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TH400 VSS plan

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Old 02-11-2009, 02:41 PM
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Default TH400 VSS plan

I just mated the TH400 to the back of my LS1. I've read through the posts of how to deal with the VSS, but since I have never done this before, I wanted to make sure my "plan" is ok or if I'm missing something...

I am putting the LS1/TH400 into my 93 Camaro v6 body (I've already pulled the 3.4L/crossmember). It does have wheel speed sensors, but I'd feel better if I got wheel speed sensors from a 98 LS1 car (since my PCM is a 98).

Then I just splice the VSS wires from the wiring harness (mine is a Painless Performance harness) to a wheel speed sensor.

My speedo and tach are going to be Autometers, so I can just hook up the speedo the traditional way. Hooking up the tach I haven't figured out just yet...

But anyway, is this plan (getting a set of WSS's from a 98 car and splicing PCM VSS wires to it) a solid plan, or am I missing something?

Thanks guys,
Old 02-11-2009, 02:46 PM
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Why not get factory replacement parts from GM? You can get a reluctor wheel and speed sensor for a 1988 GMC Sierra that will all install right on your transmission. And if I'm not mistaken the factory VSS plug will plug right into it.
And this is a 40 tooth reluctor wheel exactly like a factory 1998 A4 F Body.
Old 02-11-2009, 02:52 PM
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These are the parts. You need to be careful about the reluctor wheel, they come in two different inside diameters. The large ID is for short tail 32 spline th400's and the small ID is for long tail th400's. Link to pic.
Old 02-11-2009, 03:18 PM
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Thanks for the fast response. Sounds like a good idea also. I've never opened a transmission before though.

What's the difficulty level for someone who's never seen the inside of a TH400?
Old 02-11-2009, 04:06 PM
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Six bolts to remove the tail housing, something to install the reluctor wheel, one bolt to install the sensor.

Do you know what the trans came out of and whats in it now?
What if it already had this stuff installed.
Old 02-11-2009, 04:26 PM
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Good point. It came out of a third gen Camaro; not sure what engine was in front of it...let me make a call and get back to ya...EDIT: he says he doesn't know; if he had to guess the engine in front of it woulda been a carbureted 350/383.

Last edited by demonpixel; 02-11-2009 at 04:36 PM.
Old 02-11-2009, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by demonpixel
Good point. It came out of a third gen Camaro; not sure what engine was in front of it...let me make a call and get back to ya...EDIT: he says he doesn't know; if he had to guess the engine in front of it woulda been a carbureted 350/383.
I meant originally, it didn't come from GM in a 3rd gen.
Have any pics of the speedo sender area?
Old 02-11-2009, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by 9000th01ss
I meant originally, it didn't come from GM in a 3rd gen.
Have any pics of the speedo sender area?
Do these pics help?



Old 02-11-2009, 07:34 PM
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Thats a mechanical speedo. It has a big 32 spline output shaft, need to be sure to get the right reluctor wheel.

All you do is take the tail housing off, theres a clip that holds a plastic gear on, remove it all.
Install the reluctor wheel, it's a slight press fit. Put the tail housing back on, remove the speedo sleeve in the tail and install the VSS.
I don't have the part number for the large OD reluctor.

One other thing, you really need to put short bolts on that chain. If that chain slips to the head of the bolt it's probably going to break off.
Old 02-11-2009, 08:05 PM
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Here is one place to get the parts but they are a little more expensive than I expected.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/sp...____va.htm#400
Old 02-11-2009, 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 9000th01ss

One other thing, you really need to put short bolts on that chain. If that chain slips to the head of the bolt it's probably going to break off.
That is pretty damn scary looking.
Old 02-11-2009, 08:35 PM
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Good point about the bolts, hasn't slipped yet but I'm not tempting fate. Heading to the hardware store soon.

Thanks for all the help; hopefully it's pretty self-explanatory when i take the tail housing off.
Old 02-11-2009, 09:30 PM
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I'm going to be doing the same thing shortly. Let us know how it works out. I will definitley follow your lead.
Old 02-12-2009, 12:14 AM
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Will do, Shaker.

LS1MCSS, I did a search and saw your post about Cable-X: https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...a-digital.html

Is this pretty much plug and play if you want to run an aftermarket cable driven Autometer speedometer? Does the same go for the Dakota Digital SGI-8D tach interface (plug and play too)?
Old 02-12-2009, 06:37 PM
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I could never get the Dakota Digital tach box to work correctly. The cable-x worked great. I finally switched to electric speedo and matching tach so everything would work correctly and match.



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