by the way, is there another alternative for the hughes spacer that can be used, something from another GM car?!

 

The TH350 - Th400 converters are on Sale at this time so listed prices are not what you pay!
call for correct pricing they might be in you $ range.

 

when you use a Th400 or 350 on a LS1 what about the two bolts that used to go into the oil pan? Will leaving them out affect the engine rigidity, and cause oil leaks?

 

also looks like no top center bolt, and you can't use the one to the right of center not drilled?

 

You don't remove any bolts from the oil pan and yes the bolt at the 1 o'clock position is not used so you have five on the bellhousing

 

What about the two 11mm bolts (15mm socket size) that were in the oil pan? With a stock 4L80E and 4.8L/5.3L/6.0L V8 there are two bolts that go through the lower dust shield into the oil pan. This dust shield it a large hunk of aluminum that also has 4 11mm (15mm socklet size) bolts holding it the the transmission case.

On the older transmissions all they have is a flat piece of tin with a couple of 1/4" bolts (7/16" socket size) that secure it to the transmission only, nothing into the oil pan.

My concern is leaving those two 11mm bolts out aren't they meant to prevent some twisting between the oil pan and engine block, preventing oil leaks and making for a stronger engine?

also I thought all you needed was a Gm .4" crank spacer, longer bolts, elongate the hols in the flex plate with a die grinder, and get the tail shaft machined to accept a VSS. and mechanical speedo? I didn't know I needed a custom torque converter.

 

Can't help ya there, I made the switch from a 6spd, you don't have to get a custom converter. I had one made by PTC for the swap and also so it was spec'd for my setup