Make 4L60e tranny work with Carbed 350???

[love2fixit]

If I decided to remove 4.3 and install carbed 350 can I make the 4l60e tranny function?(electronics?) Has anyone done this?

[Rob]

You have to buy a tranny controller. Check out Summit part number TCI-377000 at www.summitracing.com (http://www.summitracing.com).

[BadToad454]

If I decided to remove 4.3 and install carbed 350 can I make the 4l60e tranny function?(electronics?) Has anyone done this?


There are 2 ways u can do it. first , use the stock distributor from the 4.3 with the factory plugins for it. The computer will still use the RPMs to shift but you wont have the advance as u would in a vacuum advance distributor. Second way is to get a B&M converter lockup control kit, but i am unshure if the 4l60e will shift right without the computer. I would sell the 4l60e and get a 700r4 if you want overdrive. With the b&m kit you wont have any problems with the 700 r4 . The solinods in the 4l60e are made to last only 5 years ,and who wants a computer telling you when you can shift ? In short, the 700r4 will give far less problems.

[jrock262]

the only thing i could see aproblem is with is a tranny cotroler an tbs sensor

just get a 4l60 or 700r4\


tbs is like a kick down cable

uses a poly film to get set ohms to predict throttle position

[BadToad454]

Sorry but the TPS does nothing for the trans to shift. You can put it in gear and never touch the gas and it will shift.

[Rob]

With just fooling around with my Tuner Cat tuning software, I've found out that the PCM controls pretty much everything when it comes to the 4L60E. I've upped my line pressure for firmer shifts and have also shortened the shift time (time for it to shift into gears) to firm them up. I believe you would still need a computer, whether it's a PCM or tranny controller for it to work properly.

[colin]

You need a transmission controller as stated before.

The transmission is the same as a 700R4. The transmission upshifts/downshifts are modified through changing the 'line pressure'. I concur with BadToad454 that the transmission 'will shift' by itself. You will just not have the benefit of the block learn mode with a TCM,and that's what the transmission controller will do.

Later,
Colin

[dark_bowtie]

The TPS output is used is used in conjuction with VSS output to determine wether or not to make a downshift in vehicles with 4L60E's or electronic transmissions in general. Before I switched to a T400, I used to run a 4L60E. I used an aftermarket software (LT1 Edit) to reprogram upshifts and downshifts. If the TPS sensor fails or does not have the correct closed throttle voltage or isn't connected, the PCM should force the transmission to stay in one gear.

[kevint]

The TPS output is used is used in conjuction with VSS output to determine wether or not to make a downshift in vehicles with 4L60E's or electronic transmissions in general. Before I switched to a T400, I used to run a 4L60E. I used an aftermarket software (LT1 Edit) to reprogram upshifts and downshifts. If the TPS sensor fails or does not have the correct closed throttle voltage or isn't connected, the PCM should force the transmission to stay in one gear.


it does stay in one gear, and you have a choice between second and third. ive disconnected my control wires before.

[jrock262]

now whos a dumb dumb , ya if your tPs sensor is not hooked up it will violently shift to first gear my dad made me mover my truck while i was working on my truck with a tps sensor low current problem , an i didnt think to install the sensor back an it scary like i so wouldnt do it , maybe to luanch my truck

[BadToad454]

Its news to me cause my buddys z71 has a carbed 350 useing only the stock distributor and shifts just fine. Its been this way for a year now.

[kevint]

i disconnected the main harness going to my trans once...i guess that if the trans does not recieve any and/or insufficient voltage, it will only go into 2rd or 3rd gear. it will only stay in one of those gears, but you can shift between them all you want, and its a pretty firm shift too. I think in order for the trans to shift into 1st, the valve body needs to recieve voltage to redirect the right amount of fluid. no fluid, no gear.

[colin]

Its news to me cause my buddys z71 has a carbed 350 useing only the stock distributor and shifts just fine. Its been this way for a year now.

You told him to use a V6 distributor on a V8 motor. I just want to point that out, my friend ;)

[BadToad454]

ummmmm ... BAD TOAD BAD...... wasnt thinking uh :D

[bonecrushins10]

i think if the transmission doesnt get any voltage to the tps that it will circulater thru all gears except overdrive , cuss when my tranny blew it was becuase of the tps sensor an i was going 95 going back to 3rd just kill it ,

[love2fixit]

Has anyone out there tried it to see if it works.

[colin]

Well,
I read the instruction manual for that kit. To use the kit with a carburetor you must also purchase a remote TPS sensor kit, part number #377400.

If you are going to use a vacuum advance distributor the manual also states that you can use a tach feed signal to the TCM through an MSD box instead of tapping into an electronically advanced distrib.

The TCM is $659.95 and that carburetor-style TPS is $199.95. A link to the remote TPS is: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=TCI%2D377400&N=115+311236&autoview=sku

IMHO, go with a 700R4. Or for that fun feeling in your pants, a T56 like me. A T-56 swap is only about $1500 and a LOT more fun (also more fuel efficient as 6th gear is .63:1 (.5:1 in some years).
Later,
Colin

[love2fixit]

I can see that this can be pretty costly if I want to try to keep the stock tranny in the truck. I was wanting to do this to keep my speedo and cruise and any other tranny related electronics working. I am starting to lean towards a clean gutting and roll cage type ride if I am going to loose all my goodies inside doing the swap. It will be alot easier to put a TH350 or 400 tranny in.(It'll be cheaper too) Thanks for the good discussion guys. I am not into all this electronic stuff. I like to at least have a chance to fix it on the side of the road if need be.

[colin]

If you're going to go with a 350 why won't you consider a 700r4? They're basically the same transmission and you can use either the VSS or a speedo drive depending on the tailshaft you use. If you don't want to lockup the converter with a computer just get the B&M vacuum lockup kit. I think it's about $150.

[colin]

For your reference here is the B&M page. They're $160 a piece depending on the flavor of choice.

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=400004+4294844569

Good luck,
Colin

[i0kepa]

i'm not really educated a whole lot as far as tranny's go but wouldn't you be better off with the TH400 instead? I've just heard from numerous people that you just run in to too many performance problems with the 700 or the 4l60 for that matter. I've got a friend who's pretty much chewed up and spit out 4 700r4's in a year and a half. He swapped to a TH400 and hasn't had a problem yet. He's got a 4.3 Vortec and a TH400 in his 95 Wrangler. I've heard from a whole lot of people that the 400 is a nearly "indestructable" tranny (not literally) but they are a helluva lot harder to break.

[colin]

You're correct.

A TH400 is almost indestructable. I've only ever heard of a few really biting the dust in a big way. Keep in mind it was designed for use behind the 427 so out of the box it's good for around 400-450ft/lb of torque. Believe it or not, the 4L80E is based off the TH400.

As for the 700R4, when built well they are quite reliable. The earlier versions suffered from weak parts and later years came with upgrades to address that. I believe one of the major problems has to do with the sunshell being weak. When it breaks there is no way to turn the output shaft.

Your friend is costing himself a lot of horsepower by running a TH400 behind that 4.3. My guess is he's chewing up 10hp more than a comparable TH350.

From experience, though, the TH400 is un****ingbelievable. My Dad has a 72 1/2 ton big block Chevy truck. When we rebuilt the motor we changed the transmission fluid as well. It came out almost as thick as 20w50 motor oil and was so black it looked like differential fluid. The odd thing about it was that the transmission shifted the exact same 'after' the trans flush as 'before'. Tough trans, no doubt.

[love2fixit]

I have a th350 out of my old S10. Needs rebuilding which I plan on doing myself. It is a heavy duty case. Never seen another like this one. I was told it came out of a Vette, But dont know for sure, I think its out of a HD truck, but I dont know. I have to keep cost in mind doing this swap, plus I always wanted to rebuild a tranny myself. I'll problably go this route. Thanks for all the great info guys. I have learned alot here.

[BadToad454]

Im glad to hear you plan to doit your self, the more you know the better. The only tool u will need to doit your self is the one to compress the low reverse piston. I cant rember whats its called thoue. Theres 2 seals down there that most home buliders dont do ( cause they dont have the tool). Other than that its easy, as youll find out.If you have any problems drop me a line, ill be glad to help.

[love2fixit]

Thanks. I take it you have done the th350 before. I just might drop a line if need be.

[colin]

I have a th350 out of my old S10. Needs rebuilding which I plan on doing myself. It is a heavy duty case. Never seen another like this one. I was told it came out of a Vette, But dont know for sure, I think its out of a HD truck, but I dont know. I have to keep cost in mind doing this swap, plus I always wanted to rebuild a tranny myself. I'll problably go this route. Thanks for all the great info guys. I have learned alot here.

If it came from a C4 Corvette you'd be able to tell immediately because the tailshaft would have provisions for the C-beam. When I parted out my 85 Corvette it had a regular old case with MD8 stamped on the side.

Later,
Colin

[love2fixit]

Cool, then it should be a great tranny for the project. Thanks again everyone for all the good info on the 4l60e tranny. Guess I'll sell it with the 4.3 engine and keep this swap simple.