OK so I was on my way to work this morning and my transmission started slipping...I have a 1997 S10 Blazer 4WD V6. I believe it's got the 4l60e tranny ( I believe). I was able to pull in to a tranny shop nearby and after checking and testing, they found that the filter got clogged and wasn't building enough hydraulic pressure to engage the clutches??? does that make any sense? Anyways, they told me that it couldn't be fixed and needed a new tranny (remanufactured) and it would cost nearly $3000. Not worth it I think. ANYONE WANNA BUY A 1997 BLAZER 4WD??? LOL

Now my buddy has a 98 Astro AWD with V6 blown engine, same tranny. Is it a direct swap? What's involved???

He's got column shift and I have floor shift, Is it just the linkage that's different? Any help would be greatly appreciated![/align]

 

Im not positive about this, but I believe that only the 96-97 will interchange.

 

ASTRO 96-97 A.T.; AWD

BLAZER S10/JIMMY S15 96-97 A.T.; 4x4

BRAVADA 96-97 A.T.

S10/S15/SONOMA 96-97 A.T.; 6-262 (4.3L), 4x4

SAFARI (GMC) 96-97 A.T.; AWD

 

I have a 97 Blazer as well but its not the 4x4, its 4x2. i have the same tranny and i had a leaking pan gasket, and my filter was clogged as well, it would eat so much gas and shift poorly. I had the gasket and filter replaced and it runs great now. my truck has 124,087 Miles on it and had a new 4l60e put on @ 109,850. granted its only RWD but you should ask if you didnt why you cant just change the filter. My guess is that the gearsare worn out really bad but that does make sense it wasnt building up enough pressure. I dont think you can swap that Astro Tranny, i think the line of blazers was 1995-1997 or 1996-1997. Also there are 2 dif models of the 4l60E. Theres an ealry Model Early 97 and Lower. Then Theres the New Model Late 97 and Up. Ask the shop as much as possible, why spend 3K if you can just use a new filter

 

Only thing to plug a tranny filter is tranny parts, specifically clutch pack material. If your filter is plugged, your clutches are shot and you need a rebuild.

$3k for a rebuild is way to much, you can buy a new one from GM for less than that and it comes with a great warrenty. Look on page three of the do-it-yourself section for removing the tranny. Not too bad if you have some mechanical skills. It will take you a weekend to drop the tranny and another to get it back in, at least the first time you do it. A good tranny tech can drop it in 4 hours.

Shop around for a new tranny or another shop. $3K is way too much to rebuild it. Parts alone are about $350-$500, depends on the upgrades. Hell even autozone sells rebuild kits. You will need a new torque converter too.

If you want to do this yourself, post up, we can help you out. Where are you located?

 

$3000 is WAY too much for a rebuild. I would expect to pay as high as $1800 for a shop to do everything including a new torque converter. Around a grand for a bench job.
Before I spent any money... I would just clean out the filter and see if the tranny comes back to life. This will only cost you some fluid. If the tranny lives then go get a new filter and gasket.
I don't think the Astro van tranny will work... keep in mind that the computers have got to be the same or it just wont work right. A good salvage yard can tell you what will work.
Another alternative is to buy a used tranny from a salvage yard. But that's just what you will be getting... a used tranny.
If you go with a rebuild, do NOT re-use your old converter. While the tranny is out, check the flex plate for cracks around the center. That is also an excellent time to change the rear main seal on your engine.

 

These are your replacements. The Astro/Safari uses the same engine/tranny as the Blazer, so do a few fullzie trucks and vans.

 

OK so I got my Blazer back home today. I had the tranny flushed and the filter replaced and I drove it home, 20+ miles and have not slipped at all, even uphill...Hope this temporarily fixes the problem, might be selling it this spring in favor of a daddy and mommy mobile (minivan) 2 kids...lol

 

Hey well it lasted about 5 days with the oil change...

I ended up by using my buddy's Astro 1998 Astro's 4L60E tranny in my 97 Blazer. So far so good, shifts like new, hopefully it will last at least til the end of the summer. Anyone wanna buy it? Make me an offer! LOL