4L60e vs 700r4

[Kurnacopia]

I recently found an NP241 transfer case and tranny off an 89 suburban. I bought both for a good price but now I have a dilemma. I already own a 4L60e from a 97 van. With some minor mods after a rebuild it would be a great tranny...but it requires a controller and other parts to run it which is a much larger cost per build. It also means my 1978 Scottsdale will have a computer which is something I have wanted to avoid. The 700r4 is for a 4x4 and it came attached to the np241 so no adaptors are needed...which saves dollars. The 700r4 is "K" case so its a decent build.

WTF do I do now good Chevy people?? What would you do?

All opinions are very welcome....bring the rain.

MK

 

[Matt69olds]

A late model 700 (like what you have) and a 4L60E are basically the same internally. The clutch packs, planetary gears, shafts etc are almost identical. Other than the electronics, there is no advantage.

If you’re planning to rebuild either, have done upgrades done. Use a wide 2-4 band, Sonnax drive shell, upgraded 3-4 clutches, and a good valve body kit. Make sure the TV cable is adjusted correctly.

 

[Camar068]

stick with the 700r4 and sell the 4l60e. Save money and make some money to put elsewhere in your truck.

I did an LS swap so I'm good to go with the 4L60e, until you do that, stick with old school.

 

[Camar068]

take that money saved and put into (to say a few):

-Offroad designs steering box support ($140) if your steering is loose
-jeep cherokee intermediate shaft upgrade (~$30) if your steering is loose
-gearing change
-take care of any rust u got
-if they are old, get new locking hubs

You know what she needs, put that money saved to use lol.

 

[Radiohead]

My BIL has fried his 5th 700r4 in as many months. With a sub 500hp sbc.

I would like to think going 4L80e would help.
AFAIK, the cable was set correctly for each unit, and all the "updates" were implemented. A shop will be on its third rebuild very shortly.

What would you do?

 

[CalSgt]

Nothing wrong with a K case 700R4, that’s what I would run unless I was already adding a PCM

 

[AKguy]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the person(s) that came up with the finicky TV cable arrangement should have their rear end removed?

 

[GTX63]

Not a fan of the tv cable setup, but I would still go with the 700R4.

 

[Ricko1966]

My BIL has fried his 5th 700r4 in as many months. With a sub 500hp sbc.

I would like to think going 4L80e would help.
AFAIK, the cable was set correctly for each unit, and all the "updates" were implemented. A shop will be on its third rebuild very shortly.

What would you do?

If your friend has gone through 5, 700s in 5 months,something is wrong, throttle linkage is wrong geometry. Cable misadjusted,somethings not right.Verify that that throttle plates are wide open when the gas pedal is floored. It sounds like maybe you're friend needs to get a transmission pressure gauge and check his pressures on the next one.

 

[Radiohead]

Looking at the other current 700r4 thread, and knowing that pressures were monitored and supposedly corrected, could it be synthetic $#!t fluid ate them up?

 

[Catbox]

You can find alternates to the expensive aftermarket controllers for the transmissions.
A stock computer from a 2002 vehicle can be re-flashed and tuned to operate you transmission.
@Bextreme04 has the knowledge to point you in the correct direction if you want to go down that route.

It is what I will probably be doing in the future when I install the 4L80 into my truck.

 

[Bextreme04]

True, its fairly cheap and easy to use an 0411 computer to control a 4L80 or 4L60. You just need a TPS input and TACH input to the ECM.

I would think that a decent synthetic ATF would work better. It has less of a spread in viscosity due to temperature changes and should be able to handle the high temps you see in a 700R4 better.

 

[TotalyHucked]

*IF* you know how or if you have someone that knows how to properly set up a TV cable, I'd go the 700 route for simplicity. If not, I'd throw the 4L60 in. I've had zero issue out of my 60 behind the ~425hp LS and wouldn't worry about that control box honestly. That's been around long enough, it's pretty well proven.

 

[Matt69olds]

My BIL has fried his 5th 700r4 in as many months. With a sub 500hp sbc.

I would like to think going 4L80e would help.
AFAIK, the cable was set correctly for each unit, and all the "updates" were implemented. A shop will be on its third rebuild very shortly.

What would you do?

Find a different shop!! There is no reason a 700 won’t live behind a 450hp engine if it’s built right. I’m kinda curious what parts and upgrades they are doing, what the failure is, and what the line pressure is.

 

[Radiohead]

Find a different shop!! There is no reason a 700 won’t live behind a 450hp engine if it’s built right. I’m kinda curious what parts and upgrades they are doing, what the failure is, and what the line pressure is.

From what I gather, line pressure is around 200 and the parts are all supposed to be new and improved. Not sure when it goes back again, but soon I'm sure.

His experience with 700r4 has me reconsidering this in my truck. If it's dying so fast on a 5.7, imagine what a 7.4 could do. But so far I'm still stock.

Sorry about the thread hijack