Speedometers?

[HAULIN IT]

What can anyone tell me about the years that our trucks had : cable driven, electric, ect.
 What I'm gearing up to do is install a 4l60e tranny & I'm researching all of my options as to how to go about the VSS & the speedo. Does anyone know if it's true that the '89-'90 2wd Suburbans have a VSS & a cable speedo? I'm aware that there are a few companies that make a piggyback unit & a new tailshaft set-up, just trying to decide how to go.
 How does the new cluster (electric speedo) play out in a '85 truck, wiring wise for the other gauges?
 Is anyone aware of '88-'91 Caprice cop cars with both a VSS & cable drive? This was mentioned on a post I found online. Thanks Guys, Lorne

[Lt.Del]

I think there were two years the subs had VSS electric speedos, 90 and 91.
I know my 91 GMC does NOT have a cable.  It has two VSS's I beleive

[VileZambonie]

That VSS was for the 4L80E. I'd have to do some research as to compatibility with the 4L80E and 4L60E and how the PCM reads the frequency. You can get an aftermarket VSS but do you plan on running the PCM with the 4L60E or a standalone? Are you using the stock speedo?

[HAULIN IT]

Vile, I'll be using a stand alone transmission controller. It requires a TPS & a VSS that I'll have to deal with (along with a tach signal & other simple stuff). What I'm trying to do is check out my options for the VSS, I'm not committed to any certain plan yet. I would like to use my stock speedo, but if getting one from a '90-'91 & going electric isn't too bad...I'm ok with that.
 There are a few companies making A/M set-ups, one is a screw-on deal like a speedo corrector, one is a rather large box with a couple wires (the VSS) & a cable for the speedo & another (the neatest to me) is a different tail shaft with both the cable provision (from a non-E) & a VSS, but it's $400-$500. In researching I've seen chatter of some Suburbans & some cop cars had this set-up on the 4l60e's. Any help would be great, Thanks, Lorne     

[VileZambonie]

I've never seen a suburban 91 and older with a 4L60E. The only E trans as far as I am aware of was the 4L80E.

Here's an option
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4L60E-Electric-VSS-Speedometer-Cable-Drive-System_W0QQitemZ120382636595QQcmdZViewItem

Who makes your stand alone? Do they offer a vss converter?

If I get a chance today I'll take some pix of the set up on my 91 suburban with the 4L80E and it's vss

[HAULIN IT]

Vile, The controller I'm going to use is made by Bauman (they started out doing the Ford stuff) & seem to have a nice set-up, all parameters are adjustable (shift, lock-up, ect. & have a switch to change from Two of your pre-stored programs without needing to plug in the lap top). They don't have their own converter (the plug for the speed sensor in the harness), they mentioned a few options.
 In doing some more checking, I've found the cop car thing is fact (the cable was used for a radar gun ) they are discontinued from GM, but are available it appears. Another set-up that I see guys are doing that seems neat & reasonable is drilling a hole ahead of the original speedo/VSS hole in the tailshaft & using one of the screw in VSS & putting the reluctor ring on the shaft ahead of the speedo drive gear. Thanks for the help! Lorne

[eventhorizon66]

Is this what you are looking for?  http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/SpeedSensors_Speedometer.html

Also, why are you going to a 4L60E over your current 700R4?  Fine tuning shift points?  If you are going e-trans, why not a 4L80E for strength and closer ratios?

Oh, and thanks for alerting me to the Bauman TCS.  It looks like a cost-effective alternative to the HGM unit.

[HAULIN IT]

Even, Yes that is where I found some of the good info...I have talked to Mike Knell at length a couple times, he is a sharp guy.
 Well I'm wanting to build (I'm getting in the way ) a new trans, I've beat on this one for several years & feel I'm on borrowed time. None of these trannys were ever intended to do what I'm doing with them...2004r, 4l60 (700r4) or the 4l80. I have heard about the good & bad of each. My Grand National buddy wants me to do a 200, the 4l80 seems like the best for durability, but is heavier & bigger internally (more power to turn) plus do to my body drop, would require a pretty big tunnel mod.
 Yes, really for the ability to alter the shift points without getting tranny fluid in my hair. At some point I'll probably try a Holley carb & that will just be a simple bracket for the TPS then. Everyone talks about the bad 2nd gear in the 700/4l60, but it's only a few hundred RPM's different than the 200 & 350, ect. The low first gear seems to get the truck moving well & the torque of the big Olds doesn't seems to make that longer shift extension noticeable. 
 Quite a few guys are putting 600 hp or so to the 700/4l60's with some good parts & living fairly well.
 The controller is the same for the 4l60e & the 80, so I can always use it if I go to the 80.
 I've recently bought a good converter, billet shafts (input & output), drum, ect. & already have the good 5 pinion planets, ect. in mine now, so we'll try this for now & see how it works. Could I have built an 80 for the same money...maybe. Time will tell, allot of people that know/find out I running a 700/4l60 are surprised it has lived for 3+ years & over 100 passes (me included ) so I've gotten a little faith in them over the time. Thanks Guys! Lorne

[Captkaos]

I can tell you that eventually the 60E will break after you put a good number of passes on it unless you get all of the upgrades possible, but by that time, you could have gotten a 80E and used less money and it would last longer.
The 90/91 was the only year the an E trans was offered.  The 80E was availible and it used a VSS and the same ECM as the 454SS and anything else that got the 80E.  The 60E didn't come out until 1993.

[VileZambonie]

I wouldn't run the 4L60E without some serious upgrades first. If you are going to go through it and replace some hard components it'll be a good trans. The 4L80E is almost too easy and would be a direct fit like Chris said but if you think it'll cause interference issues don't bother.

[fitz]

I think there were two years the subs had VSS electric speedos, 90 and 91.
I know my 91 GMC does NOT have a cable.  It has two VSS's I beleive

I've parted out a few 90-91 Blazers/Suburbans with the 4l60/241 set up in them and they all had the electronic speedo.

[HAULIN IT]

Ok Guys, Thanks! That is the bum part of researching things & using internet posts as a source. The info is only as good as the person writing it's true ability, their memory & a bunch of other factors. I have taken some "heat" about being "Mr Right" a few times, however I feel that is what makes this & others sites "Good Ones"...bad information isn't flowing on a regular basis.
 What was interesting about the idea of the speedo cable & VSS is I could see it happening on the carry-over models (V & R, G vans).
 Thanks to all for the input...The truth is I may very well be going down the wrong path, time will tell!
 Here's my Brother's Mustang leaving on a high 10 second pass, it has a cut down stock driveshaft, 1310 U-joints, all stock 9" internals & 28 spline stock axles ('70 Bronco redrilled to 4 bolt). How many people have told us "It won't live"? Plenty! It's been in this car 12 years, 33,000 miles & over 400 passes. Before that it was in his first 460 car for Two years (low 12's for 150 passes or so). Will it break on the next pass? Maybe. We'll hope not. Thanks, Lorne