CK5
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LS Swap transmission question
- Thread starter Jorwood
- Start date
In my opinion a 4L65E would be a better option. For one, a DBW 5.3 is a pain in the ass to make work with a 700R4 TV cable, you have to make a bracket on the pedal itself and run the TV cable into the cab to that newly made bracket. I ran my 700R4 behind my 6.0L because it's low miles and built, but I don't expect it to last a long time with the quick throttle response of an LS and the shift points aren't nearly as correct/smooth as the ECM would do with a 65E. I have the Bowtie Overdrives LS TV cable kit and it works, but is really touchy to get set just right. I intend to replace my 700 with a 65E as soon as it takes a dump. With anticipating that would be my move in the future, I had my LS harness made up with the 65E plug added. Then, all I'll have to do is bolt in and plug in my 4L65E and have my PCM reprogrammed.
You'll also want to change the shift governor in your 700 if you keep it, to better match the higher revs of the 5.3. Something I have still yet to do with mine.
You'll also want to change the shift governor in your 700 if you keep it, to better match the higher revs of the 5.3. Something I have still yet to do with mine.
Gee, sounds exactly like my combo currently. 5.3/700r4. Or more correctly stated for 1991, 4l60 (no "e"). Here's the quick statement. If you have drive by cable, run the 700. Get the bowtie overdrives Vortec truck tv cable kit. I say Vortec, because they have a kit for the LS car intake (LS1 from a C5 vette or 4th gen Camaro). There is a difference.
If your 5.3 is a Drive by wire setup, look for a 4L60e. Best place is where you are getting the 5.3 from in the first place. Still, if you are dead set on the 700 and picked up a DBW 5.3, just get a cable throttle body from a 99-02 5.3 or 6.0 and run it. Just make sure your tune is set up for it.
Gearing is the same if it's a 700r4, 4L60e, 4L65e or 4L70e. All are derivatives of the 700. I didn't change governor and haven't noticed a need to either. My 5.3 is dead stock, no cam or any trickery. So my results might vary from others.
If your 5.3 is a Drive by wire setup, look for a 4L60e. Best place is where you are getting the 5.3 from in the first place. Still, if you are dead set on the 700 and picked up a DBW 5.3, just get a cable throttle body from a 99-02 5.3 or 6.0 and run it. Just make sure your tune is set up for it.
Gearing is the same if it's a 700r4, 4L60e, 4L65e or 4L70e. All are derivatives of the 700. I didn't change governor and haven't noticed a need to either. My 5.3 is dead stock, no cam or any trickery. So my results might vary from others.
I just ran up against the same kind of issue but in my case my 700R4 has cracks on the tail housing so I am boned and going to have to get a new (to me) trans no matter what. If you know your unit is good or recently rebuilt I'd use it and buy the TV adapter like mentioned above but if you have any question about your 700R4 you can get probably get a far better deal on a lm7 and 4l60e setup that is already together with the ECU compared to the cost of rebuilding your 700R4 (unless you got a good buddy rebuilder hookup). You'll still need to get an adapter from Advanced adapter to mate the 4l60E to your transfer case (due to a change in the mounting flange on the 4l60e but in the grand scheme it's going to save you time, and you can won't have to worry about whether the engine is dbc or dbw. You'll spend a little more on the Advanced Adapters Tcase adapter than the bowties TV cable adapter (by about 80 - 90 bucks I think i.e 290 total) but the 4l60e had a lot of accumulative OEM upgrades since the original 700R4's that makes it a better trans, plus a tuner you can adjust some of the settings. That adapter from AA will give you a place for the VSS to go to the ECU input and still allow you to retain your old fashioned cable driven speedo off the T case, but then again if you go with the 700R4 you can still get a unit from AA that splits your cable and adds a VSS inline (for the ECU, again) so all is not lost.
FWIW DBW with the 4l60E will allow you to hook up cruise from the ECU with the wiring from the steering stalk and you will no longer need any of the vacuum controlled parts under the hood to make it work , so you can kind of clean your firewall off and your engine bay of a little scrap chevy metal
.
FWIW DBW with the 4l60E will allow you to hook up cruise from the ECU with the wiring from the steering stalk and you will no longer need any of the vacuum controlled parts under the hood to make it work , so you can kind of clean your firewall off and your engine bay of a little scrap chevy metal
.
