I have been reading though all of these builds that other members have done and kudos on all the good swaps i have seen. I have seen a lot of people take the 5.3 or the 6.0 and match it with a t-56, 4l60e. I am aware that the 4l60e is based off the 700r4 and many parts will switch between the two. I have a 1986 Trans Am which is crying for a new engine as it's 305 is on its way out the door to the engine graveyard anyday now. Can you do a lsx swap and mate it to a 700r4? In my searching i haven't seen anyone try to do this.

Thanks

 

I have discoverd i need to do more research...

 

I know at least a few people here have tried to keep the 700, and they ALL agree that it's a waste of time. Grab an F-body 4L60 and be done with it! They're not expensive, designed to be mated to the LS engines, and controlled by the PCM you'll already have.

Any T56 thoughts?!

 

Make sure you have a large enough budget for the LSx swap. They aren't cheap!

 

The swap is cheap carbed, efi parts add up quick. Either way it is worth it. I have done the swap for 1500 carbed, got to use my th400, my truck was 2100 because I used a 4l60 and the Trans controller for a carb was 575$, could have been cheaper if I used a old 4l80. The current efi swap I am doing for a friend has 1800$ in with a 4l60 and still need a fuel pump, mass air and a few other odds and ends.

 

I spent more than $1800 on just my rebuilt 4L60E!

 

Just so you are aware. The stock torque arm will not bolt up to the mount on an F-body 4L60E. A 2WD truck 4L60E will serve your purpose just as well. Either way something will need to be fabbed to attach the torque arm.

 

I used a stock 3rdgen torque arm on a 4L60E on an LS1 swap in an 89 Camaro. worked just fine.

 

No go on my 87 firebird

 

You need the 4th gen TA bracket/mount or fire up the welder and fab a new hole. 1/3 holes line up from the 3rd gen TA bracket to the 4th gen 4L60E tailhousing

 

my two cents is, sell / trash the 700r4.

BUT.. .if you are going to use it with an LSx series motor, you can.....

but like mentioned, the 4l60E uses the computer to shift etc, 700R4 and 4L60 (non E) do not..

what you have to do is go into the computer for the motor you're using and tell it that you have a manual transmission.

I think a lot of these posts lack that very important step, because most think it is common knowledge.......... it really isn't. it's often overlooked.


but yes.. trash the 700... anyone here can tell you how incredibly fragile they are.. when setting them up, they have to be PERFECT... if the kick down is even 1 click off in either direction, you'll fry that damn thing. my dad for example has gone through three 700R4's in the last 6 months because the transmission SPECIALIST who has about 30 years of experience can't get it set up correctly in his truck.. he has fried all 3 of them.

and by 6 months, what i really mean is, he drove it home the first time and it fried half way home and he took it back and it took a month to get it fixed, drove it for a day or two fried it, let it sit for a few months, etc etc.. they fry pretty much IMMEDIATELY when they are off even a very slight bit.

Trash that thing and save yourself the money. they are pretty much THE most difficult transmissions to get set up right.

so...... take that and put it on a higher horse and torque LS series motor, and you're asking for a crapload of trouble ---- eeeeeespecially considering, i don't know if there is a way to hook up the kick down to the LS motors considering they are electronic.

what... drill a hole in the throttle body housing and randomly fit a bracket somewhere and hope it works????????????? nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo you're asking for trouble.

if you HAVE to use an old trans, at least use a turbo 400 if you're planning to get higher hp than stock out of the motor. if you want AUTO anyway... T5 if you want manual, but it would make more sense to mate the motor to what it COMES WITH already. which is probably a 4L60E or T56 depending where your motor came from.

and you can buy a used T56 for about what you just dumped into the 700R4.