Noob to Gm 4L60E tranys, need help to choose one

[Jonathan T]

hi guys,

I have a 99 Chevy Camaro With a 3.8 series II Motor used to be auto. I bought the car as a project for the winter. It does not have a tranny in it. Other owner said it was slipping, and left it at the shop where he got it checked, probably because of the bill. Anyways. I've tryied the search function and try to look online with hardly on luck. Need help as to what can be put back into it. Just basicly need a yes to what will/may work and a no to what won't. I will also entertain 5 speed set-ups as well. I have a T5 from a mustang that i will be rebuilding. From what i read it just needs a swapped input shaft correct? then just getting the rest of the swap items. I read in another post that the mustang t5's differ due to the chevy t5 being installed at an angle. I also have a tr-3550 trans that used to be in my mustang as well. But probly have a hard time to find a bellhousing to fit the 3.8 motor.

I\m very good when to comes to wiring, so changing that is a no brainer for me.
Basicly need to know what will pysically fit to the block. I've read that some had un-boltable bellhousing and what not. I'm use to the sbc, where there was alot of interchange. But not sure here. Here is a list of cars/trucks that came with the auto trans i'm after.

1982 Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy
1982-2004 Chevrolet Corvette
1982-1996 Chevrolet Caprice
1983-2002 Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird
1985-2005 Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari
1991-1992 GMC Syclone
1989-2003 Chevrolet S-10/GMC S-15/GMC Sonoma
1990-1996 RWD Cadillac Fleetwood/Cadillac Brougham/Cadillac Limo
2002-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy
1992-1993 GMC Typhoon
1987-2003 Chevrolet Suburban
1993-2003 Chevrolet Van
1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala
1994-1996 Buick Roadmaster
1995-2003 Chevrolet C/K
1995-2003 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
1999- Cadillac Escalade
2002- Chevrolet Avalanche
2004- Hummer H2
2004-2007 Buick Rainier
2004- Chevrolet Colorado//GMC Canyon
1988-2006 Holden Commodore
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO

I 'm not sure if i should be looking for a trans that came off a 3.8 liter, or if i can look for a trans that came off anything like a 4.3,305,350, etc. Do they all have the same trans blot pattern.

and here is a list of possible 5 speed bellhousings

GM metric pattern

GM 60° V6 family FWD/RWD V6; 2.8/3.1/3.4 L
Buick FWD/RWD 90° 3800 V6
Cadillac 4.1/4.5/4.9 L V8
Isuzu 3.5L DOHC V6
1984-03 Jeep/AMC/Chrysler 2.5L/150 in³ I4 found in Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer, Comanche, and Wrangler models (except Grand Wagoneer & Grand Cherokee) and 1996-2002 Dodge Dakotas.
Jeep/AMC 2.8L V6 (GM engine)
GM Iron Duke FWD inline 4
1984-93 GM Iron Duke/Tech-4 RWD inline 4
2.0L 2.2L OHV

I have a few older tubro350/400 trans out of sbc trucks and one out of a 76 corvette.

I'n not worried about factory mounts or anything, as I weld for a living, so i can make my own.

Any info and help as to what auto to look for or if the mustang 5 speed may work.
or anything else in between.

thank you very much.

[Jonathan T]

Re: Noob to Gm 4L60E tranys, need help to choose one

wow, no one can help me? Just need to know what to look for. There are a few 4L60e trans around here, but not sure if it has to be off a 3.8 rwd car. I really need some help on this. I think my 99 camaro came with a detachable bellhousing, so does that mean i can get a bellhousing then fit a 4L60E trans from any size motor to it? Thanks.

[ssms5411]

Re: Noob to Gm 4L60E tranys, need help to choose one

96'-02' 3.8 Camaro/Firebird 4L60E auto trannies and manual trannies will bolt to the 3.8 block. The autos will hold more power than the M5's so alot of people stay with their autos.

[pathology knight]

Re: Noob to Gm 4L60E tranys, need help to choose one

ok, this is probably a dumb question (sorry to hijack) but is there something special about a 4L60E tranny? did all the 3.8's come with these? for a4's, are there other kinds?

[Jonathan T]

Re: Noob to Gm 4L60E tranys, need help to choose one

thanks for the post ssms5411,

ok, so i'm basicly looking for a trans out of iether camaro or firebirds that had an auto or 5 speed. No other 4L60e trans out of another car or truck will work???

What about the removable bellhousing that they started using? So if I was not able to find a good trans out of iether cars, could i use a pick-up trans then just change out the bellhousing.

I just want to know what i can and can not do. Finding parts for a camaro/firebird of this year around here are probably pretty scarest. But lots of trucks and stuff. Just want to keep my options open,as i will be looking for an auto trans now.