i just bought a 86 with a lt1/th400 swap done to it. the day after i drove it home. it wouldnt start any more so i took out the starter got it tested and cleaned it up. it wasnt the starter when i reinstalled it i noticed the flexplate and converter was pretty much free. so when i was done hooking everything up i got the wife to turn the car over and the flexplate and converter was the only thing turning. I also noticed the the lazy **** welded the converter to the flexplate. so any suggestion or am i pretty much ****ed and need to get another trans and maybe more?

 

i thinking almost worst case here. when i pull the tranny and where the flexplate bolts up ot the crank is ok. i was wondering what tranny i should get. a 700r4 or a 4l60e. there is a lt1 in the car. if i get the 4l60e would i need a new driveshaft or will the stock one work? oh and the car is a 86 i was wondering if the car is setup for a VSS or mechinical speedo? any help on this would be great.

 

the 1986 uses a 700r4. the 4l60e wasn't even made back then, and isn't a swap i'd make since you've already got a 700r4.
the speedo gears could be retained from your original/recommended.
I'd have a pro replace your front pump seals, gasket, and pump bushing. replace your torque converter and flexplate. buy new bolts during your purchase as they aren't the same as hardware store stuff.
sucks that the trans needs to be removed to do all this....doh
If for some reason the 4l60e out of the donor 96lt1 was used during the engine swap a new trans will already have a relutcor ring speedo on it.
a 700r4 uses a t.v. cable, and the 4l60e uses a 30 pin connector on the pass side.
a flexplate should be the same part # for an original 305 engine 86-89 camaro- 700r4, and 350 engine 87-96 camaro 700r4/4l60/4l60e
hope that helps.

 

yes that does help. but when the guy did the swap on this thing he put in a th400. they also made there own cross member with some pipe and welds. i think im just gonna see if i can find a cheap 700r4. and get a rebuild kit and all new cross member and possible a new tourqe arm. of and course the flewplate and trouqe converter. then i know all of that part will be right.

 

Let me get this straight, when you crank the starter the flexplate and converter turn but the engine doesn't? I sounds like the flexplate broke at the crank flange. That or your crank is broken. You flexplate bolts directly to the back of the crank so something happened causing the two to be seperated.

 

yes thats correct. i believe it is the flexplate though. I havent yet tried to see if the motor truns by the harmonic balancer. to see if the crank is gone.

 

Any driveshaft that worked with a TH400 won't work with the 700R-4 or 4L60E, both because of length and because of the slip yoke that connects it to the trans. Get a good used driveshaft and then sell the TH400 one on here.