Looking for recommendations on replacement.
 

Howdy Folks! Local shop that was giving me a steal of a deal on a pull & rebuild decided to back out once they got their hands on it. To be fair, 3200$ was a little too good.

Now that I'm looking elsewhere, I'm looking at 5-6k for something rebuilt to be installed.

Now, I was one replaced bushing away from a safety on this puppy(1999 4x4) - before the tranny blew and dashed my dreams. In total for all my repairs and expensive mistakes, I've spent 8k. Investing another 6 is not a realistic option - and at this point I'd be looking to part, sell, and scrap so I can walk away.

HOWEVER. The local used market has a gush of various 4LXX series of transmissions for under 250$ and I'd like to know my options on just what I can drop right in, what needs minor conversion , and what would need major conversion.
Im aware that not all the 4l60e's are the same;
much less that theres is a particularly HUGE interchangeablity in the 4l family - but some stuff is within reason to adapt.

For example - there's a 4l60e that a guy has from a 94' - to my knowledge it's just the bell housing that would be different from mine no?
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Then there's a 4l65E - which is the one hardcore conversion I do know about and definitely not my first pick.

Then there's an old ass 4l60, can it be converted up to the E class? or is the difference between that TV cable thing and the PWM box just way too much?

There's several more trannys, and then there's several other chevy vehicles either getting parted or going for less than 300$

I'd love to get some rough pointers as to identifying the various transmissions and deciding just how crazy im willing to get.

I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars more in a hail Mary if it means a shot at saving my burnt stack. If I can't feasibly do it myself for under 1k, she goes for chops.

Also its looking like I cracked the transfer case bell housing on a rock while getting rowdy offroad - I havent looked at it too close. But they're right next to eacother anyway so if one's coming out ...🤷‍♀️

thanks in advance for the advice y'all 😁

I'm definitely not a transmission guy, but you may find the info in this older BlazerForum thread somewhat helpful? Good luck, and I hope you find a reasonable solution.

OOF. How'd i miss this? A massive help! Thanks dude!

Transfer case hole was just rot- was dry on my personal inspection but not driven that way (the shop had it, then failed to notify me of canceling my scheduled tranny job when they saw the chip in the transfer case) Hit the hole with JB weld and refilled and drove, refilled with standard ATF - cracked the plug after 25km ride and fluid ran clear. 4x4 appears to be working when hammering gas on grass with the Ebrake pulled. However the dam selector light keeps blinking, gotta get the proper fluid, drain and fill and check again. Totally possible it was run a little low and something was ****ed - will discover.

Chances are I'll be landing a tranny+case combo anyway. So if its a little messed up but gets me from A to B that's alright with me.

Edit: for any one else coming across this thread, I also found this video to be