HI Everyone.

First post and new owner. Just picked up my first ever corvette, a 91 c4 with 86K miles on it. I was told by a corvette shop that it needs to be rebuilt. He quoted me $3,700 which I think is outrageous. My question to you guys is what are my options. I know I can rebuild it, but will it be cheaper if I just buy a new transmission such as a 4L60E and have a shop install it? What do you guys recommend? It is a daily driver.

Thanks.

 

I don't think you want a 4L60E since it is electronic and you need to have a standalone controller. Yes you CAN rebuild it. Yes, you have to stand behind it if there is a problem. Yes, you have to furnish the parts and labor. So yes, you can do it for a lot less assuming your time is worth nothing and the chance of a mistake is negated. Now if you have experience and tools and a facility, it will cost less.

 

The first question is what is it doing that makes you think it has to be rebuilt - just the Corvette shop telling you so? I would suggest that 2nd and third estimates would be in order. Don't be thinking of buying a 4L60E. That is the electronic version and your car does not support one.

 

thanks Aklim. I just want a good reliable transmission that can last me 50K-80K miles whether its rebuilt or not. I dont race or no plans on having performance mods. Just a reliable daily driver. If i dont need a 4L60E then I'll look for a rebuild only of my existing transmission? Any other advice is appreciated. Thank you

 

Yup the shop told me but your right ill get a second opinion. But I think he's right because the car feels like it has no life when i accelerate and there was smoke from the hood which he said its transmission leaking.

 

Trans might be leaking. Might be low on fluid and smoked something. Who knows. First, check fluid level. Next, see if it is burned.

 

yup that’s exactly what he told me. Said it’s low on fluid , and leaking everywhere.

 

First thing I would do right now is to fill it up and a little bit. Go for a short drive and see if it improves. Can't do any worse. This is if it isn't spraying out but a little drip.

 

I somehow get the feeling that you are not mechanically inclined as you seem to be willing to take the word of the shop. I may be wrong and if I am, YOU inspect it and find out where it is leaking from. Could be as simple as a loose fitting on a cooler line. Not trying to burst your bubble but as far as I am concerned, "good reliable daily driver" and a 30 year old car do not belong in the same sentence if you can't do the work yourself.

 

With the aftermarket controllers available now upgrading to a 4L60e or a 4L80e is much easier and much less expensive than a rebuild. I've had both 4L60 and 80 in my 84. Other than fabricating the C beam mount it wasn't that bad. The factory driveshaft will work just fine with the 4L60e. If you ever want to step it up to the 4L80e you will need a shorter one. The best part is that once you go that route not only do you get all the advantages of a computer controlled transmission but if you ever need to replace it 2wd 4L60e's are so common in the wreaking yard your practically tripping over them. You rarely ever see a 700r4 laying around anymore.

In fact if you live anywhere near Clarion, PA I still have my low mileage 4L60e and C beam adapter that I made sitting under my work bench that I would love to sell you cheap.

These are some pictures of the adapter I made for my 4L80e. Just some basic welding skills needed for this. Don't let this part scare you off from swapping in a transmission. It was easy.

 

First, Welcome to the Corvette Forum kaveh2k!

This is the best resource for Corvette owners next to the Factory Service Manuals. By the way be sure to get a set of the FSM for your particular year C4. They cost about $85 for the printed copy and on EBAY and ROCKAUTO have DVD's of the manuals for a fraction of the price. It is very hard to work on a Corvette of this era without the manuals. One book is mechanical and one is electrical for my year. They have more information than you will ever need but they are essential if you want to keep the Corvette on the road.

Like everybody suggested get another opinion. Find a Corvette club and see who they would recommend in your area. If you have to you might see if there is a NCRS group near you that could point you to reliable repair shops that don't have the Corvette Tax added.

I have a 1988 C4 and my transmission was fine until I flushed the fluid at 90k miles. Within a couple hundred miles it was slipping like a beast. I had a buddy at an AMMCO Transmission shop rebuild my original for less than $1800 using performance parts to boot. $3700 sounds like the Corvette price to me, I would avoid that shop like the plague!

If you look in Hot Rod Magazine you will find several companies that sell rebuilt or re-manufactured Transmissions. I would consider one of those if you are able to install the transmission yourself or with a little help. A decade ago I needed a transmission for my 1995 Chevy P/U and nobody had the five speed manual transmissions. I finally bought one out of Florida that arrived 2 days later at the shop and they did not need any core. All for less than $1400 delivered for free. I then sold the core and made back another $400. The transmission was perfect and worked until we got rid of the truck. Some online shops are actually honest....

Let your fingers do some work online and see what is available. The 700R4's are not that expensive from what I remember. Good Luck!!

 

If you buy one from Autozone it is about $1450. Now what else it takes to do it, IDK. I don't know what is in the price. Is there a break down of the bill? I want to know what exactly is being done. So if you buy a Stallion TC, it is, IIRC about $1000 so it can change the price drastically. So $3700 isn't a good number to make a decision. Labor rate and R&R time and cost is more important.

 

I am sorry as I must be missing something simple. Ask your friends who has an honest transmission shop. Take the car there and see what an experienced pro says. These are not rare collector cars. Dan

 

IDK if you can get a junkyard one. I think the output shaft is shorter.