Winters Sidewinder 700R4 & 4L60E Gated Shifter
SKU: 177-1
Winters SideWinder Gated Shifter for 700R4 & 4L60E Transmissions
Unlike standard shifters that rely on spring-loaded levers, the Art Carr - Winters SideWinder 4L60E Shifter utilizes a mechanical guard bar and a stepped steel gate to govern gear selection. This design eliminates the risk of "jamming" common in spring-actuated systems and ensures positive gear engagement through physical stops.
The gate is engineered with a fail safe physical barrier that prevents the shift rod from entering the reverse gate from any forward gear. To reach reverse, the operator must intentionally navigate the rod through a specific offset in the steel gate, making an accidental shift into reverse mechanically impossible during high-speed forward operation. Each Winters 700R4 / 4L60E Shifter arrives fully assembled in its own console and includes the hardware you need to get it installed quickly.
700R4 / 4L60E Shifter Kit Includes:
- Fully assembled Winters SideWinder 700R4 / 4L60E Gated Shifter
- 5 ft. shifter cable
- Shift linkage hardware
- Integrated steel safety guard
Specifications
- Model: 700R4 / 4L60E Winters SideWinder Gated Shifter
- Guard Bar: Mechanical, fail safe design
- Cable Length: 5 ft.
- Construction: Steel safety gate with Winters-engineered shift mechanism
- Operation: No springs, no levers, no jam points
- Installation: Includes cable & hardware
Fitment
- The Winters SideWinder Transmission Shifter can be installed on:
- GM 700R4 & 4L60E Transmissions
For those mounting the shifter into a custom center console or tube chassis, the Wide Open Design Shifter Mounting Brackets provide a rigid foundation that prevents shifter "flex" during aggressive gear changes. It is pre-drilled for a bolt-on fit with the Sidewinder housing.
Tech Insight
1. Why is the Winters SideWinder a good fit for 700R4 and 4L60E transmissions?
The 700R4 and 4L60E are widely used in LS swaps, street builds, and off-road rigs. The Winters SideWinder provides a positive gated shift feel with mechanical stops, helping eliminate missed shifts and giving you better control in both daily driving and aggressive off-road conditions.
2. What Gate do I need for my 700R4 / 4L60E Shifter? Standard, Reverse, Rock Gate, or Reverse Rock Crawl?
- Standard Gate follows the factory shift pattern (P-R-N-D-2-1) and is used with stock or lightly modified transmissions.
- Reverse Gate is designed for reverse manual valve bodies, where the shift pattern is flipped (P-R-N-1-2-3/4).
- Rock Gate (Rock Crawl Gate) removes traditional stops between forward gears, allowing fast, direct movement between gears—ideal for technical crawling where quick adjustments matter.
- Reverse Rock Crawl Gate combines a reverse manual pattern with an open forward gear layout, giving maximum control in competition crawling or rock bouncing environments.
3. Is the included 5-foot cable sufficient for these transmissions?
Yes. The included 5-foot heavy-duty cable works for most front-engine applications. For custom tube chassis, rear-engine setups, or complex routing around exhaust and suspension, longer cable options are available to maintain smooth and reliable shifting.
4. How do I properly set up the shifter for accurate gear engagement?
Set both the shifter and transmission in Neutral before adjusting the cable at the transmission bracket. Proper adjustment ensures full engagement in all positions—Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and Low—which is especially important for 700R4 and 4L60E builds used in varied driving conditions.