Difference between 4L60 and 4L60E

[MagicRat]

Hi, all.
My 1982 Chevy van (full size) needs a new transmission. It had a THM 700R4.
(This transmission was renamed the 4L60).

I am looking at buying a 1992 full size Chevy van as a donor truck for parts, including the transmission.

Sometime during 1992 - 93, Chevy started putting the electronic shift version of this transmission in the vans, the 4L60E. I do not want one of these.

So, how can I tell if the 1992 truck has an electronic shift version or the older, hydraulic version? I was thinking the electronic shift version would not have a TV (throttle valve) cable, but I am not sure.

Note, both versions use electrical wiring harnesses.

Any thoughts?

[partsmgn]

Most electronic trannies have a wiring harness running to the ecm so the computer can tell the transmission to shift when the engine is at a certain rpm.... on the the old hydrolic shift the transmission shifted when the pump developed enough pressure applied to the emodulator valve (perhaps this is how it shifts electronically) I not to sure of how these tranies really work.... the wiring harness on the older transmissions would probably send rpm and temperature reading (maybe even speed????) to the ecm

[curtis73]

They look darn near identical from the outside, but the "E" version does not have a kick down cable. That's the easiest way to tell the difference quickly.

Try to match up the other components as well. Electrical connectors for TCC lockup, electric/mechanical speedo mounting, cooler lines, and other little nitpicky things changed over the years. Don't assume that any 4L60 will match up perfectly. I tried swapping one from a 91 camaro to a 91 pickup and it was very different. The shift lever was keyed differently for the floor shift, and the four-pin TCC plug was flat instead of round. It took some deep research to get it hooked up.

[partsmgn]

A tranny from a car would be different anyway.... car trannies are designed for crusin not for heavy work like in a truck.... besides putting a car tranny in a truck would not be very good...unless you want fuel milage and speed gearing and not hauling capabilities

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by partsmgn

A tranny from a car would be different anyway.... car trannies are designed for crusin not for heavy work like in a truck.... besides putting a car tranny in a truck would not be very good...unless you want fuel milage and speed gearing and not hauling capabilities

All 700-r4, 4L60, and 4L60E trannys have the same gearing, and almost identical shift points and line pressures across the line regardless of truck or car. The guts are the same, its just the external hookups that are different.

[jonathanwang]

The throttle valve is used to control the amount of air,so l think both the hyraulic and the electronic version have the TV.

[maxwedge]

There is not tv cable on the e version, it is pcm controlled based on inputs for engine load and speed.

[MagicRat]

Thank you for the replies.
I'll look for the TV cable before I buy the 1992 van.

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

There is not tv cable on the e version, it is pcm controlled based on inputs for engine load and speed.

Correct. Just look for a TV cable. No cable = 4L60E