I know that this isn't a Ford or Bronco, and I know that its a sin to mention the dreaded "C" word around here, but I need some mechanical advice with my 1996 Chevy 1500.

My gf and I bought the truck a year ago, and since we moved into a new house, we used it for getting supplies from Home Depot and Lowes' as we do construction and landscaping around the new home.

Anyway, we were driving it the one day, and I went to pull away from a light, and the engine revved, and I got no speed. Then there was a clunking, and I pulled over. I knew it was the transmission.

I pulled over and we took a look underneath to see if something had sprung a leak, or what. Pulled the dipstick (which was rusted to hell :shrug ) and there appeared to be fluid in there.

We got it towed to the mechanic's and they stated that the transmission was gone. She actually said she had never seen one "grenade" like that. She did a little research, and apparently that was a bad year for transmissions and Chevy. She is recommending that we rebuild it, but it will run $2250, which may be more than I am willing to spend. I am looking into a rebuilt tranny, but haven't gotten very far with the searching yet.

Anyway, my question is - what do you guys think I should do? Rebuilt, rebuild, junk it, sell it, buy a '96 Ford F-150, F-250 or F-350?

Also, if this was a bad tranny, does anyone know if there is another transmission that Chevy built that is a better option than the standard auto that was in the '96s? (I don't even know what the name of the tranny is (i.e. AOD or E4OD like the Fords.))

I just like this truck as a work truck, and I'm not sure I want to get into another truck with new issues. I just use it to haul stuff and keep the Bronco clean and ready for fun outings. I feel if I get a Ford, I'll start tricking it out like my Bronco, and I already have an '88 and '76 that needs work and my hard earned cash.

Anyone have suggestions? Thoughts?

I have a '90 'c' that I use on our property. It plows the driveway, road, neighbor's driveway, paddock and more. Carries more than it should, gets decent mpg for it's age and my lead foot.
I'd have to say it'd be worth it to buy a junk yard tranny, put it in yourself and keep it going. Look for a later year truck so hopefully gm will have updated the issues that the '96 had.

Love my Bronco, but depend on my 'c'

Yeah, that's where I am with it too. It's actually a CK1500. Like I said, its the work truck, and the Bronco is the party truck.

I just checked Craigslist, and I found a bunch of Fords (150, 250 and 350) that are equal to or less than the price of changing the transmission out.

But like I said, its a whole new mess to deal with...

I had a tranny got out in my 93 1500 and later a 94. Went back to Ford and haven't had any trouble! Well, I tore the rear end up in my F250, but that wasn't the trucks fault.

your truck should have a 4L60E. That transmission has been made without much changes since somewhere around 1988. The 4L60E was adapted to be electronically controlled from the 700R4. Needless to say, it's been around a while... Pretty much any year 1500 from '90 on up to now should have the same transmission. Just make sure if you yank it fro a suburban that it's after '92 since 91's still had the non-electronic version. Hope this helps...

Actually, that does help. Thank you.

Gee, why am I not surprised that Chevy hasn't changed parts on something for at least a decade?

My "fuel efficient car" happens to be a 1984 Chevy Camaro. Any option, stock or custom, from 1982 - 1992 will fit on it. I should have known that GM would do the same thing with their trucks :doh0715:

Working on a customer's '96 C1500 at work. Had to change out the manual lever position sensor (that's the elex device slipped over the manual lever shaft on the driver's side of the trans), causing it to stay in second gear.

It is one of 3 types of trannies one would be a 700r4e and another would be an 4L60E or 4L80E the second one I am kinda guessing at but that one was crap and had a weaker plantery gear set.

Gee, why am I not surprised that Chevy hasn't changed parts on something for at least a decade?

Why fix what ain't broke? I'm not saying it's the best transmission, but it works for what it's used for. Just as long as you don't go putting a 500hp motor in front of it, it should work great. Dabronco, I can almost gaurantee you it's a 4L60E. The 4L80E is used on 3/4ton and 1-ton and the 700R4 no longer used. The stopped using the 700R4 in something like 88 for pickups and 91 for the suburban.

Why fix what ain't broke? I'm not saying it's the best transmission, but it works for what it's used for. Just as long as you don't go putting a 500hp motor in front of it, it should work great. Dabronco, I can almost gaurantee you it's a 4L60E. The 4L80E is used on 3/4ton and 1-ton and the 700R4 no longer used. The stopped using the 700R4 in something like 88 for pickups and 91 for the suburban.

700r4 was discontinued around 93 they could be found in the 454 SS pick-up my parents 93 fullsize Blazer my brother's 89 Silverado. After that they went to all electronic.

I'll be, learn something new every day...

Yeah before I got my bronco was gonna get a 91 454 SS but the now ex wife complained about it.

Yeah I wasn't planning on putting a new engine or anything in it - I just want the damn work truck back. I guess if the rest of the truck isn't set up with the 2500 or 3500 engines or suspensions and whatnot, what would be the point of making the transmission that way?

The 700R4 is (I'm pretty sure) what I have in the Camaro. Its got alot of torque for something sitting behind a V6, but I wouldn't put it into a truck.

Its really the gf's truck, and she is going back today to talk more with the mechanic. She didn't realize there was a difference between a rebuilt trans and rebuilding the one that's in there. When I mentioned the difference, she wasn't sure the mechanic was suggesting.

I was considering looking for a used, but I figured that if these have a habit of falling apart, why go for one that could be ready to do this all again?

The THM700 was renamed "4L60" (RPO M30) following the new General Motors naming convention, when the electronic version, 4L60-E, was phased in. This happened in 1993 for trucks, vans, and SUVs, and 1994 for rear wheel drive passenger cars. 1993-95 production 4L60-Es look similar to non-electronic 4L60s (including the 700R4) with the absence of a governor and throttle valve cable; an electronic plug was positioned where the TV cable once stood. Around 1996, a bolt-on bell housing was phased in (along with a six-bolt tailhousing) when the transmission was bolted behind an inline four cylinder or the Vortec engine family.

The 4L60-E is rated to handle up to 360 ft·lbf (488 N·m) of torque.