4L60E transplant in carbureted 68' camaro ?'s

[snoslidr74]

Hope someone can help me fill in some blanks on what it will take to get a 4L60E from a LS1 Trans Am into my carbureted sbc 68 camaro. So far I think I'll need to shorten the drive shaft, move the cross member, get a controller to run it (electronically which is what I want), and deal with the LS1 bellhousing pattern.

1. Are there any worthwhile controllers out there other than the TCI or PCS units? Both seem pretty spendy...Megasquirt tranny controller not out yet...

2. Anybody used a LS1 PCM to run a tranny only? Would I need some sort of TPS adapted to the carb?

3. Any pitfalls with flexplate, converter, or other?

Thanks for the help!!! A friend offered me this 4L60E for FREE!

[Steve Chryssos]

Those free parts always end up costing an arm and a leg, huh?
To date TCI 377000 is the most affordable controller out there. I think it just went up a little to $679 street price. Yes you will need a TPS sensor. The TCI 377400 remote mount kit runs about $225. Unlike a TV cable, the computer only asks you to set idle and WOT. It figures out everything in between. There is no funky geometry to set up like with a 700R4. So maybe you can rig up a TPS sensor for less.

The expense can suck, but hang with it. Once you have dialed in your trans to your exact vehicle specs and driving preferences, you will never go back. It'll be like driving an entirely different car.

[neki67]

Look in the for sale section, I believe there's still a TCI controller for sale.

[Steve Chryssos]

Wow! $499 is well below cost. Jump on that!

[snoslidr74]

Thanks for the reply, guys. Yep, the price tag keeps going up to make my FREE tranny work. So I've found a controller, I can make a TPS that will work, I've got a non-LS1 bellhousing....

Now what I'm worried about is compatibility of the input shaft and torque converter with the Gen 1 small block. I've seen bits and pieces of info that indicate the input shaft is longer on the 4L60E and the torque converter bolt pattern is different.

Can anyone shed some light on these 2 questions?

Thanks again for the input...

[Texas Hotrod]

The LS1 converter's bolt pattern is called the "metric" pattern. It's different than the older Vortec converter's pattern.
So, will a Vortec converter work in an LS1 tranny?

I have an old 4L60E converter and I need to rebuild a tranny from an 02 Silverado (5.3) this week. I can compare the input shafts and see if the old will mesh w/the new.
As far as converter thickness? I can try to take some measurements for comparison if it will help.

[snoslidr74]

Hey Texas Hotrod,

Thanks for the input. I am curious to see what you find. I think I'm going to have to gather up all the hardware (I don't have all the necessary pieces yet), assemble what I can, and take a few measurements.

I was hoping someone had already put a 4l60E from an LS1 in a carbureted first gen. and could breakdown the parts compatibility :(

It's never easy.... Thanks again for the input.

[Texas Hotrod]

I replaced a clutch in an 02 HD (6.0 LS1). There was a spacer between the flywheel and the crank.
When I pulled the tranny from the 2K Silverado (5.3 LS1), I noticed that the flex plate is concave (spaced outward). Looks like when GM designed the LS bellhousings, they made them deeper.
Does your engine have a 2 piece rear main seal (1st gen) or a 1 piece seal (2nd gen)? 1st gen and 2nd gen bolt patterns are different. The 2nd gen flywheel has the same crank pattern (I think) as the LS flywheel. The 2nd gen has a counter-weight, the LS doesn't.

For a simple solution, see if anyone makes an adapter flywheel for that application. It'll have to fit the 1st gen crank, concave for the LS bellhousing and have the metric pattern to fit the converter.
Vortec and LS converters are different. The trannies use different input shafts. The older (vortec) 4L60Es use an input shaft that has a snout on the end, the LS input is a flat shaft. So, I guess a Vortec input shaft could be swapped in and the the older style converter would (could) work, then you can use a stock flywheel. The only problem is the flywheel will need the correct spacer (custom made?) or the torque converter will have to be spaced away from the flywheel.

If that isn't enough to think about, I'm not sure if the stator splines on the LS pump and the older one are the same. Also, there's no provision for a speedo cable. Though, Auto Meter does make a nice electronic speedo.

A 700R4 would have been easier, but they don't have the capability of a 4th gear upsift at full throttle (unless you mod it for a 3/4 upshift or get one from a Corvette/IROC). So the programmable unit is the way to go.
Can you trade your LS tranny for an older Vortec unit (I might just have one, it came from a wrecked cop car). It would solve a ton of problems, all except for the speedo issue.

Hope this helps.

[snoslidr74]

Thanks again for all your input and advice. I think I'm going to hold off trying to use the LS1 4L60e for now. Just too many unknowns, and I'm itching to get the car back together and driving. I'm going to have a friend build me a 200-4R which was my original plan before I was offered the electronic trans.

When I have time, I'll try and mess with the 4L60E. If I figure some of the details out, I'll be sure to post it on this site.

Thanks