4l60e shifter options?

[Blackpony]

What options are out there for utilizing the stock column shifter with a 4l60e behind an ls motor on these trucks? more looking for what others have done. Ill be swapping the th350 out within the next month or so and want to have everything ready.

[andrewmp6]

Lokar makes shifter cables for a column shift,Or maybe a steering column from a 700r4 truck which is like 86 or 87 not sure the year they started.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

700r4 and 4l60 are the same. Ones computer controlled and the other is cable operated

Just get a O/D shifter column out of a truck.
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[homemade87]

Also keep your shift lever bracket from your old 700 before you get rid of it. I let my tranny go before I realized I needed it. I had a time finding another. I used my stock linkage for mine. You won't need a new shifter column. All you will need to do is to change the indicator in the cluster to the one with the overdrive. That's all I had to do.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by homemade87

Also keep your shift lever bracket from your old 700 before you get rid of it. I let my tranny go before I realized I needed it. I had a time finding another. I used my stock linkage for mine. You won't need a new shifter column. All you will need to do is to change the indicator in the cluster to the one with the overdrive. That's all I had to do.

Unless he has a three speed column. Shift gate won't let him reach first with that
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[B Barber]

The column itself will be the same either way. The indicator will need to be changed.

[B Barber]

I swapped from a 350 to a 700 in my truck. Did all the research and had all the parts before I decided to go with the full manual reverse valve body and convert to a ratcheting floor shifter.

[Blackpony]

kool so if i can locate the shifter levers for an 87 700r truck I should be able to use that and it work with the 4l60? currently i have a th350c in my truck. I do know that a 4l60 only has p-r-n-d-2-1 so it should be the same.

[homemade87]

Originally Posted by Blackpony

kool so if i can locate the shifter levers for an 87 700r truck I should be able to use that and it work with the 4l60? currently i have a th350c in my truck. I do know that a 4l60 only has p-r-n-d-2-1 so it should be the same.

That right, Just install the indicator in the cluster and hook up your stock linkage and it will work just fine. As insidious indicaded you may or may not be able to get it in first gear by pulling the shift leaver all the way down. Mine does go into first gear but I have to pull on the leaver hard to get it there . Not an issue for me , how many times do you really need to do this in a street driven truck anyway. In my case never.If you are and off road person first gear may be important to you.

[B Barber]

If it is hard to get it into first, you may have something blocking you. All of the columns are the same for these trucks, no matter what transmission. If you try to order one, you will notice they all have the same part number, but you have to specify which indicator you need.
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[homemade87]

Originally Posted by B Barber

If it is hard to get it into first, you may have something blocking you. All of the columns are the same for these trucks, no matter what transmission. If you try to order one, you will notice they all have the same part number, but you have to specify which indicator you need.
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I know what you are saying. I think there is a ratio diffrence from 4L60 trans vehicles. Maybe the leaver on column may be a little longer. The factory linkage ratio must be diffrent from the 4L60 to the 7004r vehicles. If we could find a little shorter trans bracket for the 7004r it may solve this problem. There may even be a aftermarket bracket out there, I never looked for one. Its not a problem for me. Mine works perfect unless you want first, And I never do.

[homemade87]

Originally Posted by Blackpony

kool so if i can locate the shifter levers for an 87 700r truck I should be able to use that and it work with the 4l60? currently i have a th350c in my truck. I do know that a 4l60 only has p-r-n-d-2-1 so it should be the same.

Blackpony, I just noticed you comment about what the 4l60 shift positions are. The 4l60 is what my 04 5.3 has behind it and the shift positions are P-R-D-D-2-1. The extra D is the 4th gear.

[Blackpony]

Originally Posted by homemade87

Blackpony, I just noticed you comment about what the 4l60 shift positions are. The 4l60 is what my 04 5.3 has behind it and the shift positions are P-R-D-D-2-1. The extra D is the 4th gear.

Yes you are correct. I thought they had only 3 forward positions with a button for od but that is not the case. I did a 4l80 swap in an fbody and that is how it was setup with a manual vb, i got the two confused.

Thanks for the info guys! looks like the swap will be pretty straight forward!

[motornut]

It was explained to me the shift notches are in the tranny
not the colum
my 88 went from 4 speed to three,sticker over the indicator
but your going the other way

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I will take one part sometime and show you guys the shift gate inside the column. Had this issue with my freinds truck. There's an overdrive column and the th350-th400 style. There is a shift gay inside the column for the shifter to jockey in and out of there will be an extra slot for the O/D. Like I said the column will not allow full movement
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[motornut]

Originally Posted by motornut

It was explained to me the shift notches are in the tranny
not the colum
my 88 went from 4 speed to three,sticker over the indicator
but your going the other way

I don't believe this is correct.

The column has the detent for Park, so columns are common between 3 speed and 4 speed; all of the others notches reside inside the trans (on the "rooster comb").

I'm about 90% sure.

Adjust the linkage as piecesparts describes (loosen the nut on the barrel and slide it on the rod). In the assembly plant we always made this adjustment in Neutral (Shift lever in N, trans in N) so that any error is split across the whole operating range.

K

[motornut]

Originally Posted by motornut

I don't believe this is correct.

The column has the detent for Park, so columns are common between 3 speed and 4 speed; all of the others notches reside inside the trans (on the "rooster comb").

I'm about 90% sure.

Adjust the linkage as piecesparts describes (loosen the nut on the barrel and slide it on the rod). In the assembly plant we always made this adjustment in Neutral (Shift lever in N, trans in N) so that any error is split across the whole operating range.

K

I was quoting another thread
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[Blackpony]

Very good info guys! I'm not concerned with being able to use full range. The tune will have my shift points setup there.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by motornut

I don't believe this is correct.

The column has the detent for Park, so columns are common between 3 speed and 4 speed; all of the others notches reside inside the trans (on the "rooster comb").

I'm about 90% sure.

Adjust the linkage as piecesparts describes (loosen the nut on the barrel and slide it on the rod). In the assembly plant we always made this adjustment in Neutral (Shift lever in N, trans in N) so that any error is split across the whole operating range.

K

If the column had only a detent for park then you would slide from first all the way to reverse unhindered, the detent inside the trans is for positive placement of the valve only. You still have to have a shift gate to control where everything goes
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[Pyrotechnic]

My 77 3 speed auto column does not have detents in it, other than the safety stuff and having to pull the lever back towards the driver for park and reverse. When I removed the factory shift linkage rod to install my floor shifter, I could move the column shift lever freely.

My memory is vague on this since it was so long ago but recall my old 78 being the same way as well.

In the case of my truck, the column shifter relied completely on the detents inside the Turbo 350 for N-3-2-1

Now my B&M ratchet shifter, that definitely does have its own detents for every position.