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Vette c5 4l60e for LS swap

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Old Aug 25, 2016 | 12:48 PM
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Default Vette c5 4l60e for LS swap

So. No one on the great mighty internet has been able to tell me how to convert an automatic 4l60e out of a c5 corvette to be bolted on to an engine like in a camaro for instance.

Can you tell me?

It seems like no one knows. Everyone I have asked or every post i have been able to find for the last few weeks say the same. "dont do it, it's too costly"
Yes i might be in USA. But until anyone can give me a clue why, it's hard to say.

The way I see it I need a bellhousing, a tailshaft and some input/output shafts?

Anyway, you guys are my last hope. I really would like to know what's involved in the conversion as i have just parted out a 98 c5 vette with a newly rebuilt trans. And where i live, due to taxes fees and customs, whatever i find online in dollars i have to multiply by 10 before it actually clears the custom and lands at my doorstep.

So please, help me! Tell me if i can scrounge ebay and order "a few parts" and do the conversion. I've rebuilt th350's/400's and my brother just rebuilt his 4l60e so he can help me during the conversion..

If it actually turns out it's not cost effective, then can i atleast use the converter? Or any other parts from it.. The servo? There are very few c5's in my country so selling it will be difficult. Only hotrodders would be interested and those are also few and far between.

Thanks in advance. Tim
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Old Aug 25, 2016 | 12:53 PM
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This is where im at right now


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Old Aug 25, 2016 | 04:43 PM
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I think the easiest way would be to run a dished LS aftermarket flex plate with the 10.75" bolt pattern and use a pilot extender to properly engage the crank. They make kits for this on ebay for cheap. Then I'm pretty sure you just need a bell housing from a pre LS style 4l60. This would be like 97 f body, 97, 98, tahoe, blazers into the early 2000's etc. Be sure not to buy the LS bell housing as it is deeper and will cause major headache.

-Brian
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Circle-D_Brian
I think the easiest way would be to run a dished LS aftermarket flex plate with the 10.75" bolt pattern and use a pilot extender to properly engage the crank. They make kits for this on ebay for cheap. Then I'm pretty sure you just need a bell housing from a pre LS style 4l60. This would be like 97 f body, 97, 98, tahoe, blazers into the early 2000's etc. Be sure not to buy the LS bell housing as it is deeper and will cause major headache.

-Brian
Thanks for the reply. I knew someone here were able to answer my question..

I thought only the LS engine style 4L60e's had a removeable bell housing? Do you mean tailshaft?
If so im thinking I still need a LS style bellhousing?
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 12:29 PM
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Most of the LT style of transmissions had the fixed bell housing, but the later model ones were removable. See examples in my above post.

Do NOT use an LS bell housing as this will mess with your clearances. These are deeper than the LT units.

-Brian
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Circle-D_Brian
Most of the LT style of transmissions had the fixed bell housing, but the later model ones were removable. See examples in my above post.

Do NOT use an LS bell housing as this will mess with your clearances. These are deeper than the LT units.

-Brian


Identifiable by the 12'o clock bolt hole im thinking..

Are the output shaft any longer than usual or can i buy a LS style 2wd tailshaft housing out of a GTO/FBODY for instance?
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 01:48 PM
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Just re-read my first post.. I want to mount the transmission to the LS1. Not a gen1 og gen2 engine.

Do i still need LT style bell housing then?
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 02:43 PM
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The removable bell housing that you need will NOT have the 12 o'clock hole. It will bolt up to the LS1 just fine. Trust me on this and don't go with the LS bell housing even though that's the easier one to find and seems like the correct choice since the bolt pattern matches better.

I'm not sure about the output shafts/tailhousings. Maybe someone else can chime in there.

-Brian
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 04:44 PM
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Sorry. That was what i meant. It shouldnt have that bolt hole.

I appreciate all your help. It's worth alot to me. So thank you Brian. I will definitely look into your company when i need a converter.

/Tim
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Old Aug 26, 2016 | 07:42 PM
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The rear of the Case is different, C5 4l60E's & C6 4L65E's ONLY fit Corvettes.....A Tailhousing will not bolt up.
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Old Aug 27, 2016 | 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by clinebarger
The rear of the Case is different, C5 4l60E's & C6 4L65E's ONLY fit Corvettes.....A Tailhousing will not bolt up.
So i either fab an adapter or give it up..

Thanks for the great help. I will take it all into account on what to do..
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Old Aug 27, 2016 | 01:01 PM
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To summarize the above, the 4L60E from a C5 Vette is an older "LT" style trans with a 298mm input shaft. As Brian explained, with an LT style bell housing, a pilot extender and a slight mod to the flexplate, it will bolt up to an LS engine.
I believe the output shaft should be just fine, but as Clinebarger (a pro) states, the case is different and a typical 6-bolt Camaro tail housing will not bolt up.

Clinebarger: Would an older 4 bolt tail housing bolt up?

To clear up a few details, the separate bell housing started in 1996 and all '96 and '97 4L60E are "LT" (298mm) style as the first year of "LS" (300mm) style was '98.

Unless Clinebarger has a better suggestion, you a non-Vette case. A bare case is cheap here, but obviously not by the time it is shipped to Denmark. Maybe a junkyard has an
older 4L60E with ruined internals.
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Old Aug 27, 2016 | 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mrvedit
Clinebarger: Would an older 4 bolt tail housing bolt up?
No, The Getrag Differential bolts to the rear of the case, And uses 2 Dowels to center the diff to the trans, No round register & square cut seal to seal & locate the tailhousing too the rear of the case, In fact a Corvette is DRY between the Trans & Diff complete with a "Drain Notch".

Even if a Adapter was machined, You would still have the issue of sealing the adapter to the Trans Case, There is no "Drain Back" hole to drain the ATF out of the Tailhousing back into the pan. I also doubt the Extension Bushing would oil correctly even with the Seal removed from the rear of the Case.

The Output Shaft is also different (Length), And that brings up the absents of a VSS Relutor.

A picture of the rear of the case, Arrows highlight the 2 locating dowel holes.

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Old Nov 17, 2016 | 12:03 PM
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Glad i returned to read up on this. Several replies since i last checked in!

I ended up buying a cheap 4.3 v6 4l60e that may or may not run.. im thinking i was an idiot to sell that transmission with the remains of the car as i now dont have a donor transmission..

A guy stood me up twice, wasting 2 perfecly good sundays. So monday i called a guy that had lowballed me for the remains including the transmission and told him to come get it. I was furious.

Note to my self. Never make decisions when you're angry!
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Old Nov 17, 2016 | 12:08 PM
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It's with a removeable housing so it would be perfect to "just" rebuild it using the c5 trans..
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