Complete Auto Transmissions for Chevrolet S10

Complete Auto Transmissions for the Chevrolet S10

The Chevrolet S10 is a compact pickup truck produced between 1981 and 2004. If you're looking for a used S10 automatic transmission, you may find a reasonably priced complete auto transmission on eBay.

Chevrolet S10 used four variations of the well-known Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission developed by General Motors. The production of the Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission started in 1964 and continued until 2012. The three-element torque converter coordinates with the trademark Simpson planetary geartrain, offering three forward levels and a reverse. Starting in the early 1980s, the system was gradually updated to include four-speed S10 transmission. Some of these four-speed transmission systems continue to use the trademark Hydramatic even after the production stopped in 2012.

There are four different types of Turbo-Hydramatic Chevy S10 transmissions. Following is a brief overview of each type:

• THM 200: This is the three-speed automatic transmission that is sometimes marketed as a lighter version of the THM350. It uses lighter materials such as alloys instead of ferrous metals. It is also the first GM transmission to use throttle valve cable to control the shift points and part throttle kick down.
• 700 R4: Introduced in 1982, this is a four-speed transmission. It was renamed 4L60 in 1990. The four stands for the number of forward gears and L for longitudinal applications, rear-wheel drive.
• 4L60 and 4L60E: It is the four-speed transmission, which is an evolution of 700 R4. The 4L60E family of transmissions uses two shift solenoids. By activating and deactivating solenoids, the electronic system can achieve distinct gear ratios in minimum time.

The biggest difference between the 4L60 and 4L60E is control. The 4L60E is an electronic version that is controlled by the computer compared to TV cable control in the 4L60. The difference in how these two are controlled makes them mechanically different from each other, which means that the user will need to install a transmission controller when replacing one with another. Similarly, users will need adapters to engage the torque converter when replacing 4L60 with 4L60E.

All of the Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions are equipped with Simpson planetary geartrain. These geartrain consists of two gears so that the center of one geartrain revolves around the center of the other. A carrier connects the two gears to carry one gear, called the planet gear, to revolve around the other. The benefit of this formation is the high power density compared to the standard parallel axis gear trains.