My '96 (LT1, stock everything) runs well, and -- after having sat in my parents' garage for around 4-5 years, as you'll recall, before I put it back on the road about two years ago -- really the only concern I have is with a slightly bumpy second shift (i.e., shifting from 2nd to 3rd).  It's pretty minor -- usually only happens if you're ambling along at ordinary low-stress acceleration; oddly enough, accelerating hard or up a hill, there's no bump at all.

|UPDATED|8/25/2013 3:34:09 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Prolly nothing to worry about at all. No noises, clunks, bangs, or vibrations, fluid is clean/full....drive it. 

I'd take it to a reputable independent trans shop (NOT Aamco) and have them scan it, and drive it.
You have a 96 which is OBD II. When an OBD II car sets a transmission code, the MIL light will NOT illuminate. 96 is  also the first year of what they call the "PWM'd Torque Converter Clutch".  These early PWM'd TCC's have issues. Not just Corvette, but all GM's that use the 4L60e transmission. What happens is the PCM detects torque converter slippage, and sets code P1870. Google "P1870".


I'd have it scanned for Transmission codes. The 2-3 should be the 'softest' shift in a 4L60/4L60e.  There's a lot going on during the 2-3, and it takes time which results in a soft-ish shift. If it's  bangy, its not right. Have an expert give it a test drive.

If it HAS set P1870, or any of a number of other codes that command max-line pressure, you want to know about, and fix it. continuing to drive it with max-line pressure breaks parts. The early PWM'd 4L60e's are well-known to have issues. Get it checked. :2cents:

|UPDATED|8/25/2013 10:34:54 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Any codes that would cause a max line pressure situation would cause a harsh 1-2 shift, but not really effect the other shifts. Since we only have a slight bumpy 2-3 shift on occasion, I would lean more towards there not really being any major issue.The later model transmission had more of an issue with the PWM valve wear that can set the 1870 code, but the early units had a different valve line-up in the valve body....don't really see much wear in those, thus rarely ever see a "Trans Component Slipping"(1870) code for them.
Definitely have your guy check it out, but with no codes, and only a minor shift issue at times, it's probably not a real problem....might just be a little more acceleration going on when it shifts like that.

Hi Urb,

The '87 still used the 700R4 trans...non-electronic. Still pretty much the same trannys, internally, but with a different valve body and electrics on the 4L60E. The 700 is mostly controlled by throttle pressure, and the governor, whereas the 4L60E is fully electronic control.
I don't really see a problem with either of them having a little funky shift every now and then. A difference in throttle application can cause one to do that.
My '85 will bark the tires in every gear, iffin I want to...and I like it like that.

Thanks again for the input.  I was my Dad's garage assistant growing up, but automatic transmissions were the one thing he didn't work on -- so they're pretty much a black box, except from Peter Egan's description of them as something you diagram with arrows going around in various directions not unlike a bowl of spaghetti... or however it was he described it.