700R4 / 4L60

At approximately the same time as the 200-4R's release, the Hydramatic 700R4 was introduced 1982 for use in Chevrolet/GMC vehicles.

The gearing for the 700 is (commonly rounded off to 3.06, 1.63, 1.00, 0.70, and 2.29):

• First - 3.059
• Second - 1.625
• Third - 1.000
• Fourth - 0.696
• Reverse - 2.294

Initially, the 700R4 was not considered a strong transmission, since the torque of a 350 in³ V8 would lead to transmission failure. The original version of the transmission had a 27 spline input shaft - this was but one of many possible and common failure points with the early transmission. However, the design was continually refined and upgraded, and in 1987, the 700 was used behind a 350 small block V8 (from IROC-Z Camaros to pickup trucks).

Around 1984, 700R4s designed for use behind Chevrolet small block V8s received a 30 spline input shaft which used a different torque converter than its 2.8 V6 and 2.2 L4 powerplants. Between 1984 - 1987, internal components, from the ring gear to the oil pump housing, were updated, ending with the auxillary valve body (for 700s manufactured after October 1986).

Without pictures, the 700 can be identified by the oilpan having a rectangular shape being longer front-to-rear than side-to-side and held to the transmission by 16 bolts, 3 bolts front, 3 bolts rear, 5 bolts left side, and 5 bolts right side.

The tailshaft housing is held onto the main case by 4 bolts (the bolt spacing is similar to the THM350), and uses a square-cut o-ring seal, and not a gasket. The typical width of this transmission where it bolts to the engine is 20 inches (510 mm) overall. From the engine/trans mating surface to the crossmember mount bolt is 22-1/2 inches (570 mm), and engine/trans surface to output shaft housing mating surface is 23-3/8 inches (594 mm) overall, with the tailshaft housing typically measuring 7-5/8 inches (194 mm).

Transmission fluid cooler lines: on the 700R4 the bottom fitting on the right side of the transmission is the "out" line to the cooler and the top fitting is for the return line from the cooler. These fittings are 1/4-inch pipe thread, and CAN include an adapter from the factory for threaded steel lines in an SAE size. 4L60Es manufactured after 1995 use the modern-day snap-in connections as opposed to threaded SAE fittings.



4L60

The 700 was renamed the 4L60, when the electronic version, 4L60-E, was phased in (1993 for GM trucks, vans, and SUVs, and 1994 for RWD passenger cars). Around 1996, a bolt-on bellhousing was phased in (along with a six-bolt tailhousing) when the transmission was bolted behind an inline four cylinder or the Vortec engine family.

The 4L60-E (and similar 4L65-E) is a series of automatic transmissions from General Motors. Designed for longitudinal engine configurations, the series includes 4 forward gears. It is an evolution of the Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4, originally produced in 1982.

The 4L60-E and 4L65-E are built at Toledo Transmission in Toledo, Ohio and have also been built at Romulus Transmission in Romulus, Michigan and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

The two transmissions are differentiated mainly by the number of pinion gears in their planetary gearsets: The 4L60-E has four, while the heavy-duty 4L65-E has five. Other elements of the 4L60-E design were strengthened when the 4L65-E was introduced, but these were incorporated into the 4L60-E in 2002.

Gear ratios:

1234R3.061.631.000.702.29



4L60-E

The THM700 was renamed "4L60" (RPO M30) following the new General Motors naming convention, when the electronic version, 4L60-E, was phased in. This happened in 1993 for trucks, vans, and SUVs, and 1994 for rear wheel drive passenger cars. Around 1996, a bolt-on bellhousing was phased in (along with a six-bolt tailhousing) when the transmission was bolted behind an inline four cylinder or the Vortec engine family.

The 4L60-E is rated to handle up to 360 ft·lbf (488 N·m) of torque.

Applications:

• Chevrolet S-10
• GMC Sonoma
• Chevrolet Blazer
• Chevrolet Colorado
• GMC Canyon
• Chevrolet TrailBlazer
• GMC Envoy
• Buick Rainier
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500-2500
• GMC Sierra 1500-2500
• Chevrolet Tahoe
• GMC Yukon
• Cadillac Escalade
• Cadillac Escalade EXT
• Chevrolet Avalanche
• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Express
• GMC Savana
• Chevrolet Astro
• GMC Safari
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Chevrolet SSR
• GMC Yukon XL Denali
• 1993-2004 Holden Commodore
• Hummer H2
• 2004 Pontiac GTO

4L65-E

An updated 4L60-E, the 4L65-E (RPO M32), was phased in around the 2003 model year when coupled behind the 6.0 Vortec. Five-pinion planetaries, along with a modified drum/input shaft assembly, were improved to withstand up to 380 ft·lbf (515 N·m) of torque.

Applications:

• Cadillac Escalade
• Cadillac Escalade EXT
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500-2500
• GMC Sierra 1500-2500
• GMC Sierra Denali
• Holden Commodore 2005-Current
• 2005–2006 Pontiac GTO (M32, 3.46:1 final drive)