Crankshaft spacer question
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Norway, Europe
Crankshaft spacer question My engine is a LM7 (5.3) from a 2004 Express Van AWD. I tried bolting this up to a 4L60E transmission, probably from a 2002-2003 Camaro, but there's no room - it gets jammed. Is there a spacer between the flywheel and flexplate? And should I ditch the spacer or install it behind the flexplate?
You need a dished flexplate to bolt up to that Trans. You need to look at the flexplate and see which one you have. If the flexplate is flat with no dish you have a 4l80 style flexplate which will have the .400 spacer behind it. If you have a dished flexplate it will not have the spacer and the 4l60 should bolt right up. Do not put the spacer behind the dished flexplate it won't work
STOP NOW - Don't force it!
If there is no room, you probably didn't seat the converter in the transmission properly. Loosen the bolts on the transmission and slide it back until the converter spins by hand. Rotate the converter by hand and push it toward the back of the transmission (in) until it seats all the way in. If you keep trying to force it together you will damage the front pump on the transmission.
The 5.3 will not have a spacer from the factory as only 6.0 engines came with 4L80E transmissions and required them. The only way that engine would have a spacer or flat flexplate is if someone added it.
If there is no room, you probably didn't seat the converter in the transmission properly. Loosen the bolts on the transmission and slide it back until the converter spins by hand. Rotate the converter by hand and push it toward the back of the transmission (in) until it seats all the way in. If you keep trying to force it together you will damage the front pump on the transmission.
The 5.3 will not have a spacer from the factory as only 6.0 engines came with 4L80E transmissions and required them. The only way that engine would have a spacer or flat flexplate is if someone added it.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Norway, Europe
The converter is 100% seated, but I didn't force it, no.. 
Used to work on the fragile ZF transmissions found in Audis and BMWs, so I hope I know the deal..
I was just wondering... Maybe the Express with AWD, which this engine comes from, used the 4L80E on the 5.3 as well?
I'm going to pull the transmission anyway to take a look at the flexplate. Don't have any pictures available, but stay tuned!
Used to work on the fragile ZF transmissions found in Audis and BMWs, so I hope I know the deal.. I was just wondering... Maybe the Express with AWD, which this engine comes from, used the 4L80E on the 5.3 as well?
I'm going to pull the transmission anyway to take a look at the flexplate. Don't have any pictures available, but stay tuned!
Make sure nobody stuck a pilot bushing in there with the intention on using it with a manual trans. Sounds stupid but guess who didn't figure It out until they grenaded their trans and converter
