4L60E Swap

[Ole Blue 68]

I might be able to get my hands on a 4L60E pretty cheap so I'm considering swapping it out in place of my old Saginaw 3 spd.

How difficult is this swap? I'm not doing it but the more difficult it is the more it's gonna cost me.

Is this a worthwhile swap? I'd like to have the OD for highway driving.

[VetteVet]

Click on the search button above your post and type 4l60e swap. Hit enter and it will take you to some threads on your question. the 4l60e is computer controlled and needs the harness from the donor vehicle or a special harness for it to shift properly.

[shifty]

Good reading: http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/th700r4.htm

What I think you need: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...=+115&y=9&x=30

Or: http://www.eatmyshifts.com/pl_4l60e.htm#Compushift

4l60e is an electronic version of the 700R4. Is it worth the $$$ to spend buying the harness when you could just get an '87 or later 700R4? The 700R4 from '87 on is supposed to be pretty dang reliable.

[shifty]

PS - I don't know what is required for clutch/flexplate/flywheel changes, if any. It should technically bolt right up. You will need to get a different tranny crossmember - the automatic for your year of truck (I have a spare with new hardware if you're interested - I refurbed it and have pics...).

It is a direct boltup to the crossmember and it should fit in the stock position with the stock crossmember. I believe TH350 and 700R4 are same length, if this is true, then 4l60e and 700R4 are the same tranny, so ... you do the math

[Longhorn Man]

the crossmember will need to be obtained, and placed in a non stock location (the 200 4R is the one that bolts in the TH400 position) You'll need a stand alone computer, I don't have any numbers, but get rready for sticker shock.
Not worth it.

[Ole Blue 68]

Thanks for the info all, you pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. I can get a real nice deal on that 4L60E but by the time I shelled out all the $ for install and electronics it wouldn't be such a good deal after all. If only it were a 700r....

[shifty]

Andy, are you sure about the bolting into non-stock location thing? You can take an LS1 with a 4l60e and it bolts using the stock AT tranny xmember right in the stock framerail holes with no modifications. I can't imagine that any stock engine is much different.

I honestly don't know what kinda engine he has in his truck, but...depending on how far back it sits, I'd not be surprised to see that it would be a direct boltup.

[Longhorn Man]

well, the 700R4, bolted to a small block int he stock location, needs moved.
The TH350 from front edge to tranny mount is 20 3/8 inch... regardless of shaft length.
The TH400 from front edge to tranny mount is 26 15/16 inches.
The 200 4R from front edge to tranny mount is 27 inches
the 700 R4 from front edge to tranny mount is 22 1/2 inches

[stsalvage]

I like saying this to all the wonderful people that like putting computors in a such a easy truck to work onwhen you add a computor i feel your better off buying a new truck with new problems when you rigg it well i say plan not to by a new house cus it will cost you a furtune to find all the probems that are hood with computors but thats me Old cars and trucks is suppost to take you back to that simpler time and i think if you make it easy and it will get you from point A to point B and the 700R4 from 1987 and up is the best one leave the coputors to the new cars and trucks leave it all close to factory as possible cus when you need to fix it its better to go throw 1 or 2 manuels to fix your truck but you get into the newer stuff the new people that work on it wont understand what you did and the oldpeople the own the same truck will shake there head

[Longhorn Man]

while I can agree with that....I have to say, once you have the proper diagnostic tools, and learn the computers, it's awsome being able to plug in and know what's wrong, and the hood hasn't even opened nor your hands got dirty yet.
Don't fear the new or unknown... just tread lightly.

[shifty]

Old trucks are outdated. If you have the brains to figure out how the computerized system works, and you can pull it off, go for it.

If you stick with the old and easy, have fun buying gas with that 4MPG setup....