Most reliable engine/transmission?

[Victoreagrace23]

What Chevy or GMC gas engines and transmissions are the most reliable on the 4 window mini busses?

[Johnny Mullet]

Chevy 6.0L gas engine for the win.

[cadillackid]

+1 on the 6.0, the 5.3 and 5.7 are also good engines, but the 6.0 has the power needed to handle pretty much anything you will give a short bus.



the 6.0 is generally paired to the 4L60E and 4L80E transmissions which are both good. some of the newer stuff uses the 6L80E which is good also....


parts are everywhere for the 6.0 engine, and the assocviated transmissions as well.. these are very standard in chevy / GMC vans, pickup trucks of the same years, and such.. lots of aftermarket support also.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

+1 on the 6.0, the 5.3 and 5.7 are also good engines, but the 6.0 has the power needed to handle pretty much anything you will give a short bus.



the 6.0 is generally paired to the 4L60E and 4L80E transmissions which are both good. some of the newer stuff uses the 6L80E which is good also....


parts are everywhere for the 6.0 engine, and the assocviated transmissions as well.. these are very standard in chevy / GMC vans, pickup trucks of the same years, and such.. lots of aftermarket support also.

hell I've even towed loads with a 4.8 GM and had NO issue at all.

[bp1791-unleashed]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

hell I've even towed loads with a 4.8 GM and had NO issue at all.

Was that in Florida, or in some mountains? My experience differs in the mountains of MD and WV.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by bp1791-unleashed

Was that in Florida, or in some mountains? My experience differs in the mountains of MD and WV.

Obviously I don't drive in mountains. But I've pulled loads with 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 and wouldn't really be put off by either of the smaller offerings.

[Booyah45828]

I'm impressed with the torque of the 8.1 chevy engine too. I'm not sure if they were available in the cutaway chassis though. The ford 6.8 v10 is a pretty strong runner if you get a later one that doesn't spit out the spark plugs.

[Victoreagrace23]

what does 4L60E stand for?

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Victoreagrace23

what does 4L60E stand for?

Other than the 4 for 4 speed and the E for electronic, they really don't stand for anything. Just a number designation they gave it. It's a renamed electronic version of the TH700R4.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by Victoreagrace23

what does 4L60E stand for?

Originally Posted by o1marc

Other than the 4 for 4 speed and the E for electronic, they really don't stand for anything. Just a number designation they gave it. It's a renamed electronic version of the TH700R4.

Actually...

4 - 4 speed
L - Longitudinal (as opposed to T for Transverse)
60 - Strength rating (Not sure how this correlates to GVWR, however)
E - Electronic control

[cadillackid]

cheese wagon pretty much has it.. strength is relative..



both the 4L60E and 4L80E are great tranasmissions..



back in the day there was always the debate since the 1960s / 70s. oif whetber the TH350 or TH400 transmission was stronger.. over the years people built both to be quiite strong and reliable..



the progression was TH400 was the base for the TH700R4 which became the 4L60 which became the 4L60E


the TH400 was the base for the modern 4L80E


and then came the 6L80 / 90 which is a 6 speed version.. the van chassis started getting these around 2010 or so.. some of the cars got it a few years before..


all these in my opinion are great transmissions and have a lot of update support.. specialty transmission shops everywhere make their living rebuilding and updating these units.. not because they fail a lot but because there are just so many of them out there...