Need advice on new 4l60E please

[toyo]

Hey guys. I am not too famelier with Gm trans. I am a Toyota man. Dont hold that against me! I have a 2004 Chevy express 2500 that I use for work. I do not tow. I see that all of you suggest installing a trans cooler. I need to know who and what model to get. Also I want a trans temp gauge, a nice digital one would be nice. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Jim Spahr]

I thought the Chevy 2500 came with a 4L80E auto trans. The 4L80E is a heavy duty version of the 4L60E trans. Regardless of which trans it is, your questions-and answers- are the same. For the aftermarket trans coolers B & M and Hayden are two of the oldest and best amnufacturers. Be sure to look into a GM trans cooler- whether from the salvage yard or from the dealer. Regards the digital trans temp gauge: Cyberdyn or similar name, makes one that can be mounted in a pod on the windshield post or elsewhere. Note on the driver's side of the trans about half way up is a threaded test port that is perfect for a trans temp sensor. IOW, no drilling of the pan to install a temp sensor. This test port is plugged off but is easy to unplug and the sensor fits as though it was designed for it.

 

[TooManyWheels]

The biggest criteria is that you get a "stacked plate" cooler. The manufacturer of the cooler is relatively unimportant, when you start looking closely you will see that when the repackaging is ignored, there are only a couple of manufacturers.

The second biggest criteria is that you get the largest one that you can fit onto your particular vehicle.

That is pretty much all there is to know about coolers, except for installation questions on what kind of hose to run, and how to connect it to the existing plumbing.

 

[toyo]

Thanks for your thoughts. The 3500 comes with the 4l80E trans, unfortunatley. I have a huge space between the radiator and the grill for the cooler. Who is the manu that sells the sensor that is compatiblw with my trans? Does it just screw in or do I need to tap something out? What is there now?

 

[Jim Spahr]

I have a 4L60E auto trans in my '94 Impala and I bought a Auto Meter Z series Trans Temp gauge with a range of 100* to 250*. It is a 2 1/16" electric gauge with a pn 2640 and costs $41.90 plus shipping. Bought it on the net from egauges.com
site is http://www.egauges.com/vdo_mult.asp?Type=Trans_Oil_Temp&Series=Z-Series
The sensor threads fit the 'test port' without an adaptor. The $41.90 price includes some adaptors.

 

[Jim Spahr]

To further answer your above question. The test port has a metal plug which is screwed out. Then you can screw in the new sensor without 'drilling or tapping' anything. This is on the Auto Meter Z series gauges.

 

[toyo]

Thank for your help Jim. I will look on the net for a cooler.