HOW TO CHANGE AN ASTRO VAN TRANSMISSION - GM 4L60E

This video will teach you how to change any GM truck or Van transmission, but the procedure is shown on an Astro van because there are extra steps not required on most silverado and sierra trucks. That being said, this video does include everything you need to know to change a GM truck transmission.

[@joshandthejam7806]

I successfully changed my transmission out and back in after watching this video. It was a wealth of knowledge and greatly appreciated! Couldn’t have done it without you friend. 🙏

[@StuntDummyLives]

Really? Holy smokes, that is awesome! Thanks a lot for letting me know, you just made my day. If you have an Astro van, there'll be a LOT more Astro van content coming this summer.

[@thomasbrooksbank3178]

Dude! You are a legend in my eyes. All the tips and trick that actually are useful in this video is worth its weight in gold. And you did it in bare bones style, No lifts or special gear. Amazing. I liked the video and subscribed to your channel with hopes that the rest of the content is just half as good. Thank you for your time and effort!

[@StuntDummyLives]

@@thomasbrooksbank3178 right on, brother. Thank you very much :)

[@pablocabrera1053]

incredible job you did by yourself man!!!filming and explaining every detail with possibles futures problems...i wish i had your skills man...thanks so much

[@birdnv4547]

wow - great job SD - and you did it one handed - what a PIA - thanks for taking us along

[@StuntDummyLives]

I'm not out of the woods yet. I think this van is cursed. Thanx for watching, there should be another transmission video coming tomorrow provided it isn't blistering cold out there.

[@crabbymccrabface3658]

It was so satisfying seeing that your very hard work paid off. Success! Keep teaching SD and I'll keep giving my full attention. To say this is worthwhile content is a gross understatement. Merry Christmas Stunt Dummy and Bull of the Woods. 🎄🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌 🛷🎅🏻

[@StuntDummyLives]

So far, so good. I'm exhausted and only drove it 10 miles home so it hasn't had a real test drive yet, but I'll be doing that tomorrow for sure. I'm glad you watched and enjoyed the video because it was not an easy one to make. Merry Christmas to you and yours :)

[@revkelly85]

Very good video! You worked your ass off.

[@StuntDummyLives]

Thanx, Rev. Ya, I'm getting too old for this crap. I'm feeling it today, that's for sure. My back is all bruised from laying on the ground for two days and today I can barely get out of bed. This van needs to start co-operating. I love it, but I can't keep working on it all the time. It's too much lol

[@revkelly85]

@@StuntDummyLives I have wanted to sell the farm many times

[@jamesgulrich7416]

I know this was awhile ago but usually the smaller the torque converter, the higher the stall speed. However, you would know this by now, right?

[@richardmann3396]

Good information. Thanks man.

[@nickpeterson8080]

Great video thanks for sharing awesome work

[@StuntDummyLives]

Thanx for watching and commenting. Eventually this channel will get back to where it used to be. :)

[@chox2001]

That was some task you had there even without filming it . Thanks for taking the time.

[@StuntDummyLives]

I probably added 4-5 hours to the job because I was recording it. I'm glad someone noticed, and I'm even more glad that you guys are watching it. Thanx, it is much appreciated. :)

[@chox2001]

@@StuntDummyLives you make the videos I will watch them, I never got bored with any of your videos. I send greetings for Christmas for yourself and your dad.

[@joshandthejam7806]

Would I still be able to do this method of pulling it out if I don't have a body lift? I noticed the part where you said you had more clearance. I'm afraid I won't be able to pull the transmission back far enough to take the bell housing off.

[@StuntDummyLives]

I grab transmissions from the junkyard and there's bodylift on the vans.

[@vincentbrickey1488]

Did you do this in a storage unit?

[@Revcanstillrock59]

Petty cool when Rev watches twice

[@StuntDummyLives]

You're the best. TY :)

[@victormendoza871]

I'm curious if the astro van 4.3v6 4l60e and the silverado 4.3l 4l60e are swappable?

[@StuntDummyLives]

All 4l60s are swappable, they're not all the same but the differences are minor and do not affect fitment. Make sure you use the oil pan and dipstick that came with the transmission and you'll be fine.

[@StuntDummyLives]

4l64e's are the same except they have 5 planetary gears inside instead of the usual 4. They fit wherever a 4l60e will. The 4l65e usually comes in escalades and denalis. I doubt an average truck has one, but it might.

[@gascontrolrich2651]

Keep your old transmission as the one you installed could be the wrong on possibly a 4L60E and not a 4L65E. I’m looking into the differences the inter webs are saying torque converter size input shaft and internal components that are designed for higher horsepower and the fact that you have 4 wheel drive. Some identification numbers should be on the bell housing so don’t scrap the one you had to break. You can get more information from the vehicle you took it out of and from that bell housing as well. Also the neutral safety switch was different so that may be another identifying factor. Keeping your original transmission can save dollars in the internal expensive parts. Talk with a transmission shop technician may be the best bet for identifying what’s up with the differences.

[@StuntDummyLives]

This transmission is a 4L60E, it came out of a 2005 GMC Safari. I always take them from Astros/Safaris because the spline count on the output shaft is different for an AWD transfer case than it is for a normal truck transfer case. Escalades & Hummers have 4L65Es, but I took a course on rebuilding these transmissions and the only difference is supposed to be the number of planetary gears inside... 4L60E's have 4 planetary gears and 4L65E's have 5 planetary gears. Otherwise, they're supposed to be identical. Hummers, Escalades & Denalis can come with a 6L engine and 4L65E... which is stupid because Silverados, Sierras, Savanas & Express vans also come with 6L engines, but they are mated with a 4L80E transmission which is bigger and a lot stronger. The difference in torque convertor size is because the bigger ones is a "high-stall torque". They're usually used in vehicles that have a cammed engine, that way the engine can't stall while idling. I've never put two Astro toques side-by-side so I don't know if the factory installed a high-stall torque in all of them, or if they came equipped with the smaller ones. I can't imagine why the bigger ones would be used on a stock engine, but I'm going to find out because it doesn't make sense to me. That being said, I am no expert in torque convertors.

[@gascontrolrich2651]

@@StuntDummyLives I’ve been watching a KZbin channel “Precision Transmissions” and the differences between the 4L60E’s and the 4L65E’s in regards to how the input shafts and torque converters changed around from one to the other. It scared me to death thinking that you had possibly downgraded your transmission after putting in all that hard work. I’m glad that you did your homework! I’ve seen vehicles that had the same looking transmission but a different gear ratio and caused the computer to turn on the check engine light. Hopefully that’s not something that is going on either but it sounds like you got the correct one. Awesome work and a big thanks for your detailed explanation! 👏✌️

[@karinewalsh9357]

Hahaha its so funny that you were filming that kind of stuff before the Freedom Convoy. Making history now Stunt Dummy! Not that being able to change a transmission is a small thing either ;)

[@ken14850]

At 3:51 you can see a crack in valve body

[@StuntDummyLives]

Grrrr I have watched the video a few times now and I can't explain it. It certainly does look like a crack. I may drop the pan again and change the valve body now. I haven't taken it for a real test drive yet, but I thought I felt one of the shift solenoids acting up for a few seconds. The ones in my old transmission are new so I was thinking of dropping the pan to change them... now, I may end up changing the whole vale body. Good eye. Thanx for sharing.

[@ken14850]

@@StuntDummyLives look at the one u have out it could just be a cast mark

[@StuntDummyLives]

@@ken14850 I was hoping that, but I've watched the clip a few times and their doesn't seem to be a shadow that changes so I am 90% you're right that it's a crack. I'm going to look at the other valve body to see if it has a casting mark in that same spot. I do know this transmission was picked up with a forklift and the pan was bent so it is possible there's a crack and I've missed it.

[@Love_I_am]

WOW! thanks for all that effort put in to showing us how to do this!

[@IAmGodConscious]

Dropped mine on my nuts!!! What would you suggest I do now?

[@StuntDummyLives]

Oh, I would probably suggest you duct tape a salad bowl to your crotch and get under there to try again. Don't forget to careful. :)