Electronic Trans Swap

[BigBrown207]

I have an 85 K10 with a mild 383 currently with a 700R4. I want to swap it out for an electronic trans such as a 4l60E/4l65E. I read that the bolt patters would be the same but I test fit a 4l65e and the bell housing sits about an inch away from the engine. Is there adaptors that need to be used or different converter? Thanks in Advance

 

[Rickf]

Did you test fit with a torque converter in place? If so, maybe it wasn't fully seated.

 

[BigBrown207]

Thank you that was it.

 

[Ricko1966]

I have an 85 K10 with a mild 383 currently with a 700R4. I want to swap it out for an electronic trans such as a 4l60E/4l65E. I read that the bolt patters would be the same but I test fit a 4l65e and the bell housing sits about an inch away from the engine. Is there adaptors that need to be used or different converter? Thanks in Advance

Why would you want to go 4l60E over 700r4/4l60? Same transmission different valvebody. 700r4/4l60, setup TV ( CORRECTLY!!!) and a very little easy wiring and done.4l60E you need a transmission controller.

 

[BigBrown207]

I wanted to get rid of the tv cable as I did not have good luck getting it setup correctly and two places I took it couldn’t dial it in. I have a full sniper 2 setup on the motor and have the sniper trans controller for the 4l65e.

 

[kkgp81]

Not a 4l65e but I installed a 4L60E behind a small block. It is doable, not cheap but doable. I had to do a bit of hack at first to get the torgue converter to bolt up (I used a LS spec 4l60E). I had to have the flex plate drilled for the bolt pattern of the LS style converter and had to use a TCI spacer between the trans and motor. Finally, I was able to get an actual GM converter for it but I plan on using it on the next swap as the other one is working fine and no reason to take it apart.

There is an actual GM performance kit to do the swap but its never in stock and they don't list the part number for the flex plate that fits an LS style trans and small block motor.

The swap is expensive and as I have 2 trucks that are almost identical as far as powertrain, lift, axle ratio, and tire size I can tell you the swap was worth it. I like it enough I plan on doing the other truck.

This is the spacer I needed. You will also need the lower dust cover which is the cover from a standard transmission. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/icb-551835-375fl

This is V1 of how I did it, maybe not right and real trans pros may be screaming at their screen over it. My next run at it I plan on having the correct flex plate/torque converter.

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[Ricko1966]

The easy and cheap way to do this is use everything from a 4l60e equipped truck and buy an aftermarket controller. 4l60e's were factory installed behind 350 chevys, from 1993-1998 trucks,actually longer if you count express vans no special anything required. Everything is cheap and available at local parts stores and junk yards,except the transmission controller.

 

[Matt69olds]

If the sniper 2 will control a 4L60E, then that’s the cheapest option since you already have it.

The bellhousing bolt pattern is the same. I’d get with a custom converter builder, I have no clue what would be involved in adapting a late model trans to an old school engine.