I have a couple questions

[chevy_4x4_trucks]

so ive got a 4l60e that came out of a 99 jimmy with approx. 160,xxx miles and my buddy wants to put it in his 2003 suburban. my questions are 1, how much do you think the trans is worth and 2 any idea if it would actually fit in his burban. and advice would help. thanks in advance

[xjs3667]

you could get around 200 for it if nothing wrong with it.  as for fitting in burb anything is is possible IMO I wouldnt do it even if it would fit right in.  If he wants electronic controlled trans 4l80e is way to go.

[Colorado]

200 or so and those are powered by a 4.3. Dunno how that would work in a Burb.

[middleroadBOB]

no it will not fit. because the new ls motors (5.3, 6.0) have a diff. bellhousing. you might be able to get a couple of the bellhousing bolts to line up, but not all of them.

[xjs3667]

if you really want to put it in there go to advanceadapters.com  they any adapter kit you can think of.

[Colorado]

I don't think it's a good idea since those are 4.3 trannys and a 4.3 IMO would be under powered.

[chevy_4x4_trucks]

the 4l60e in an s10 is the same 4l60e that is in a fullsize so i dont see that being a problem

[xjs3667]

bell housing bolt pattern is different. 4.3L has same bolt pattern as gen 1 and 2 SBC.and yes would bolt up to them no problem. The 03 burb is a gen 3 sbc  ie: 5.3  6.0 etc and are a completely different pattern.

[xjs3667]

also input shaft would need to be changed.

[rangerwheelinmike]

I don't think it's a good idea since those are 4.3 trannys and a 4.3 IMO would be under powered.

4l60e isent a 4.3 tranny they put them in with everything i think they even put them behind the 6.0 is some trucks 1500hd maby???

[ToughBowtieTruck]

I don't think it's a good idea since those are 4.3 trannys and a 4.3 IMO would be under powered.

4l60e isent a 4.3 tranny they put them in with everything i think they even put them behind the 6.0 is some trucks 1500hd maby???

If it's out of a Jimmy it's a 4L60-E setup to run with a 4.3

Every transmission is calibrated different for each vehicle. I highly don't recommend back-grading on a transmission to save a few bucks. No guarantee if everything will still work the same . . .

bell housing bolt pattern is different. 4.3L has same bolt pattern as gen 1 and 2 SBC.and yes would bolt up to them no problem. The 03 burb is a gen 3 sbc  ie: 5.3  6.0 etc and are a completely different pattern.

They DO bolt up. Worst case only one bolt doesn't line up. Spacer and proper adapter flex plate needed or converter to run on the stock flex plate. Research engine swaps through google and you can confirm this to be true.

http://www.gmmodernmuscle.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=9160

[xjs3667]

Read my earlier post giving him a website to get the adapters. I know that they can bolt up.......with adapters... a 4l60E that was mated to a 4.3L will not just drop in behind a 3rd gen sbc without modifications.   and your link is talking about a th400  not a 4l60e      4l60e is basically electronic controlled 700r4 with od...... 4l80e is basically electronic controlled th400..   but either way big difference between the 2. And yes depending on years 700r4, th400, 4l60e, 4l80e all have same bell housing bolt pattern for gen 1 and 2 sbc. gen 3 sbc uses 4l60e and 4l80e  but with a different pattern than gen 1 and 2 along with different input shafts, hence the adapater kit.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

If a turbo 400 bolts to it, then all the 4L60-80Es will too, since they are found in newer trucks. I just rebuilt my 60-E in my 5.3 Z-71, same thing as my 95 was, just minor differences in how the trans is built.

Those newer engines are just a variant of the LS-1 engine anyway. Nothing too special about them. Just the crank spacing is a bit different than the older v-8s. And the 4.3 is a 350 with 2 cylinders chopped off. Same housing as all the v8s of the time. The trans just has different input shafts for the 4.3 torque converter.

The adapter isn't to bolt the trans to the engine. Just to adapt the torque converter to the flex plate.

And, for your viewing pleasure, 5.3 and 4L60-E comparison.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1432156-5-3-what-4l60e-will-work.html

Better yet, this is from the website you gave. They DO bolt up to the LS engine, just need a different flex plate with torque converter spacer. Nothing to do with pattern, it's all about the torque converter difference. They don't even list a torque converter adapter for the 4L60-E specifically, but it's the one for the 350/700R. No such thing as a bell housing adapter.

http://www.advanceadapters.com/images/ecomm/products/sized/712500A.jpg

Advance Adapter

This custom flex plate kit is designed to adapt the Gen III / LS series to the GM TH350, and 700R4 transmissions. The kit includes a flexplate, 11mm flex plate bolts, crank spacer.

Gen III / LS Engines

The new style Gen III / LS series engines (4.8, 5.3, 5.7 LS1, 6.0, 6.2) all have the same crank stick out which is .400" closer to the block than the old 350 V8. The Gen III / LS series crank bolt pattern is different than any other GM crank as to the bolt pattern on the flex plate. Only Gen III / LS series flexplates fit these engines!!!

Since a Gen III / LS series flexplate only fits a Gen III / LS series and the engine crank is recessed .400". There are a few unique things about the torque converters that bolt to the flexplate. The spacing of the flexplate from the back of the block is the same as early GM blocks. The flexplate is dished out .400" to compensate for the crank. The differences come into play as to the bolt pattern of the torque converter to the flexplate and the snout length of the torque converter.

How do we adapt TH350,  700R4 to a Gen III / LS series engine? We offer a custom flexplate to fit a TH350,  700R4 and a crank spacer that  compensates for the shorter engine crank.
Note: This Advance Adapter kit does not work with a 6.0 engine with cast-iron cylinder heads.

[xjs3667]

Not trying to get into bitching match or anything since I didnt go to the site I listed and look it up but there is such thing as bell housing adapters such as a th400 to a chrysler small block they make em and also with what I have read like in ur first link one some times 2 holes dont line up so they dont put a bolt in.... I mean come on wtf? If a hole dont line up its a different pattern and to just leave that bolt out is just stupid all the bolts are there for reason. I dont do work that way, some do and  thats y they always wonder y stuff always brakes on em but personally would not install it unless all holes line up and all bolts installed. All of this is besides the point since the question was if it would just go into the burb no problems if he has to get a converter or flexplate with spacers etc..... After all the costs he could of got another trans.

[RIP_K52007]

He's better off getting a trans for the burban.  

We have put 700r4 and 4l60e's out of s10's into half tons.. but they were closer to the same year & same bellhousing pattern. The torque convertor from a 4.3L is like a stall convertor behind a v8 so keep that in mind.

[chevy_4x4_trucks]

alright guys thanks for all of your input...after reading everything i think we are just going to either find him different trans or have his rebuilt. I just figured since i had the trans laying around i would check into seeing if it would work, and if a couple bolt holes are different then its not worth my time to mess with it. im not going to cobble something together and have my name on the work. so that being said if anyone needs a 4l60e trans out of a 99 jimmy with approx 160,xxx miles let me know as it will be up for sale soon.....i also have the tcase that was behind it but i think the actuator on it is bad because it wont come out of 4 wheel.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

Not trying to get into bitching match or anything since I didnt go to the site I listed and look it up but there is such thing as bell housing adapters such as a th400 to a chrysler small block they make em and also with what I have read like in ur first link one some times 2 holes dont line up so they dont put a bolt in.... I mean come on wtf? If a hole dont line up its a different pattern and to just leave that bolt out is just stupid all the bolts are there for reason. I dont do work that way, some do and  thats y they always wonder y stuff always brakes on em but personally would not install it unless all holes line up and all bolts installed. All of this is besides the point since the question was if it would just go into the burb no problems if he has to get a converter or flexplate with spacers etc..... After all the costs he could of got another trans.

I know about adapters. Believe me, I do a lot of research on various diesel engine transplants into pickups and such. There is no such thing as a bell housing adapter for the LS series to the GM trans. Because they mount up. That's what I stated before. In the end he asked if it can be installed and it can. I too gave my advice against doing it. That's all there is to it. It's possible, but not recommended. Some prefer to save money, some prefer to fix it right. If you knew anything about my trucks or my work you'd understand why I said it's not worth trying to swap it to begin with. It's ultimately up to the person asking the question how they want to repair their vehicle, whether you or I or someone else prefers to do it this way or that way, etc. 

Every transmission is calibrated different for each vehicle. I highly don't recommend back-grading on a transmission to save a few bucks. No guarantee if everything will still work the same . . .

He's better off getting a trans for the burban.  

alright guys thanks for all of your input...after reading everything i think we are just going to either find him different trans or have his rebuilt. I just figured since i had the trans laying around i would check into seeing if it would work, and if a couple bolt holes are different then its not worth my time to mess with it. im not going to cobble something together and have my name on the work. so that being said if anyone needs a 4l60e trans out of a 99 jimmy with approx 160,xxx miles let me know as it will be up for sale soon.....i also have the tcase that was behind it but i think the actuator on it is bad because it wont come out of 4 wheel.

That's the best idea.

I'm glad our discussions on the fitment and polish of the swap assisted you in choosing what route to go!