I thought all 3ed Gens had the 700R4 tranny, but my new to me 1991 GM service manual indicates a 4L60...anybody know the difference, if any? Tks Troy

Same thing, different name.

ahh..why the heck would they change the name?

To conform to a more meaningful naming convention.

The 700R4 was the older version, from 82 to around 86 i beleive. Those transmissions were more prone to problems. When they broke they were really serious damages. The 4l60 and 4l60E came along later on. I beleive the same time as they changed from carb to TBI and from TBI to TPI respectively. The 4l60 ironed out those factory issues, and overall are a better core to rebuild and to withstand performance applications. The "E" in 4l60E stands for "electronic" when the transmission was more electronically controlled.

This is vague information i remember reading on a site that explained how to performance build these transmissions, i dont remember exactly what the problems or deficiences were, but i remember they were compromised when applied with power.

In essence, same thing different name.

That would be correct same thing different name . in the GM servie maula it actually says 4l60 (700r4)

Yea, exact same thing. It's not "stronger" although the ones that are referred to as 4L60's are a little teensy bit better, as by the time GM changed the name, they had fixed flaws in the transmission, which included different valve parts, etc. But if it's a rebuilt 700-R4, then it doesn't matter, as most rebuilders update it with the changes (larger holes in the valve body plate, different boost valve design, etc.)

The first digit of the new name is the number of forward gears, second is L for longitudal, t for transversal, the two digit number is GVWR rating, and any addition is easy to figure, like -E is electronic, -HD is heavy duty.

GM actually changed the 700R4 midway through the '86 model year but the 700R4 name was kept. Then, I believe, around the '90 or '91 years they modified it again and gave it the 4L60 name. As mentioned previously, same basic transmission with a different name. Later came the 4L60E and I'm not exactly sure of EVERY change made but I do know that one change was electronically controlled kick down. The 4L60E doesn't have a detent cable that runs up to the throttle control for kick down like the 700R4 and 4L60 had.

Thats right, thats what the E is for. Ive been doing some research on this, and most builders claim that the later 700r4s or 4l60s are a stronger core to build, but i havent found any information to quantify this claim. Pretty much only found that they changed the name to go along with the convention. Any automatic builders here??? Perhaphs they can shed some light on it.

All good so far...I know alot more than I did this morning!

It's not just the kickdown that's electronic in the 4L60E. All the shift functions are controlled electronically.

the difference is an auxilery valve body in the late '80's 700R4. the 4L60 that came on the '93 F-bodies actually had a 5 wire hook-up for the shift solenoids for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, while the late '80's and 90-92 had 3 wires. the '94 and up used the 4l60E which had a lot of wires going to it.

BTW does anyone know if you will through a code by hooking up the 93 harness to a earlier 700R4 that didn't have the 2nd and 3rd solenoids and just leaving those 2 wires unhooked?

though this has all been covered many times:

700R4 = 4L60, same thing, different name. 4L60E is completely electronically controlled for all functions including line pressure and shifting.
- GM made several upgrades in mid 86+; auxilary valvebody, 30 spline input(previous 27), different apply pistons allowing for more clutch packs, more elements in the forward sprag, and somethings I'm probably forgetting. Somewhere around 1990 they went to thick steals in the forward clutch assembly which help dissipate heat better.
Then you get really trick and in around 2000 they came out with the 4L65E which has 5 pinion planetaries, which are a great upgrade for severe duty 700's.
Any decent rebuilder will only start with an 87 or newer core as they are much more desireable and much stronger.

Then the aftermarket with billet servos, much better reaction shells, upgraded input drums, better clutches and bands, hardened input & output shafts, modified sun gears and other parts allowing for full roller thrust bearings, etc, etc......

this is true, but the 4L60 in the '93 is different from all others.

??

in '93, the wires for the 2 and 3 switch were only to make sure that certain conditions were met for the lock-up feature. no 700r4 or 4l60 is electrnically shifted.

'84 was when they went to 30 spline input shafts for the v-8. the v-6 still retains the 27 spline input. they also went to a larger front stator bushing on both models. in '87 along with the changes shagwell mentioned, they went to a larger low outer race and sprag elements. all the hardparts except 4l60e pumps, valvve bodies, and cases will retro to the earlier models.

[quote=eagle_eyes;3276464]this is true, but the 4L60 in the '93 is different from all others.


I have the 93 in my car, the only thing i had to do was swap the wires, from the early(90)4 pin to a later(93)5 pin connector.

so can the pre-'93 transmissions can use the 5 pin harness? and what about the 2nd and 3rd solenoids....can they be hooked up in an earlier trans?

the trans i have is a '90 Probuilt 700R4 and i would like to use it with the '93 LT1 and harness and ECM

ok, i found my answer. appearently the two extra solenoid wires can just be left unhooked.

Back from the dead -
I'm trying to find how to use a 93 4L60 with 5 pin connector in a 91 application (4 pin).
How and which wires are connected for this?

http://www.gilbertautoparts.com/fram...tallation.html

To answer my own question, I think this explains it best. A to A, B to B, etc.. from the 4 to the 5 pin connector. Also, swap the 4th gear switch from Normally Open to Normally Closed. I'm assuming one of the 700R4 or earlier 4L60 4th gear switches will swap directly in place. Will find out in a week and a half or so...

The 700R4 is better than the 4L60.

You have to ask some Canadian at the Hydromatic plant in Windsor, Ontario why they changed the name.

BLAME CANADA!!!!!

I have a 91-92 Suburban 350 700R4. So this is the 4L60 700R4?

...4th gear switch from normally open to normally closed?? is this an output from the ECM going to the trans., or something else?

The 700r4 has always been refered to in some GM sevice manuals as a 4l60 many book say 700r4/4l60 they are the same trans. Some people do refer to the 93 as just a 4l60 because there wee some minor changes to the wiring and valve bodie notably a different conector on the outside , But still it was just a 700r4 with some minor revisions.

They started calling the 700R4 the 4L60 in 1990.

It breaks down this way:

4 = Four gears
L = Longitudinal (Engine in front, drive shaft behind)
60 = the torque rating -- (360 ft/lbs of torque)
.