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| | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 2,286 Likes: 153 veteran | veteran Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 2,286 Likes: 153 | Welcome to the site vamxr636,
That's a good question. I do not know whether a 700R4/4L60 will bolt up to an '80's era 454. I think a clandestine search of the BBC Chevy performance sites is in order.
The THM700-R4 shows as available from 1985, alongside the THM400
I have a 1990 G30 454 with a TH400 also, with a 3.42 Dana. How low, (numerically,) can you go? Ha! Cheers!
| | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 2,286 Likes: 153 veteran | veteran Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 2,286 Likes: 153 | Hey vamxr636, So, just found this treasure trove of information on the Turbo 400 to 700R4 Overdrive Tranny swap. they also mention the 480lE http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/113088 | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 14 stranger | OP stranger Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 14 | I have the B&M cast aluminum +2 transmission pan and a transmission temp sensor/gauge kit from autometer that need to be installed and 4.5 gallons of Lucas sure shift to flush it with and brand new deep pan acdelco filter. A new 4l60e is expensive. An additional cooler will be added before any heavy towing is done, I will be redoing the rear end but it will be to accommodate the tire and rim conversion ( going from 235-75 r15 to 235-85 r16 Michelin xps rib). I'll have to shorten the differential gears one size to keep speedo correct, I do like my gearing where it is. The level of acceleration is acceptable as is the economy. The only performance mod left is the electric fan conversion but I have concluded that I do not want to run the risk of overheating the transmission on the chance that the transmission is working hard and the fans shut off, leaving no airflow so that has been postponed until the painless dual fan controller and additional transmission cooler with fan is in the budget. Bilsteins, hellwig helpers, sway bar bushings have helped handling tremendously but there aren't any descent truck tires in 15". Linex did an undercoating, TST I believe, quieted down the ride and will keep rust problems to a minimum. K&N reusable oil filter, I swear by those things. Love them on the bike or van. If I plan of using the hell out of a vehicle then I get one for it. Lucas 30 plus, highest zinc content of any street intended motor oil and with factory flat tappet cams it helps with engine noise considerably. I did an under drive pulley on the motor as well. I have looked into a 4l80e (painless does a harness for that conversion) and even a NV4500 manual conversion but 4l60e's are good transmissions as long as they aren't abused or overheated. They have lower parasitic drain than a bigger transmission and have a taller over drive ratio (.7:1 vs .75:1). The addition of a transmission temp gauge will assure I don't inadvertently overheat it. The most noticeable thing I did was the exhaust. Cat delete with flowmaster scavenger Y 2.5 into 3 and a super 44 in the back. The family van gets lots of looks, lol. Huge difference in performance. Rarely downshifts to get up hills and gets the hot exhaust out from under my hood sooner.
1995 GMC Vandura G2500 High Top Explorer Conversion 2013 Harley Davidson XL1200V
| | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,593 veteran | veteran Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,593 | My 90 350 is basically stock except for a k&n filter, and long tube headers to 2.5" pipes and Thrush welded mufflers... running a turbo 400, 4.10 gears, and being around 6,000 pounds, mileage is nothing to write home about (glad it's got the 33 gallon tank though)...
I'm planning to pull out a Vortec (96-02) 350, and 4L60 or 80 out of a junkyard express van... I know the 80 is a HD trans, but the 60 is plentiful in many other models, and my van will never be towed with, I just need an OD for long hauls to truckins...
My van was originally built with 3.73 gears, but doing calculations from Summit's website or the TREMEC app, someone has swapped in 4.10's... I have considered looking at the same express vans to see if any rear gears are 3.73...
As far as running the newer Vortec, the heads are far superior to the TBI heads, and run with a roller cam - i have also been looking at Summit's Eagle brand 383 stroker kit - and have the block and heads checked for cracks and straightened out... | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Aug 2021 Posts: 95 Likes: 14 journeyman | journeyman Joined: Aug 2021 Posts: 95 Likes: 14 | Welcome to the site vamxr636,
That's a good question. I do not know whether a 700R4/4L60 will bolt up to an '80's era 454. I think a clandestine search of the BBC Chevy performance sites is in order.
The THM700-R4 shows as available from 1985, alongside the THM400
I have a 1990 G30 454 with a TH400 also, with a 3.42 Dana. How low, (numerically,) can you go? Ha! Cheers! All Chevy transmissions will bolt up, the only difference in bell housings are the BOP bell housings (Buick, Olds, Pontiac) and even then a 700/4L60 was never made with a BOP Bellhousing. Coming from Oldsmobiles to a GMC van I'm like a kid in a candy shop. The sky is the limit... The only question is what size, what fuel, how much horsepower... 5.9L Cummins anyone? | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 185 member | member Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 185 | My 1993 G20 currently has a stock 305/4L60e combo and I've never been impressed with it. It struggles going up the slightest hill, but is ok on straight ways. It's getting some miles on it now (230k) and works good as highway travel vehicle. What are my options at this point for the drivetrain? Thanks for the advice. | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 18,286 Likes: 558 | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 18,286 Likes: 558 | See put a 454 in it .... 14 mpG on the freeway up hills or down ... motor doesnt work near as hard as a 350 to do the same thing. 11 in town. Whats your 305/350 get ? 11 freeway and 9 in town?
Last edited by frscke1; October 20th 2021 2:30 pm. Reason: G
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 veteran | veteran Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,290 Likes: 137 | 14 mph on the freeway up hills or down So you're the guy I've been honking at to do the darn speed limit! | | | Re: What is your most beneficial power train upgrade? | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 18,286 Likes: 558 | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 18,286 Likes: 558 | 14 mph on the freeway up hills or down So you're the guy I've been honking at to do the darn speed limit! OOOPS 14 MPG You cant catch me ....lol
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB | | |
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