Transmission advice
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Transmission advice Hey all-
I know most if not all of you forgot more about mechanics than I'll ever know.
Meaning please pardon the vagueness of my question.
I've recently bought a 69 Chevy C-10 for my 15 year old. While I had planned to rebuild the stock motor and transmission. I happened across a good deal on a LS2 out of a 2002 Chevy Avalanche.
Again, not in the original plan, but seems I could increase his gas milage if I replaced the transmission to one with an over drive.
I thought; I could Google anything these days, but I'll be darn if I can figure out what factory transmission came in the 02 Avalanche.
Wondering if someone might be kind enough to let me know, and if anyone happens to know where I might find one in the Dallas Tx. area.
Much obliged,
I know most if not all of you forgot more about mechanics than I'll ever know.
Meaning please pardon the vagueness of my question.
I've recently bought a 69 Chevy C-10 for my 15 year old. While I had planned to rebuild the stock motor and transmission. I happened across a good deal on a LS2 out of a 2002 Chevy Avalanche.
Again, not in the original plan, but seems I could increase his gas milage if I replaced the transmission to one with an over drive.
I thought; I could Google anything these days, but I'll be darn if I can figure out what factory transmission came in the 02 Avalanche.
Wondering if someone might be kind enough to let me know, and if anyone happens to know where I might find one in the Dallas Tx. area.
Much obliged,
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 529
From: Ann Arbor, MI
I know nothing about the Avalanche, but I doubted it had an LS2 engine.
So I had to look it up...
From Wikipedia, the 2002 Avalanche 1500 had a LM7, a basic 5.3L LS1 engine.
The 2500 had an updated "Big Block" engine.
Since you thought it was an LS2, it must be the LS1.
They both came with a 4L60E or 4L65E trans.
If you want a cheap trans, just check Craigslist and keep your fingers crossed.
If you want a good one, sponsor Jake Performance is in Sanger TX, very close to you.
Be sure to get the PCM and wiring harness to go with your LS1, that will run the trans too.
Probably your biggest expense and complexity in the swap will be the fuel system.
You may have to switch to an electronic Speedometer too.
Other issues will be connecting the LS1 harness to the existing electrical system and creating a new exhaust system. Probably a new driveshaft too.
Some people manage to do the swap for $1000 (over the price of the engine and trans), but all the details and incidentals often drive it will north of $2000.
IMHO, such a swap would be really cool for a restored truck that you would personally enjoy, but for probably not for a 16 year-old that just wants cool wheels. Just my opinion.
Note there is a section in this forum dedicated to swapping and conversions.
Good luck either way.
So I had to look it up...
From Wikipedia, the 2002 Avalanche 1500 had a LM7, a basic 5.3L LS1 engine.
The 2500 had an updated "Big Block" engine.
Since you thought it was an LS2, it must be the LS1.
They both came with a 4L60E or 4L65E trans.
If you want a cheap trans, just check Craigslist and keep your fingers crossed.
If you want a good one, sponsor Jake Performance is in Sanger TX, very close to you.
Be sure to get the PCM and wiring harness to go with your LS1, that will run the trans too.
Probably your biggest expense and complexity in the swap will be the fuel system.
You may have to switch to an electronic Speedometer too.
Other issues will be connecting the LS1 harness to the existing electrical system and creating a new exhaust system. Probably a new driveshaft too.
Some people manage to do the swap for $1000 (over the price of the engine and trans), but all the details and incidentals often drive it will north of $2000.
IMHO, such a swap would be really cool for a restored truck that you would personally enjoy, but for probably not for a 16 year-old that just wants cool wheels. Just my opinion.
Note there is a section in this forum dedicated to swapping and conversions.
Good luck either way.
