controlling 4l60e

[Rodeo]

I have a 01 isuzu rodeo, it factory has a delco ecm and runs a gm 4l30e transmission. The stock trans is very weak and begining to slip, with my current lift and 33s its life span wont be long. Ide like to swap in a 4l60e, I have the mounting etc. All figured out, the only problem is controlling it. I dont want to spend the 600$+ on a standalone controller and was hoping to run it off the stock ecm. Is it possiable to remove the 4l30e files and replace with 60e? They are controlled diffrently so im not sure if something like that is possiable. My second thought was can a ecm be programed to run as a stand alone? I could add a second tps, vss etc, and just use it to shift the trans? I dont have much knowledge in tuning or ecm mods so im sorry if anything about my question is stupid. Thanks

[dave w]

The quick answer is the 16197427 PCM can be set up to run a "stand alone" 4L60E.

The required signal are as you describe, Tachometer, VSS, TPS, Battery "+ / -" and Ignition On / Start. The original TPS you have could work if it's 0V ~ 5v, might even be able to splice wires in the TPS you have.

dave w

[steveo]

there's a guy on this forum working on a very affordable standalone controller, but i think it might be a ways off of being ready?

[buddrow]

there's a guy on this forum working on a very affordable standalone controller, but i think it might be a ways off of being ready?

Ya, I'm still working on the controller. Need to line out a few more items before its ready for the road and time is not my friend at the moment. Still waiting on Steveo to send me the updated code for review. Anywho, here's the thread on my controller project if you're interested or just curious.

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...ion-controller

Buddrow

[Rodeo]

awesome, I can wait a couple months, I know the 60e isnt the best option but the 30s worse lol the 60 atleast has the aftermarket support. Looks like ill be looking into making the colo 60 into 60° bell housing a little further. Ill prob be getting a 2.2 trans not just housing so may just swap the input shaft over, not simple but very doable

[buddrow]

If you get the 2.2L trans you shouldn't have to swap input shafts. The I6/L5 trailblazer/colorado bellhousings and converters are specific to those engines so I would look for either the 2.2 or V6 bell/converter setup. The trans is going to have to be gone through to change the output shaft for a 4wd unless you find a 2.2L 4wd S-10 trans. And you will have to procure the t-case adapter from the colorado trans if you're wanting to use the isuzu tcase. You might also look at Isuzu Hombre trucks for trans. may have just the setup you're looking for.

Buddrow

[lionelhutz]

Share your PCM p/n.

What would be the advantage of adding a second controller for the transmission vs using a single PCM for engine and transmission?

[Rodeo]

I figured she cond controllor because I was told by a tuner Icouldnt replace 30 files with 60e because of how difffrently controlled they are ie number of solenoids etc.but would love to use one ecm if possiable.

I think I know the member your refering to, pmed him on another forum but said his controller is aways from being done.

Ill grab the p/n when I get home from work

[Fast355]

I do not suggest trying to use a 4L60E for a bandaid for lack of proper gearing. My neighbor towed a rather large/heavy boat with his Rodeo with the same transmission. It was rebuilt by a competent shop and had a shift kit installed to help give it the line pressure it needed to handle the abuse. Assuming your V6 has the 60*V6 bellhousing pattern the only 4L60E you can use would be for a F-car and they are 2wd. You would have to convert it to a 4 wheel drive output shaft and tailhousing.

That being said with proper gearing you can actually put less stress on your transmission than it had stock, assuming a stock engine.

That being said the 60*V6 4L60E is not that much better of a transmission.

[Rodeo]

The 30e is finicky, finding someone who can rebuild it without issue can be a bit troublesome tho not impossiable, the shidt kits and "upgraded" parts available are considered questionable by much of the isuzu community. There is more than just the fcar trans as a option also the 4l60e has a bolt on bell housing so I can use any 60e with the gm metric fwd housing bolted on, I will be using the bell housing from a 2.2 s10 on a chevy colorado 4l60e and tcase because it uses an isuzu case that is p/s drop and has a clearanced pan and valve body for the front shaft. The 30e seems to be disliked by most every isuzu user and bmw owner ive seen on forums. The 60 has alot more aftermaket and upgradable parts, comes from the factory rated for more torque and my personal favorite a dipstick the 30e dosent. also its embaresing to have a vehicle that shares a trans with a mail truck lol.

[Rodeo]

Also I have limited gear options being that the front diff is an isuzu 10 bolt I can go from my current 4.10s to 4.30s, maybe track down some 4.56s from an older trooper, the nearly impossiable to find 4.77s or the long out of production and prone to failure 5.38s, also the 2 best options would mean I couldnt go above 40 mphwith out the engine screaming. I wish I could regear to correct for tires and may but at the moment just want a trans I dont have to be always worried about. Sorry too rant lol just I have thought this through a bit. By the way you guys are geniuses, idk how you guys know all the ins and out of these ecms lol

[Six_Shooter]

You need to be sure of the year of 4L60E you are using to have proper control. Not all 4L60Es are the same when it comes to that. I don't recall all the details, but I do know there were changes in the '90s where control is concerned, and swapping one way to the other causes transmission damage, while going the other works, though not ideal.

There were 4L60Es that did not have removable bellhousings as well.

[Fast355]

Also I have limited gear options being that the front diff is an isuzu 10 bolt I can go from my current 4.10s to 4.30s, maybe track down some 4.56s from an older trooper, the nearly impossiable to find 4.77s or the long out of production and prone to failure 5.38s, also the 2 best options would mean I couldnt go above 40 mphwith out the engine screaming. I wish I could regear to correct for tires and may but at the moment just want a trans I dont have to be always worried about. Sorry too rant lol just I have thought this through a bit. By the way you guys are geniuses, idk how you guys know all the ins and out of these ecms lol

No problem man.....I went to an 80E in my application where the 60E and 65E spec replacement were not adequate for my abuse. I can totally relate. My 2006 Ram Hemi truck went through 6 transmissions in 70K too. If I had kept it, I would have swapped in an AMG spec NAG1.