700R4 Transmissions

Information from Transmission Specialist, on questions that have hard to find answers to..

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Having transmission problems can be time consuming, stressful, and if not well informed, costly. Through this process, making sure you get the right diagnosis can be a game changer. Adding to that, knowing all your options can help determine what route you want to take that fits your needs and your budget. When looking into repairing your transmission, there are two options you will come across: rebuilding your transmission or getting a remanufactured transmission in your car. Although they may sound similar, they are not the same thing. Not sure what those differences are? Let’s break them down and see what is better for your situation.

700R4

The 700R4 is a 4-speed automatic transmission. This transmission was produced by General Motors; however, it is also often known by the name Hydramatic. The growth of this transmission was largely targeted to boost fuel economy, and this was achieved by a variety of changes, not the least of which was the 30-minute overdrive ability. The 700R4 was used widely on both truck platforms and rear-wheel drive automotive stages. A number of the popular trucks it was utilized in were the Chevrolet Blazer and Suburban as well as the Oldsmobile 350 diesel. This transmission was also used in the Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, Impala, and plenty of others.

Pros and Cons

The 700R4 was first launched in 1982, and served as a substitution to the TH350, which was a 3-speed automatic transmission. As is projected with all new approach, mainly with such a big re-design, some design problems were present with the early release. There was a steady improvement, and by 1987 this transmission was more solid and consistent. There was a name change to 4L60 that occurred in 1990, though this was essentially the same transmission.

In 1993 the transmission became electronically controlled, rather than hydraulically, and therefore the name became 4L60E. For the purposes of this text, the main focus will be pre-electronic power. At that time, all of the normal 700R4, or 4L60 transmissions started to be phased out, and none are available in that format now. This transmission was popular and was known as one of the best ever made. Two of the key reasons for its popularity were the increased fuel economy and the 3.06:1 gear ratio in 1st gear. This is a far lower ratio than what was normal and provides good acceleration from a stop; it is also good for off-road driving.