convertor help

[farmtrucks]

putting a 4l60 behind a 6.0 -- what flex plate and convertor do i need?

[Shon]

what flexplate is behind your 6.0, you will want to know that first....does it have a spacer on the crank?

[schwoch1]

Are you using a flat or dished flexplate. If it is flat, get a dished one from a 5.3, if yours is dished, keep the one you have. Then slot the converter bolt holes to make it work with the old style 4L60E bolt pattern, it just takes a little slot inward from the original holes to make it work. Than call up Hughes Performance in Phoenix, AZ(Summit racing carries their wares) and order their LS1 crankshaft spacer, part number HP3795 for the pilot on the converter and you will be set! If you are not comfortable with slotting the holes in the flexplate, just buy a swap flexplate (HP4004X, Summit racing's picture is wrong, stock photo) from Hughes also, although it is a little pricey and really overkill for most people.
That is the easiest way I have come across to get a LS1 to bolt to an older transmission, hope this helps!! I have done a few swaps and it works great!!!

Mike

[BR3W CITY]

agree with shon, need to know what flex plate is on there now. Motor year?
99-2000 lq4's have a slightly different circumstance with 4l60's

[farmtrucks]

I'm not certain on year - I think it is 00 or 01. I have a flat flex with no spacer -- I dont have a convertor at all.
Thanks for the help.

[farmtrucks]

motor is a 2000 model - the crank flange is thicker than a 5.3 -- now what?

[usmcchevy]

Originally Posted by farmtrucks

motor is a 2000 model - the crank flange is thicker than a 5.3 -- now what?

Does it have cast iron heads? If its a early motor with the long crank the only way to my knowledge to put a 60e behind it is a custom built converter.

[schwoch1]

If......... I remember correctly..... I stress IF... someone may be able to jump in to help...
The flexplate sits in the same spot as a normal small block chevy on that particular engine.... I think. A quick measure from bellhousing on engine to flat surface on flexplate should be able to verify this. I believe that was so they could use the old style 4L80E transmission and converter behind the Gen III motor. I still believe that you are going to have to slot a few converter bolt holes in the flexplate to get a 4L60E converter to bolt on. If I remember correctly, that flexplate is setup for the 6 pad 4L80E converter and has the larger bolt circle like the old TH400's did.
THat was like a 2 or 3 year only 6.0 that always seems to throw a wrench in the old swapping knowledge.
I know for a fact that you DO NOT have to buy a custom converter, just a little slotting of the holes will be fine.

If I were doing this, I would verify how far flexplate sits off the back of the block, compare that to a standard Small block Chevy and go from there!!
I hope this helps!!


Mike

[farmtrucks]

The flexplate front edge is 9/16 from where the bellhousing bolts up
Also, the only # I can see on trans is 44, Is it some kind of metric? - It looks like a 4l60, how can I really tell

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by farmtrucks

The flexplate front edge is 9/16 from where the bellhousing bolts up

I will check against one of my small blocks that I have here this morning.

Also, the only # I can see on trans is 44, Is it some kind of metric? - It looks like a 4l60, how can I really tell

Which side does the ROUND plug for the electronics for the trans come out of..
Passenger side = 4L60E
Drivers side = 4L80E

I will let you know on crank distance

Mike

[farmtrucks]

round plug is on pass. side. Flexplate on sbc measures about the same distance from block.

will a tubo 350 or 400 converter spline up on the 4l60 input shaft and work?

[Clyde65]

Are you building up the 4l60e? if not, it wont last long behind the 6.0.

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by farmtrucks

round plug is on pass. side. Flexplate on sbc measures about the same distance from block.

will a tubo 350 or 400 converter spline up on the 4l60 input shaft and work?

Defenitely a 4L60E, measured my small block LT1 and it was a strong 11/16" which is close enough to make it all work.
TH350 and TH400 converter are NOT the same, totally different. It would be like trying to put a Hyundai converter in there!!!

All you have to do is get a converter for it, stock converter will prolly do. Check most parts stores, they are common enough. Will just need to know if the bellhousing on your 4L60E is a bolt on or part of trans and I can help you with a converter part #.

Hope this helps!
MIke

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

Are you building up the 4l60e? if not, it wont last long behind the 6.0.

Actually, I have had 4L60E's last forever behind a 6.0 with no problems. And I have had some hard drivers with them.
GM put the 4L65E behind the 6.0 all the time, same as 4L60E with 5 pinion planets instead of 4. Planets usually don't fail on them in stock or lightly modified applications. If the poster is going to heavily modify it, or supercharge it, yah then it will die a fairly quick death. If it is a stock 300 ish horse 6.0, it will be fine, trust me!!! Keep some of the torque management in the PCM and it will last forever, and if you pull all torque management, it will still last a fairly long time!

I have been abusing a 4L60E with a stock rebuild in my '71 with a 355 LT1 with a mild cam, dyno'd at 335 HP for the last 4 years and have not had ANY problems with it!!! The 4L60E is a good transmission in the right application. Put it in the wrong setup and it won't live long, just like anything else!!!


Mike

[swb85]

If you have a 2000 6.0, you will not be able to bolt up any auto transmission other than a th350/400 or 4l80e without a custom converter. The rear crankshaft flange on the 99-2000 6.0 is thicker and places the flexplate too far rearward for a 4l60e/700r4. Starting in 2001 GM put the shorter crank in all 6.0's and used a flexplate spacer to bolt up a the 4l80e.

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by swb85

If you have a 2000 6.0, you will not be able to bolt up any auto transmission other than a th350/400 or 4l80e without a custom converter. The rear crankshaft flange on the 99-2000 6.0 is thicker and places the flexplate too far rearward for a 4l60e/700r4. Starting in 2001 GM put the shorter crank in all 6.0's and used a flexplate spacer to bolt up a the 4l80e.

You forgot to add pre-'99 4L60E's, or any 4L60E bolted to a old school small block to that list, they are dimensionally the same as the transmissions you listed above. Starting in '99 they changed the converter and input shaft of the 4L60E to accomodate the increased distance of the newer Gen III motors!

If the info you give above is correct, than you cannot bolt a 700R4/4L60E to ANY small block engine dating back to 1955 then!?!?! Is that what you are saying?!?!?! I have done it hundreds of times with no issues, so I know it can be done!


Mike

[farmtrucks]

the bellhousing is bolt-on

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by farmtrucks

the bellhousing is bolt-on

Does it have the extra bolthole at the 12 o clock position or not?

Mike

[farmtrucks]

Originally Posted by schwoch1

Does it have the extra bolthole at the 12 o clock position or not?

Mike

yes

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by schwoch1

If the info you give above is correct, than you cannot bolt a 700R4/4L60E to ANY small block engine dating back to 1955 then!?!?! Is that what you are saying?!?!?! I have done it hundreds of times with no issues, so I know it can be done!


Mike

Wait.....now you've got me freaking confused and I already have a setup that works lol.

The 700r4 came stock behind thousands of sbc's through the years....who the heck says that it doesn't work? I can't piss without hitting a small block/700r4 car around here.

If its the bolt on bell housing, than its the newer style 4l60e.

The "custom" converter is basically a 4l80e back half and a 4l60e snout from what I can glean. It works with the flat flex plate.

JUST ADDED; apparently TCI Sells an LS-4l60 flex plate designed for swaps....apparently it can be run backwards, (dished inwards) and it takes up the difference. This is from a member on PerformanceTrucks who had the same problem, and contacted TCI directly.

[schwoch1]

Does your input shaft look like this one with the machined portion on the end or does it look like the one with the splines all the way to the end of the shaft? Just pay no attention to the twisted off portions, these came from supercharged applications, which is not the correct application for a 4L60E!!!

Sorry for all the questions to ya, just trying to help!!!

Mike

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Wait.....now you've got me freaking confused and I already have a setup that works lol.
The 700r4 came stock behind thousands of sbc's through the years....who the heck says that it doesn't work? I can't piss without hitting a small block/700r4 car around here.

I know what you mean, I have an '04 5.3 going in my '71 GMC.... It was easy, order spacer, slot converter holes.... DONE!!!

Previous poster said that you could use a TH400, TH350, and a 4L80E behind this engine, but not a 4L60E. I was just trying to see if that is what he was saying. Hell, 2 of the 3 vehicles in my shop right now have 350's backed by 4L60E's!!!

The early 6.0's are the toughest to convert. Yes you can get a custom converter and/or a custom flexplate, but both a stupid money. It can be done with a little ingenuity and some thought for little to no money!!!


Mike

[BR3W CITY]

Art Carr WAS doing those converters for $375, but it was a basically stock converter internals.

Just pull the crank and replace it with a Callies Dragonslayer....I mean it might be a bit overkill lol...

[schwoch1]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Just pull the crank and replace it with a Callies Dragonslayer....I mean it might be a bit overkill lol...

Now THAT would take care of the problem, might as well put a stroker kit in it while you are at it..... a few turbo's, nice cam........

Mike

[farmtrucks]

It is splined to the end of shaft