i switched from tpi to carb and yanked the comp. my buddy "accidentally" cut the plug that goes to the tranny off and threw it out, just wondering if i still need it since it aint computer controlled anymore, and if i do, do the wires come from the fuse block?

If you totally ditched your computer, you shouldn't need that plug anymore. It's the wiring that contols the lockup on the 700r4 torque convertor, and the ecm is what controls it.

You will now not have lockup, so you better fix it so it will, otherwise the transmission will run hotter than it needs to be & you will lose gas mileage.

stupid *** me, i just did the same thing as im doing my motor swap, from 350TPI to a carbed ZZ4, so i janked the whole computer and i saw that the tranny lines are on the harness, well it was a little to late to fix it, so now i wont have lockup, what if i put a stall converter in, will that fix it, or if not and i stick with the stock converter, what can i do to fix it, since the ECM is all gone....

I have a question related to this if anyone can answer.

I have an '85 TA that orginally came with a carbureted 305. We are putting in a carbureted 350.

We're getting a new distributor that does not hook up to the computer. We're not hooking up the emissions.

If we plug the 4-prong back into the transmission, will it work correctly with all that considered?

The tranny is a 700r4.

Thanks in advance.

No sir.The computer needs to see everything in order for it to function properly. You will Not kill the tranny by not having TC lock up. Mine was that way for 5 years before I hooked up a manual switch to control the lock up myself. (only using it for drag racing and occasionaly using it when I'm on the highway for extended periods of time). Not to say it wont run any cooler with it locked, but I have a tranny cooler which helps.

Theres a tech article on this site that goes into detail. Basically run the wires from the plug inside the car, hook the purple wire to ign.+, and run the tan wire to a switch of some sort, then run the other side of the switch to a ground. Now, USE THIS WITH CAUTION. You could damage something if your out there messing around doing dough nutz with the switch on. First gear will act the same from a stop, then every gear after that will be locked with the switch on. If its working properly, you will notice that the car will act like it has a manual tranny when slowly rolling in secon gear. It will kinda jerk around when you give it gas. Best thing to do is use it when you are on the highway cruising for a while, save a few pennys in gas.

I'm pretty sure it would work, as long as the computer still has a speed sensor signal. For 82-89 camaros, and 82-85 firebirds, the speedo is cable driven, and the sensor is on the back of the gauge cluster. Otherwise it is a sensor on the transmission. Alot of people leave the ECM in the car when running a non-computer controlled setup only to control the torque converter lockup. I'm not positive, but it may need the throttle position sensor as well. This is the 3 prong plug on the drivers side of the carb.

As far as making a switch for the TC lockup, it really shouldnt be used in any other gear than 4th. The lockup mechanism in the torque converter isn't really designed to be used under much acceleration.

You can tell if its working or not, because the TC lockup should feel like another gear change. Accelerate slowly, and after you feel it shift into 3rd, it should feel kinda like it shifts again, and the RPM's should drop a few hundred. Also, when the TC is locked, when you tap the gas a little, the car should jerk like a standard, instead of feeling 'lagged' like a non-OD automatic.

Thanks alot for the info!



-Christi

For the computer to operate the tcc youll need at least vss, tps, and the brake switch.

what if you get a non lockup torque convereter, will that fix the problem.

But im kinda liking this whole thing that it act like a manual and it will shift faster, or whatnot, but is it safe to do burnouts witht eh switch on or should the swich be off.

and should the switch be on all da time, or just in 4th like stated above, thanx for the replys guys, i need the info.....

The ECM doesn't lock the TCC until it goes into closed loop.

If it doesn't get the required info from the sensors, it doesn't go into closed loop.