QuestionQUESTION: i have a 98 GMC Sonoma 4X4 with a 4.3L V6 vortec motor and a 4L60E transmission. i want to change from an automatic transmission to a manual tranny but i don't know what tranny to look for cause I'm not sure if the transfer case is different or not i know all the rest of what i need just not what tranny to be looking for?????? thanx.
ANSWER: Hi Devon,
Save yourself the countless headaches you'll run into doing that changeover and go buy a straight-drive equipped truck. Until you are finished paying for all the minor changes and modifications, you'll have spent more than if you'd just purchase another vehicle to your liking.
Looking for a reputable service technician? My advice on finding a good technician is: Steer clear of the dealership and 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).
Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
Knucklebusters Used Auto & Truck Parts, Inc.
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
"Re-use is the best form of recycling" Help us recycle by purchasing used parts from us!
Looking for an ASE Certified shop near you? ASE Certified Technicians are the BEST of the BEST!
Click here: http://www.ase.com/bluesealsearch/locator.php
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: ya thats usually how it is with all of the ASE stuff. i know all about it because i just graduated from WYOTECH in Sacramento CA. I am looking for a challenge so thats why i want to do this changeover. i also want to keep the truck a 4X4 i just want to make it a manual trannyand am wondering if the transfer case is different and wat tranny to get, because i have already had the 4L60E tranny rebuilt and its not doing so good once again pluss im not really fond of the 4L60E or its brother for the cars the 4T60E they are in my opinion some of the worst trannys that were built. thanx.
AnswerHi Devon,
Actually, and you should know this, all transmissions are built equally, as far as automatics are concerned. The key to longevity is maintenance. I've had 700R4's (the 4-series predecessor) running perfectly after 300+ thousand miles and the 700 was undoubtedly labeled as THE worst transmission ever produced by HM for GM.
I understand your plight a little better now. I'd still advise steering clear of that type of a challenge just out of tech. You don't want to ruin yourself and have to use the back-up, culinary-school degree. Lol.
Seriously, I'll offer you whatever info I can to help you, but my interchange program works via application so you'd need to give me yr/make/model info for each trans and vehicle you would be working with. Can I tell you which units will fit into your truck, sort-of. I can tell you what was produced for those vehicles in that year range but I would have no way of knowing what exactly will fit because your particular vehicle was rolled off of the assembly line as an automatic, not a manual so other parts, not related to the trans, like ECM and wheel speed sensors will need to be replaced to be compliant with the new drivetrain addition.
For instance, the '98 Sonoma had two different drivelines for the 4.3 engine, manual trans. The ZR2 model is not the same as the non-ZR2 model an there are no notes specifying WHAT is different. Since yours is neither (started out w/o the ZR2 option b/c of the auto status) I'd only be guessing when it comes to telling you what would fit. In fact, you probably wouldn't even notice a difference between the two units because the differences may be internal. You'll spend weeks gathering parts and installing them or modifying them and when it's all done, you'll still have a non-functional vehicle. The powertrain controller relies on allot of information received from the transmission, in absence of an auto transmission, which is what the PCM is looking for, your engine will not operate either.
I'm not kidding when I say that changeover is extraordinarily difficult. If you were dealing with 1970's vehicles, I'd say have a ball, but since computers and electronics have been installed and incorporated into vehicles, this type of project has all but disappeared.
Good luck!
Looking for a reputable service technician? My advice on finding a good technician is: Steer clear of the dealership and 'chain' stores like Firestone, Sears, Pep Boys, Monro Muffler/Brake, Midas, etc. as they usually only employ ONE ASE Certified Tech just so they can say they do and chances are, that guy is the asst. manager or manager and is not in the store to diagnose/repair vehicles anyway. Find a service location in the link below or get some names out of the yellow-pages and do a drive-by. Garages that employ ASE Certified Technicians will be marked with the 'Blue-Seal' insignia. If unsure about whether a place employs Certified Techs, just ask to see their credentials. ALL ASE Certified Technicians will be PROUD to show and display their certificate(s).
Thanks for the question, I hope this information was helpful to you.
Fred
Knucklebusters Used Auto & Truck Parts, Inc.
www.knucklebusters.us
570-453-0910
"Re-use is the best form of recycling" Help us recycle by purchasing used parts from us!
Looking for an ASE Certified shop near you? ASE Certified Technicians are the BEST of the BEST!
Click here: http://www.ase.com/bluesealsearch/locator.php
