Ok, so I have access to a 2011 2SS camaro for all that is left of it. (Car was cut in half at the rear of the doors and is literally "Half a car".) It has the LS-3 and the automatic 5-speed with paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel.

I've done the LS swap a few times now and dont forsee and "Physical" problems with the swap. My question is actually more along the lines of the auto shifter and paddle shifters. How hard would it be to get the paddles to work? I'm thinking of putting it in the IROC, that I swore I was going to keep stockish... But, it would be fun.


I currently have a MOMO competition steering wheel and wont lose that at any cost. The 5thgen dash is fugly, as is the steering wheel, so no go there. I seem to remember someone (Dakota digital, maybe?) making a paddle shifter for use with aftermarket steering wheels.

The 5thgen websites are no help in this as most of their forums are filled with vendors selling their wares and no one seems to have any info on these cars that goes any farther than basic bolt-ons.
Thanks Guys!

 

i know that momo makes a steering wheel with paddle-shift capability. i imagine you just buy the kit that momo has pretty straight forward.

 

I'm hoping... I'm just wondering if the Trans control module is a part of some "body control module" or something like that... When the time comes to strip it down, it'll be me doing it, so I dont want to miss anything important.

 

Hopefully that module is located in the front half of the car. I know there is a bunch of stuff under the back seat in a fifth gen.

 

LOL, no kidding! He has quite a few of the 5thgens in his yard, so getting it if indeed, it is in the back of the car, shouldnt be a problem. I just need to know if in fact a unit like this exists. The 5thgen sites have been no help in this matter, whatsoever.

 

Im guessing you mean its a 6 speed auto and a L99 engine. LS3 is only avail with a 6 speed manual trans. To answer your question it looks like the BCM gets the inputs from your tap shift buttons and sends a data signal to the ECM and the TCM. TCM is inside of the trans on these. I think you may run into issues with this setup as the BCM may be looking for other things. I dont think it will be as easy as wiring up your power, ground, and data circuits to all three of the modules and being done with it. Could be wrong and could be a cool project. Just remember that if the 6.2 liter is in an auto car its an L99 not a LS3

 

i think tci or someone made a paddle shift unit that went behind the wheel and plugged into the trans or wherever. dont know details but i remember it saying that. i dont know if you could take it out of the 5th gen wheel and get it into the momo one, thatd be better than buying some expensive universal adapter do hickey.

 

oh and i dont think anyones asked but why was a 5th gen cut in half where it was?

 

From what I understand, it was involved in some sort of accident and was nearly cut in half by that accident. My friend (Who owns the J/Y.) says it looks like the fire department finished cutting it in half with a chop saw. When he bought it at auction the rear half of the car was nowhere to be found. It's really just pure speculation on what happened to the back half of the car, but that seems the most likely scenario.

And thank you 1quickirocz, for clearing that up about the L99/LS-3.

I'm thinking about just ripping all the wiring out of the car that I can as well as any devices/modules I run across.

 

You'd probably save yourself the same worth its weight in gold by just buying the TCI trans controller and just running the pcm programmed as if the car were manual trans. I believe the Shrifter, is one of the companys that makes the paddle setups that would go between your momo and the mounting hub.

 

hmm does that just plug into your ecm and trans? thats cool to say the least and if it works on a 700r4 then i might get one =)

 

I dont know how the TCI unit would work with the factory Trans controller...

I'm thinking it would be less complicated to replace the factory shift buttons with the Shrifter (Or other similar unit.) but dont really know... Looks like this one is going to be a "Play-it-by-ear" deal.

 

This place makes paddle shifters. Don't know if they will work for you. http://www.retrotekspeed.com

So I have a question. Do you really think the 6 speed auto is going to fit in your car?

 

You know I was wondering that very same thing. I figure it cannot be too much bigger than a 700r4 (The pics I have seen of them connected to the L99 dont make it look too big.) I figure, worst case, i will have to cut the trans tunnel a bit, and maybe have a custom driveshaft built. Physically I'm not too worried about this, but we'll see...

I'll check that site out. Thank you!

EDIT: Checked out Retrotek speed. Thank you QwkTrip! That looks like it would work and the pricing is pretty good too!

 

I've personally used a couple of different "paddle shifters" on projects.

The Chevelle used a Grant wheel with buttons built into the wheel:
http://www.ridetech.com/garage/1970-...-giveaway-car/

The Nova used a paddle shifter from Twist and I really liked it. It's wireless, so it's a little easier to hook up:
http://twistmachine.com/HOME.html

Here's the Nova:
http://www.ridetech.com/garage/1970-...9-givaway-car/

Both of those cars used an aftermarket transmission controller; the Compu-Shift:
https://www.hgmelectronics.com/display/hgm/COMPUSHIFT

 

I'll bet it's pretty big. Keep us posted on the fitup. I'm interested. I like 6 gears.... but I like an auto better then a manual. This would be ideal for me if it works.

 

Nice! Noticed that the twist unit replaces the momo hub adaptor. I like that. I dont think the 6 speed auto is a "supported" trans yet. HMMMmm. Looks like I will have to do a lot of research. (And more than a little trial and error!)

 

I had a chance to get under a six-speed manual (TR-6060) 5thgen today and the trans tunnel does not look any bigger than a thirdgens... Hopefully it's going to fit. Called the local chevy dealer (Power chevrolet.) and they have a new A6 (6L80e) in stock. If it's still there on saturday, I will try to swing in and look it over...

I am a "Stick-shift" guy, but I like an automatic every now and then. This would fix that craving for a manual trans that I sometimes get when driving this car.

 

I think there is a build thread on tech where a 6l80e is being installed in place of a 4l60e. They had a pic of them side by side. I think there was a good bit of difference. I think it was taller and longer if I remember right. I think it was in a ls swapped nova or chevelle and I think they modded the tunnel a bit. I think as long as you had all the modules needed and communicating with each other it may work with aftermarket buttons or paddles. I can't look right now but I think the bcm just looks for a ground signal from the factory paddle shifter switches.might be worth a try.