Trans swap 99' Blazer 4L60E into 04' Trailblazer with 4L60E?

122sniperwf

Original poster
Member
Feb 18, 2014
7
Our transmission on our 2004 Chevy Trailblazer 4.2 4 wheel drive went out so we purchase another 4L60E tranny that was from a 1999 Blazer 4x4. When I looked up if this year would be compatible with my 2004 it said it would match, however after we got the new (used) tranny home, we noticed the Bell Housings were different. Someone had mentioned that the 99 bell housing was removable and could be swapped with the bell housing in our trailblazer, but we needed a specific wrench to remove these specific bolts, which were expensive to replace and easily stripped out. I have had another mechanic (over the phone) say that he didn't think this was possible. The two friend (mechanics) who started working on our truck said the bell housing and tail could be swapped. Does anyone know ANYTHING about this before we take it in to a tranny shop or get someone else to swap our tranny out?
THANKS!!
 

jimmyjam

Member
Nov 18, 2011
1,634
on older trans, the bellhousing isn't removable. you should be able to tell by looking at it, the entire thing is just one piece of metal. according to the internet, they transitioned to the modular style in 1996 (the one that came out of my 96 impala was still one piece)

122sniperwf said:
we needed a specific wrench to remove these specific bolts, which were expensive to replace and easily stripped out.
ummm... they're just regular torx bolts. not expensive, and they come out pretty easy. I'd be weary of the people you've consulted so far, anyone familiar with building gm trannys should know more about them than I do...

http://cobratransmission.com/index....d=8475&zenid=a13ad164acf8b841c10b39ef09fe82fa

edit: ok after doing some reading, they are "torx plus" t55 bits, I was able to get mine out with a t50 bit, but mine had already come apart once before.
 

122sniperwf

Original poster
Member
Feb 18, 2014
7
Those are the bolts! The torx plus! The 99 tranny appears to be two pieces, but have not seen the one in my 04 trailblazer. If the 04 tranny is two parts, will the bell housing be swappable? I really appreciate your help and yes, we are looking for some new help!
Thanks so much!

jimmyjam said:
on older trans, the bellhousing isn't removable. you should be able to tell by looking at it, the entire thing is just one piece of metal. according to the internet, they transitioned to the modular style in 1996 (the one that came out of my 96 impala was still one piece)


ummm... they're just regular torx bolts. not expensive, and they come out pretty easy. I'd be weary of the people you've consulted so far, anyone familiar with building gm trannys should know more about them than I do...

4L60E, Bolt Kit [A74776AK] - $20.99 : Automatic, Standard Transmission and Transfer Case Rebuild Kits, Cobra Transmission Parts 1-800-293-1848, Cobra Transmission

edit: ok after doing some reading, they are "torx plus" t55 bits, I was able to get mine out with a t50 bit, but mine had already come apart once before.
 

jimmyjam

Member
Nov 18, 2011
1,634
122sniperwf said:
Those are the bolts! The torx plus! The 99 tranny appears to be two pieces, but have not seen the one in my 04 trailblazer. If the 04 tranny is two parts, will the bell housing be swappable? I really appreciate your help and yes, we are looking for some new help!
Thanks so much!

the trailblazer trans is definitely two piece. should be able to swap it in there
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,257
Ottawa, ON
Necropost much? It's a 4 year old post and Jimmy hasn't been on since 2015.
 
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h82loseejr

Member
Mar 23, 2016
22
Pleasantville PA
I do not even know what that is. I hate posts like this. People say that they are trying something and never tell how it works out. I have had succes "necroposting" or whatever your calling it in other sites with other problems. Funny though I use the search function to try to find what I want to know and this is the response. I bet you have instructed others to search instead of posting too....
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,257
Ottawa, ON
It's standard practice to look at the date of the last post and the last time a user logged on for probability of a response.

Necroposting: The act of posting to a long dead thread. It's discouraged in the rules.

And no, I don't tell people to search first because I know the search function on here sucks.
 
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h82loseejr

Member
Mar 23, 2016
22
Pleasantville PA
Ok so what 4l60E transmissions swap into a 2004 envoy. Junkyard says only 04 which I know is crap. I dont care about changing bellhousing or some sensors. Junk yards will tell you a lot of stuff doesn't swap which I have swapped with much success. Thing is I had both engines already when I swapped them in an 4.0 explorer from a 4.0 sport track that every yard I called told me impossible across platforms. Told me the year difference was not doable either but it is in and running like a top. I know these 4L60s are the same way

From what I understand that in 2005 the electrics changed some with the addition of a speed sensor in the trans. Im very capable wiring so even if plug pinout is different I can re pin the plug
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,257
Ottawa, ON
Honestly, I don't know. The 4L60E changed I think in 2000. I think you'd be safe from 2002 to 2006. It changed again in 2007 because shift kits also changed for them.

I'd say the best thing would be to talk to a tranny Shop but they would want you to get yours rebuilt.
 

Capote

Supporting Donor
Member
Jul 14, 2014
24,227
Atlanta, GA
Ok so what 4l60E transmissions swap into a 2004 envoy. Junkyard says only 04 which I know is crap. I dont care about changing bellhousing or some sensors. Junk yards will tell you a lot of stuff doesn't swap which I have swapped with much success. Thing is I had both engines already when I swapped them in an 4.0 explorer from a 4.0 sport track that every yard I called told me impossible across platforms. Told me the year difference was not doable either but it is in and running like a top. I know these 4L60s are the same way

From what I understand that in 2005 the electrics changed some with the addition of a speed sensor in the trans. Im very capable wiring so even if plug pinout is different I can re pin the plug
I have an '05 transmission in my '04 that I had swapped out and rebuilt with performance upgrades when mine started slipping. Nothing was different between that one and my original one.
 

Dr.Fiero

Member
Dec 7, 2017
161
S. Alberta
Just be careful when you go a couple years up from there. Starting at some point in 2007, the ECM started looking for a pressure signal coming from the trans that wasn't there in the earlier years. Pretty sure you can tell just by the color of the connector (green = later, black = earlier) though.

You can use a later trans on an earlier vehicle, not the other way around.
 
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yourfavdanek

Member
Mar 13, 2019
5
Northwest Indiana
Just be careful when you go a couple years up from there. Starting at some point in 2007, the ECM started looking for a pressure signal coming from the trans that wasn't there in the earlier years. Pretty sure you can tell just by the color of the connector (green = later, black = earlier) though.

You can use a later trans on an earlier vehicle, not the other way around.

This was very helpful thanks! I have an 05 and my trans went out. Rather than rebuilding it (local shop wants $500). I found an 04 trans with 117k miles on it for $250. Green plug and range selector switch is the same. So I’m thinking I should be good to swap. So many dead posts like this, so I will tell you how it goes. Hope it helps someone else.

I know that sometimes the change is made mid year and some models have the previous year hardware or the other way around. Not sure if that was my case, but it looks promising.
 

yourfavdanek

Member
Mar 13, 2019
5
Northwest Indiana
This was very helpful thanks! I have an 05 and my trans went out. Rather than rebuilding it (local shop wants $500). I found an 04 trans with 117k miles on it for $250. Green plug and range selector switch is the same. So I’m thinking I should be good to swap. So many dead posts like this, so I will tell you how it goes. Hope it helps someone else.

I know that sometimes the change is made mid year and some models have the previous year hardware or the other way around. Not sure if that was my case, but it looks promising.

Follow up. After a late night (3am test drive). The trans fit like a glove. Shifted through all gears no problem. All in with fluids and a pizza for my mechanic cousin - $345. And she lives!

If you are just swapping transmissions, you could probably DIY. Helps to have a pro overseeing though. And it’s a 2 man job if you’re doing it in your garage on jack stands 😬

So to wrap up: my 05 TB EXT has a 4l60e transmission out of an 04 TB SWB with about 35k fewer miles. Just check that the electronics are the same when using an older model year (switch and plug see pics below). Hope this helps!
 

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