I got a 1996 astro van with a 4L60E transmission that wend bad. I can get another 4L60E for basically free BUT it's out of a 93 something (blazer?) the electrical connections are almost the same, mine has 13 terminals the other one has 12. will this 93 work in my 96? Please help I need this van back running quick. I'm willing to make sacrifices on it if certain things wont work. I'm mainly wanting the van moving and shifting again. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

I got a pic of the plug on mine (13 terminals). both plugs are the same but the 93 (12 terminals) only has 1 terminal where mine (pic) has 2.If this helps.

 

I'm not 100% positive but I'm pretty sure the extra pin in your connector is for the PWM solenoid for TCC lockup.

In 95 GM started using PWM lockup control in 4L60E trannys.

The 93 trans *should* work in your Astro van, you just won't get TCC lockup and will probably set a code in your PCM. I know this because I had a bad PWM solenoid in my 4L60E on my 95 Z28. I had no lockup and had a fault code set but otherwise worked just fine. I just don't recommend driving around without lockup for any extended amounts of time.

Another thing to look out for is the shift arm linkage, they will vary from car to car depending on what the trans came out of. Again I know this because the trans in my Z28 came out of a van I think, and my trans builder swapped the linkage out in 15 minutes.

 

Ok you said I wont have TCC lockup and you don't recommend driving around with out it. What is TCC lockup and what would it harm, the tranny or the computer? if the 93 didn't have the PWM solenoid and mine did I see that the code may be set but what would it harm? The reason I ask this is the old tranny acted a little "starnge from time to time after I got the van, and the engine light was on. Then it went off but never came back on. I thought there was no problem. then tranny made a "noise" one day and quit pulling in drive and 3 but rev 1 and 2 worked fine. You could manually drop it into 1 then shift from 2,3,4 with no problem. I never could figure it out or find anyone who knew. then 3 and 4 went bye bye. When I got it out the biggest shaft coming out of the front of the tranny showed signs of rubbing or wear at the end of the splines as if it was too long. I knew something went bad plus there was alot of fine metal on the magnet inside the pan. will a tranny from anything 95 or up be exactly the same as mine? is the ones above 95 got the 2 piece bellhousing or is that becasue it's a van? I know very little about auto trannys even less about electic ones! Thanks for the info.

 

TCC= torque converter clutch. The torque converter has a lockup clutch inside, that when engaged, provides a no-slip transmission of power from the engine to the trans. Best analogy is to think of driving a manual around with the clutch slightly engaged. That's sorta how driving an auto without lockup is like. For driving around town and stop/go traffic it's no big deal without lockup because the TCC will be constantly engaging/disengaging to notice any difference.

On the highway going for extended hauls is where I don't recommend driving without lockup. You will build up extra heat in the trans and gas mileage will suffer a bit.

I didn't know Astrovans had 4L60Es with a 2 piece bellhousing. In that case I don't think any trans regardless of year will just bolt up, but I could be wrong though. My 98 Tahoe has a regular (1 piece) 4L60E.

 

I can't say that this two piece is "original" because it has had some tranny work before I got it. It was one of our salesman's van at work and he got a new one and the boss was selling this one so I gave him $500 for it. I knew it had had some tranny work before and the other day I talked to the salesman that drove it and he said it had been built twice (the van has 440,000 miles) and the last time it never worked just right. so It could have been replaced with a two piece tranny, I'm not sure. How does the 93 lock up the converter? would trying this tranny mess up my computer or just set a code? One other thing I noticed diferent, the one out of my van has the regular 6 bolts on the bellhousing and two at the bottom, the 93 has only the 6 at the top and looks more like a 350 turbo but it is a 4l60e.

 

Lockup happens when certain parameters in the PCM are met like speed, load, temp, and gear. The only thing special about a PWM trans is it brings in lock up smoother so you don't really feel it locking up. On a non-PWM trans, you can usually feel it lockup.

Using the 93 trans in your 96 won't mess up your computer, but it'll set a code because it's looking for the PWM solenoid to lockup.

 

Those 2 bottom bolts you mention....are there 2 steel support rods coming out of them? My Tahoe has them and they are there for structural support.