Transmission interchagability

Hi new guy here and doing a trans swap. I have a 05 z71 tahoe 4x4. What trans will interchange?
A parts yard says they have a 05envoy that will interchange, can you confirm this? Also I'm told 05 is a 1 off year is this also correct?

Post #10

I would recommend a transmission from a full sized vehicle. I'm not entirely sure on the mid sized vehicles, but I know at least the torque converter stall speed is different, maybe some other differences. Stick with full sized: truck or SUV are fine.

stevesbermudablue said:

Hi new guy here and doing a trans swap. I have a 05 z71 tahoe 4x4. What trans will interchange?
A parts yard says they have a 05envoy that will interchange, can you confirm this? Also I'm told 05 is a 1 off year is this also correct?

Click to expand...

Will not interchange if the envoy has one of those inline 5 engines. Input shaft, bell housing and torque converter are completely different.

Any 2000-2008 4WD 4L60E that went in behind a Gen3 small block will work.

That said, why not rebuild the one in the vehicle now?

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

You can take what @NickTransmissions to the bank, as he's our resident transmission expert.

The transmission will work from the Envoy... But there are a couple catches..

If its from a 4.2 Inline -6-, you will have to swap the bell housing, and the torque converter. Its a easy bolt off and bolt on thing.
If its from a 5.3 V8, you will likely have to swap the torque converter.

05 is kinda a one off year depending on the platform. 2005 GM started introducing the 5.3 with AFM/DOD, and with that, they changed some sensors on the transmission. Which platform had what? I have no idea.

As someone mentioned above, I would try to find a full size platform similar to yours, to grab your donor from..

But I would also just get your current rebuilt. Yes its going to be more expensive. But the 4L60 is already a transmission on the edge.. I would not risk it.

NickTransmissions said:

Will not interchange if the envoy has one of those inline 5 engines. Input shaft, bell housing and torque converter are completely different.

Any 2000-2008 4WD 4L60E that went in behind a Gen3 small block will work.

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Pretty sure most of that is in-correct.

Bell Housing. Yes
Torque Converter. Yes and no. It will work, but has the wrong stall speed.
Input Shaft. Not Correct
2000-2008 4L60 will work. Not Correct. They started adding sensors in 2005 that the PCM is looking for. If they arent there, it can cause the transmission to go into limp mode, throw check lights, etc.

They are backwards compatible. But not forwards. A 2006 will work in a 2004, but a 2004 will not work correctly in a 2006.

2005 had both variants, depending on platform.

TollKeeper said:

Pretty sure most of that is in-correct.

Bell Housing. Yes
Torque Converter. Yes and no. It will work, but has the wrong stall speed.
Input Shaft. Not Correct
2000-2008 4L60 will work. Not Correct. They started adding sensors in 2005 that the PCM is looking for. If they arent there, it can cause the transmission to go into limp mode, throw check lights, etc.

They are backwards compatible. But not forwards. A 2005 will work in a 2004, but a 2004 will not work correctly in a 2005.

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Pretty Sure???

How many 2000-2013 4L60Es have you built? I've built hundreds over the past 15 years...

He has a 2005, per his OP...If his has no TSS, any 2001-2008 V8 300mm input design 4L60E will plug and play. If it does, he's limited to those units with the TSS up to 2009. He can reuse his original converter or purchase a new one (recommend he do the latter).

Can't tell you how many 2005 units I have rebuilt that DO NOT have the TSS (including the 2005 currently in my 2003 Tahoe that I rebuilt and installed)....A majority of them do not. It's much more common in 2006+.

Rest of the electronics/Trans command/control logic did not change until 2009.

So most of what you stated above is incorrect.

My 2005 Saab 9-7x had the TSS, and its the same exact truck as a 2005 GMC Envoy...

Are we going to risk him buying a transmission on a assumption that it might not have a TSS? I am not taking that risk. You can if you want.

Go with what you know. I know his MIGHT have a TSS, it also might not. If his truck needs one, and he buys one that doesnt, he is back to square one. If he buys one that has it, and he doesnt need it, hes ok, as the PCM just wont use that input.

Edit: Just to clarify, the salvage yard that has the 2005 Envoy transmission is still a unknown as for this sensor. Just because my 2005 had it, doesnt mean this one will, and its unknown if the OP needs that sensor or not.

TollKeeper said:

My 2005 Saab 9-7x had the TSS, and its the same exact truck as a 2005 GMC Envoy...

Are we going to risk him buying a transmission on a assumption that it might not have a TSS? I am not taking that risk. You can if you want.

Go with what you know. I know his MIGHT have a TSS, it also might not. If his truck needs one, and he buys one that doesnt, he is back to square one. If he buys one that has it, and he doesnt need it, hes ok, as the PCM just wont use that input.

Edit: Just to clarify, the salvage yard that has the 2005 Envoy transmission is still a unknown as for this sensor. Just because my 2005 had it, doesnt mean this one will, and its unknown if the OP needs that sensor or not.

Click to expand...

I concur with @NickTransmissions

Your Saab is probably identical (?) to the full-sized 4L60e because it is mated to an LS. That's not the case on the regular Envoys and Trailblazers. The difference are the input shaft 298 mm vs 300 mm, and as was noted, the Atlas bellhousing bolt pattern, and who knows what else internally. Externally they may look the same though.

Edit: oh, I didn't know the Envoys also had the 5.3...doh!

TollKeeper said:

My 2005 Saab 9-7x had the TSS, and its the same exact truck as a 2005 GMC Envoy...

Are we going to risk him buying a transmission on a assumption that it might not have a TSS? I am not taking that risk. You can if you want.

Go with what you know. I know his MIGHT have a TSS, it also might not. If his truck needs one, and he buys one that doesnt, he is back to square one. If he buys one that has it, and he doesnt need it, hes ok, as the PCM just wont use that input.

Edit: Just to clarify, the salvage yard that has the 2005 Envoy transmission is still a unknown as for this sensor. Just because my 2005 had it, doesnt mean this one will, and its unknown if the OP needs that sensor or not.

Click to expand...

So...How many 2000-2013 4L60Es have you rebuilt over the years??
You left this question completely unanswered.

Your Saab is in the minority and has a completely different engine belonging to a completely different engine family! Those units are completely different where it counts (as I mentioned to him in my initial reply, if you bothered to read it). The TSS wasn't integrated on a widespread basis into the V8 Gen3 SBC units until 2007 with the advent of the GMT900 platform.

The only one putting him (and anyone else reading this thread for guidance) is you!

But instead of admitting you may have mis-stated things and amend your post, you want to keep digging.

I'm not perfect and have learned A LOT MORE than I have taught since joining this forum. Additionally, there's been a few times where I've stood corrected and learned something in the process.
Perhaps you can learn to do the same, perhaps not.

Your move...