Can a transmission from a 94 century fit in a 91 lesabre?

[troykendall2]

We bought a 91 lesabre last year. And the transmission is going bad in it. It only has 107k and I don't want to just junk it because it's a good car. I recently acquired a 94 century, 3.1, 106k, and the guy couldn't get the engine to start. If I find that it can't be fixed, would the transmission from the century fit in the lesabre? Thanks!

 

[HotZ28]

IIRC, the '91 LeSabre has an 440T4. The first year for the LeSabre to use the 4T60E was '92. The '94 Century has an 4T60E, so the two would not be interchangeable.

 

[ryenie]

The lesabre transmission is a 4t60, and the century is a 4t60e. The bellhousings i'm pretty sure will match up but i think that's about it. From what I've read there are likely to be a difference in frame mounting locations and possibly hose routing. You'll also have to determine the proper torque converter size for your application, and may end up having to have the ecm\pcm retuned. You may even have to find a wiring harness from a vehichle that used a 4t60e setup with the same vin code as the engine in the lesabre, but even then the gear ratios may be different requiring a tune as well. You may have better luck taking the tag info off the failing transmission and finding a suitable replace with matching numbers to not have to jump through hoops to make it work.

 

[HotZ28]

LeSABRE 86-91 440-T4

http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_catalog/transmissions_automatics/buick_automatic_transmissions.html

 

[ryenie]

LeSABRE 86-91 440-T4

 

[HotZ28]

Sorry, but that site does not convince me that the interchange mentioned by the OP is compatible! The renaming of the trans does not mention what year that took place! Different terminology, different years & totally different trans.

 

[ryenie]

http://www.gmtuners.com/tech/440_4T60E_4T65E.htm

 

[HotZ28]

Around the 1990 model year, GM revised their transmission designation system and the 440-T4 became known as the 4T60 (4 forward speeds, T=transverse, 60=Series, based on relative torque capacity).

"Based on the torque capacity" That link and site simply changes the nomenclature (name) and did not convince me that the trans was any different trans, or even an 4T60, which I have never heard of. (Fake News) If you want to rebuild or repair an 1991 LeSabre trans, you need to order parts for an 440-T4.

Some 4T60-E’s (especially later year models) came with a cast aluminum side cover. The easiest way to tell a 4T60-E apart from the 440-T4/4T60 is the 4T60-E will not have a kickdown cable but it will have a removable differential housing cover.

That part is true!

 

[ryenie]

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...19573,transmission-automatic,rebuild+kit,8512
I think the important part of the message is they will bolt up, but mechanically there are differences between the century transmission and the one that came in the lesabre that would require a reworking of the setup to make it work. You will need to look at the tag on the transmission and cross-reference the number to see what it says.

 

[troykendall2]

Thanks guys!