3100's 4T60e vs 3800's 4T60e

[Rhedalert]

Say you have a tranny from a '96 Lumina 3.1 and another one from a '96 Regal 3.8. The 3.8's gonna have a lower FDR (which can be changed so not a problem) considering the 3.8 slams out quite a bit more torque than a 3.1, does anyone know if GM beefed up the 3.8's tranny due to that? I only ask because if I need it (and very well might) I have a choice of the 2, and from what I've seen from working in a shop, the 4T60e's behind 3.8's seem to hold up much better than when behind other engines. The chart on this site says specs are the same, but if anyone has knowledge on it I'd appreciate it.

[prophiseer]

As far as I know, they're all the same; just check the casting stamps with GM and they should be able to tell you what's what.

But I can say that I've replaced a 4t60e that was behind a '95 Cadi Deville with a 4T60e from a '98 Grand Am Q4 without any problems afterward. Ran great, actually.

[sharkey]

um, im gonna call ya on that. a 98 grand am would have a 2.4l twin cam, not a quad 4, and the 2.4l twin cam would have a 4t40e behind it, not a 4t60e. and the bellhousing from a q4 and 2.4 tc are different from a caddy motor and the rest of the small gm pattern.

basicly all thats different between motor with 4t60e transmissions is the bellhousing and final drive. the 3.8l supercharged version on the 4t60e may be a bit different, but not much.

[prophiseer]

I beg to differ, not trying to start anything here, I just don't agree with your statement - the twin cam 2.4L is a slightly larger bored design over the 2.3L, only real difference is the slightly longer stroke over the 2.3L - everything else, head design, intake manifold and exhaust manifold designs (bolt patterns are all identical, i.e. you can swap a head or intake from a '93 onto a '97), cam and timing chain designs are all "similar". Just cause GM bumped the displacement up by .1L doesn't mean it's dropped from the Q4 family.

reserve the 2.4L twin cam designation for the newer ecotec motors - they're a joke compared to the Quad 4's - IMO.

and on the tranny . . . I've got a stock setup in my totaled '98 GA chillin in the driveway, if you need me to squeeze underneath it and snap a photo of the under side of the engine compartment to see the 4T60-E oil pan right beside a Q4 oil pan. I have yet to see a GM FWD tranny that has a different bellhousing pattern from the rest of the FWD family (after '85), as to the utmost best of my knowledge - they're all the same.

[sharkey]

ill agree that the 2.3 and 2.4 are simular and in the same family, but its like saying a 3.1l aluminum head motor is the same as a 2.8l ironhead motor. but anyways...

my mistake, the grand am did get a 4t60e till 98 with the 2.4 and 3100. but the 2.3 and 2.4l use a unique bellhousing bolt pattern. the starter is higher up on the side of the block, the bolts are in different locations and is actualy a much smaller bellhousing then the small gm pattern. they will not in any way bolt up to any motor but a 2.3/2.4.

and just so ya know, the other gm bellhousing out there is the northstar (derivitave of the small gm) and the 1.6/1.8/2.0 bellhousing. those motors have the starter on the back under the intake manifold, and use one of the starter bolts as a bellhousing bolt. it is very different from the other bolt patters, and actualy differs from standard to auto. those motors are commonly found in sunbirds (up to 94) grand ams, and pontiac le mans.

[prophiseer]

I look at the 2.3L vs the 2.4L like the 3100 vs the 3400, differences, yes, but way to many similarities. Anyways, I'm dropping the Q4 argument, this is the wrong site to continue with that

I know exactly what 4 cyl family your talking about (damn chevy's I4's); once you've done a starter on one of those, you don't soon forget it (same with the northstar). It's even a bitch to change the oil filter on most of those motors, unless you snag the filter from the topside of the motor.

But the only year Cadi to get the 4T60-E was the '95 Deville (maybe half of the '96 year model too); and even though it was the 4.6L v8, RPO LD8 (if I remember right) it and also shares the northstar bolt pattern (it should defi be a northstar, but this Cadi was missing the beauty cover for the motor).