaft. 

Since the 4L60e transmission is electronically controlled by a PCM it requires a certain amount of wiring, but this is easily accomplished by either just adapting it to its original engine, or using a GM Controller (part #12497316).  Carbureted engines are usually better off just using a 700R4 version instead, or they will require a throttle position sensor to be installed in order to work with the 4L60E transmission.

The transmission has since been improved upon several more times, and has stronger versions that are essentially the same but with different model numbers offered.  These include the 4L65E and the 4L70E transmissions.  These versions both have stronger planetary and output shaft strength, but have some new electronics included that can make it difficult to adapt to other vehicles due to compatibility reasons.

In summary the 4L60E transmission is hands down one of the most respectable transmissions of our era, and is a great donor for many vehicles, rather you want to put it in a Jeep or an old hot rod.