Will a newer 4L60-E 4th gen transmission work in place of the older 4L60 in a 1989 GTA? Have been told it would work with a controller to operate it.I need to know if someone has done this?

 

thats sounds right to me. the only differnce between the old and new one is that the new one is computer controlled and the older one really isn't, except for converter lockup. If you wanted to swap, you'd need the controller to manage the tranny. I know somebody sells the wiring harness b/c ive seen a bunch of people run these trannies in older cars. It shouldn't be that hard on your car, esp. since you already have the electronic sensors that the tranny controller needs to use to manage the up/down shifts, line pressure, etc.

 

E = Electronically controlled

In other words, it will never shift unless there's a computer to tell to do so.

Considering that its actual power transmission parts (clutches, gears, shafts, case) are the same as the later-model 700s, there's no real reason to retrofit one into a car that doesn't already come with the ECU for it. Too much maze to run,with zero cheese at the end.

I don't know of any separate "controller" for it, unlike the $tand-alone computer$ you can get for 4L80E. That unit is in the $2000 range, on top of the trans itself. But, for all I know, it might be possible to use one of those on a 4L60E, but that's just a pure wilod guess.

I would suggest using your money for more productive mods to your car, unless everything that can be done to it that will actually make it faster or more durable or otherwise better has already been done.