Ok guys, I built up an L98 right? was making a nice 400 or so at the rear, but I wanted to put that in my 4th gen camaro.. Nah seems too hard now. Ive got a nice 85 camaro to play with, rust free, garaged, only 26,000 miles, yes 26,000 miles. Reason being because it was once in a car crash, and a new front end welded up. I want to eventually go to 4th gen interior inside, but heres why Im posting. It has a 700r4 transmission from 1985. for a 305 or 350. Didnt run the numbers from the engine block yet, dont know if that engines the one that came with car.... Can I safely mate this 700rf tranny with a 315-345 horse ls1? Thanks to all for any input. And if you think L98 into a 4th gen isnt that hard.... and what would need to be done to convince me to do it... please by all means... persuade me. -res.

An LS1 will not bolt up to a 700R4 Transmission.

I e-mailed the company who made my Th700R4 Jr. Raptor, and this was their response:

"You will need the wiring and computer for the motor. We have anything you need to install the 700R4 transmission. People do this all the time."

The tranny from an 85 Camaro has a bolt pattern that is different from an LS1. If you got an adapter, you then could bolt up the tranny to the block, but it will not directly bolt up to an LS1.

What was the question you asked that company?

That's odd. I thought the 4l60E was just an electronic version of the TH700R4 myself. I wasn't sure, so that is why I e-mailed the transmission place where I got my tranny from about this.

Question below:


Subject: Re: Manual 700r4 for a LS1

I purchased your Jr. Raptor Th700R4 for my 86 Camaro a few years ago.

I love the transmission, it's ran great, with no
problems. And WOW what an upgrade from my stock
transmission.

I have a few questions. My 305 TPI motor is on it's
way out, and I was considering dropping in an LS1
engine to replace it. The thing is, I would like to
keep my manual 700r4 since it barely has any miles on
it, and is running great.

Do you know of anyone doing this, or if it can be done
at all? Do you sell some sort of bracket so i could
hook up my TV cable to an LS1 throttle body?

Just curious if you might have any information.

Thank you!

E-mail them back and ask if they have a bellhousing to engine block adapter.

It will bolt up. Do a search. Story is, there is one bolt hole that is missing from the LS1 block, but the rest line up fine.

Its not the bolt pattern that will be the issue, try T/V cable.

I have a 700r4 thats going with my LS1 until I get something better. The bolt pattern is fine, its just the very top bolt on the LS1 block that isnt on the 700R4 that will be left open. If you are going to run your 700R4 you need to program the computer as if your using a manual transmission.

Some are worried about just bolting it up so they use an adapter, but that offsets your drivetrain about a half inch. For 1 bolt thats not worth it to me. I did some extensive reaserch at LS1tech.com and a few high rollers there said there would be no problem bolting it right up.

Concerning the TV cable, no one makes an adapter to my knowledge. A guy was telling me that you can make it work. So I am going to try it. I havent messed with it a lot yet. It really isnt my top priority at this point.

Also, its being a manual valve body that you have is a good help also.

Thanks for the input.

You have a 91 correct? Isn't your 700R4 electronic? (I thought i 90+ they were)

nope

93L+ are 4L60E's

90-92 have an electronic VSS, but still have a mechanical T/V cable. 93 still uses a mechanical TV cable. 94 and up use computer control to replace the TV cable.

93 was the only year for the LT1 4th gens to use a T/V cable. Steer clear of this year.

Couldn't you just change the bell housing on the 700r4 to one that will bolt up to the LS1?

Carefully read this thread. You don't need to, only one bolt doesn't line up. Then go do some research on cars, because GM automatics do not have removable bellhousings.

Hows that. A 350 turbo tranny is a GM transmission and I had to change the bell housing on it to put it in my trans am.

There is no separate bellhousing on a 700-r4. Thats all you need to know about it.

I stand corrected then. Then there are no removal bellhousings on late model GM automatics.

There's no removeable bell housing on a Turbo 350 either. The whole case is one big casting. That's why there's BOP 350 casess and Chevy 350 cases, not BOP & Chevy bell housings.

Yeah, you're right, I got to looking on my receipt for my new tranny and they didn't change bellhousings, it was the tailshaft that was changed.

so it does bolt right up then? i have over $2500 in my tci 700r4 in my truck, and i would definitly like to keep it and plan on dropping an ls engine in it as mine has 225k on it. i know tci makes torque converters for bolting turbo 350/400's to ls motors. would i use an ls 4l60e converter or would my gen1 style bolt up fine? and there is no prob w the crankshaft of the ls not being the same depth as a gen1?

The bellshousing fits fine. i would check on the torque converter. I'm doin a 5.3L + 200r4 and i need an adaptor for the torque converter or a custom torque converter. I dunno if this is valid for the 700. But yea for me.

A 4L60E is basically an electronic version of the 700R4

very good, however the newer ones made for ls engines are quite the same as when they same out in the early 90's. thus im wondering what it take for my gen1 designed trans to bolt up to a ls motor. th350/400's use a custom converter thru tci, what about 700's... who makes an adapter?

Bolt the thing on and go with it, and no you can't drill and tap that bolt hole thats not there because I think it will go into a rear cylinder.

its not mounting to the engine that im worried bout. clearly you cant just "bolt on and go" or there would not be a point in making a special converter for the th350/400. there is a difference in the distance between the crank and the block from gen1 motors and ls that has to be compensated for i just want to know where i can buy an adapter

You can get it in a lot of places try gmpartsdirect.com or http://www.transmissioncenter.net/ or just google search it and it will come up. Good luck

I saw a few on e-bay last spring. I am sure they are still there just didn't have the need to look. it was bassically just a ring to space it out

i found my answer on ls1tech:

You need a crankshaft sleeve as well as a special flexplate. Both are available from huges performance.
These prices are from www.summitracing.com

LS1 - 700R4 Crank Adapter $34.95 Part#: HP3795
LS1 - 700r4 Flexplate $129.95 Part#: HP4004

thanks tho!