Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

I tried searching for the answer, but with no luck. If I buy a used transmission from craigslist, how can I avoid buying one that was pulled from a 4.3L V6? From reading threads here, it appears that the input shaft from a v6 tranny is different, but I'm not sure in what way so what should I measure?

Thanks!

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

No responses. Did I ask a really tough question to answer or just a really stupid one?

performabuilt

iTrader: (25)

what are you trying to accomplish and I will try to answer. What kind of car, engine size and year are you looking to find a trans to fit ?

cbailey

Just for the record... output shafts are very easy to swap. I thought they were all the same, except for 2wd and 4wd

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

I am looking into swapping a 5.3L or 6.0L truck engine into my 1981 Malibu. I would be doing this on a very tight budget so I would prefer to find a transmission that will bolt right in versus one that I'd have to pay a transmission shop to change things out on. I've found some low mileage engines, but they either don't come with a transmission or the transmission is out of a 4wd. There appears to be a lot of transmissions from 4.3L V6's out there. If I'm forced to pick up a transmission from a separate source, one of the things I'd like to be able to check for myself is that it is a match to the motor I'd be using.

Maybe I misunderstood the previous posts I had read... Is there a difference between a v6 and v8 4l60e transmission?
CBailey - does changing the output shaft require any special tools or experience (I've never even dropped the pan on a transmission before)?

02gmc5.3

iTrader: (11)

From what I understand you can just use a 4.3 style converter and run a crank spacer just like with older 4l60es.

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

I searched again and here is a link to the post that got me thinking I needed to avoid a v6 transmission:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...-4-3l-s10.html

When asked if the 4l60e from an LS1 Trans AM would directly swap(minus bellhousing and converter) and work in the [4.3L v6] s10, Performabuilt replied
I appreciate all of the help, but converting a v6 trans to work with a v8 sounds like more work than just finding a v8 trans to begin with. I guess I'm back to asking my original question. How can I identify (and thereby avoid) buying a used 4l60e that came out of a v6?

performabuilt

iTrader: (25)

You need to find a 98 up F BODY or GTO trans or a truck in 2wd with a 5.3 or 6.0 from 99 uo as for the 4.3 and non lsx trans look at the input shaft if its not spilned all the way to the end and has a nipple on the end its and lt1/style You need the LSx its splined on the input shaft all the way to the end .
Hope this helps

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

Very helpful. Thanks!

Not that your description is difficult to understand, but everyone likes photos and I found a photo on this site that shows what the correct (LSx) input shaft looks like. I thought I would add it to this thread in case it helps someone else using the search tool down the road.


and another view:

Soul Crusher

What about a v6 F-Body trans from a 1994 car and a newer 5.3 or 6.0? Will they fit?

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

From what I've read... No. The v6 trans from the 94 F-body will have a 60 degree bolt pattern and it will not bolt up to the SBC pattern of any year V8 motor.

aknovaman

iTrader: (7)

So is the trans with the splines all the way to the end is from a V6 or V8?

I have a LQ4 and can get a 4.3L 4L60E for cheap. Will it work or not?

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

Reviving an old thread because I needed to refer back to it for information.

aknovaman: It's probably way too late, but for posterity reasons, I will try to answer your questions. To anyone reading this - I could be completely wrong on all of this stuff. I'm just compiling information from other sources so please look for confirmation or rebuttals from one of the transmission guru's on this forum. Hopefully one of them will (again) post in this thread or write a sticky on this subject so we'll all know if this information is accurate or not.

The trans with the splines all the way to the end (see photo in my post above) is from an LS1 V8. My understanding is that this input shaft is unique to the LSx (4.8L / 5.3L / 6.0L) engines. The 4.3L/3.8L v6 and LT1 engines use a different input shaft - pictured below. To use a non-LSx 4L60e transmission in an LSx swap, you would need to have the input shaft and pump stator changed. If using a trans from a v6, then you would also need to change the bellhousing.

For comparison purposes, here is a picture of an LT1 4L60e (wrong input shaft for LSx engines):

Cutlass3800

iTrader: (1)

Getting information from the Internet sucks.

I have now seen photos of 4L60e transmissions purportedly from 4.3L Vortec trucks and 3.8L Camaro's that have the splines all the way to the end of the input shaft.