Spare trans for Grumpy

[ihatemybike]

So I'm seriously thinking about bringing a spare transmission and the tools needed to preform the swap on the BA/BE Rally just in case, that is if it doesn't die beforehand. Someone near me is advertising a 2000 trans w/ low miles for 'cheap'. Anyone know if a 2000 trans and a 1997 trans are interchangeable? IIRC they should both be 4L60E. Is there any different between trans on vans with AWD and 2WD?

[skippy]

as far as a 97 & 2000 being the same , i'm not sure .but i do know the tail shafts on a 2wd tranny & an AWD tranny are completely different .

[midnighthunder89]

I dont know if this matters at all but since the pre 98 is not electronic and the post 98 is electronic it might cause some issues.

[rlsllc]

I dont know if this matters at all but since the pre 98 is not electronic and the post 98 is electronic it might cause some issues.

That's just the T-case. '99 on are electronic cases.

It is a big job to R&R a trans in an AWD. The torsion bars have to come out IIRC. Not like a RWD, they're easy.

I think that all the 2 piece (4L60) transmissions interchange, but I could be wrong. There may be some wiring/ecm differences.

[ihatemybike]

When I checked the trans fluid Saturday it was some of the darkest I've ever seen. I want to find the time within the next week or so to change it. Hopefully doing that and adding some Lucas Transmission Fix will make it somewhat better. I am aware however that the trans is most likely on its last legs.

Anyone got some non trans swap tips that might help this thing?

It is a big job to R&R a trans in an AWD. The torsion bars have to come out IIRC. Not like a RWD, they're easy.

Dang it. I've dropped and installed my '94 2WD's trans and it was fairly simple. I was hoping that the AWD wouldn't be too much harder.

[ihatemybike]

Someone near me is advertising a 2000 trans w/ low miles for 'cheap'. Anyone know if a 2000 trans and a 1997 trans are interchangeable?

Called the guy, its from a 2WD van with 18K miles that got rolled and he'd like at least $200. How hard is it to swap the output shafts? Would it be better to just find a AWD trans?

Hmmm, $200 I might just pick it up as a spare for my '99.

[LaGrasta]

I've had great success with SeaFoam TransTune. I used it last year on both my sleepy tranny in my 1963 Ford Falcon and my slipping/hard shift tranny in my 1998 Astro. Worked for both and haven't touched either since. Now I'm just waiting to see how long they will last. I chose this stuff as it doesn't seal leaks, swell gaskets, or is extra thick. Three things I did not need or want.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/transTuneConsumer.htm

[ihatemybike]

Hey, that sounds pretty good. I'll give the Sea Foam a shot when I do the fluid/filter/backyard flush and see how the trans reacts.

I wonder what it will do for my grumbly power steering, website says it helps there too.

[robertg]

that trans is a great deal for $200. i paid $350 for mine with 44k on it last april. when i was calling salvage yards, i was told that 1999 and 2000 model year rwd vans used different transmissions.

however, when seeing if gm would be interested in buying my old core to rebuild, i noticed that the part number was listed for both 1999 and 2000 rwd models.

see if you can get the vin from that 2000 van, and your 1999 vin. if both listings point to one part number, then you should be able to use that 2000 trans in your 99 van.

[rlsllc]

How hard is it to swap the output shafts? Would it be better to just find a AWD trans?

Hmmm, $200 I might just pick it up as a spare for my '99.

Lets put it this way, when you build a trans, the output shaft is more or less the first part that you put in. That makes it the last part to come out when tearing down. It's not an easy swap out.

Finding an AWD trans is your best bet.

The 'spare for the '99 idea' is a good one.

My $.02