I know the 700R4 can be made to work with an LSX swap, but which is cheaper and easier to do? Does anyone have a specific write-up for using a 700R4 in this swap? I think I have changed my mind from using a T56 and am looking into some options for an automatic with the swap and a nice 3,600 stall.

 

The other advantage to using a 4l60e over a 700r4 is tune-ability. Hope I got that word right

 

Add a flywheel spacer and a TV mount.
/end writeup

 

That's seriously it? How much easier is it to tune with the 60E? And what about the VSS on the 700R4 and getting the speedometer to read correctly?

 

Nick - feel free to call tomorrow night if you've still got my cell and we'll talk...

Using a 700r4 with the lsx is doable. I chose to abandon my recently rebuilt 700r4 with bowtie overdrives tv cable kit, tci constant pressure valve body, and tci tcc control setup (after it stopped switching out of first at the dyno - anybody want its guts?). It will take several hundred dollars in new/normal price parts to equip your 700r4 to work with the lsx - see list of parts attached to mine above. Additionally, you will have to find a solution to the vss issue. I bought a jags that run kit that mounts a reluctor wheel on the rear axle and uses a remote mount vss sensor...only to have it not fit with an aftermarket torque arm and potentially be a highway-trash-picker-upper. Your options for the vss then are pretty slim...find a transmission shop that can do something along the lines of pressing on the right vss gear for a properly pulsed vss sensor. I think this is the real deal killer. Why my trans stopped shifting out of first I may never know - I'm using a 4L60e now and have no plans for the 700r4...I'll let it go for the price of the lsx parts put on it.

I've got a previous thread on all this, but here's what you'll need for a 700r4->lsx:
* built 700r4
* constant pressure valve body (this will help absorb some of that extra power, but not 100% necessary if your tv cable is perfectly adjusted...)
* flexplate for old transmission to lsx. There are a couple options for this, including a nice piece from TCI
* gm spacer + longer bolts to mount the flexplate (or a torque converter with the lsx bolt pattern and correct depth that fits the 700r4 - then use a stock 4l60e flywheel)
* torque converter lockup controller - this switches the 700r4 to a fully vacuum operated trans. I bought a kit from tci, but b&m and others make them too. More vaccum lines are needed with this option (1 more...but still)
* custom vss setup (yes you need a vss. Read up on it, your car can stall without it when you stop)
* custom tune (6-speed tune effectively)
* tv cable setup (bowtie overdrives makes a /nice/ one. it's hooked up to my 700r4 in the garage now)
* dipstick solution (I threaded one of the unused holes on my 700r4 for use with the stock dipstick tube and it worked great)

If I could stop someone not absolutely sold on using a 700r4 with the lsx, I would. Take that working 700r4, sell it, and use the money to buy a good 4l60e. It's money and time well spent.

 

Thanks for the input Jon. I am going with the 4L60E for three reasons:

-The stuff you just mentioned seems like a lot of unnecessary hassle
-I sold the stock 700R4 with the motor from my car
-I found an $80 4L60E that needs rebuildling, so I can build it to the specs that I want