[Generalyen]

I’ve got an 01 s10 4.3, I want an auto because wheeling in a manual sucks. Has anyone done this swap? From what I can gather I’d need a 700r4 of course, a torque converter, flex plate, auto radiator and cooler lines. Is there anything I’m missing?

 

[bk2life]

I’ve got an 01 s10 4.3

any pics of it?

wheeling in a manual sucks.

depends on the type of wheelin you are doing. i prefer my manual, depending on the terrian

I’d need a 700r4

negative, youd need a 4l60e.\
the easiest and cheapest is to head to your local parts yard and pick up everything you need from there.
youll also need a tune when you are done, so your trans can be turned on in the PCM.
but you are on the right track, trans, lines, wiring, driveshaft, crossmember

 

[cerial]

Easiest and often cheapest is to buy another truck similar to yours(but auto) that has had an accident or failurr not related to the parts you want to use. Then you should be able to move the stuff from one truck to the other.

Most people dont have the room to do this. But if you do it will result in alot of spare parts as well as having (almost) everything you need.

I have tore apart entire trucks selling the parts to get "free" parts on multible occasions. You have time invested. But its often worth it. If you have the time/room.

 

[Generalyen]

The truck is solid axle swapped, that’s why I’d rather go through the trouble of swapping transmissions. I live in Colorado and whe have a lot of rocks which leads to a lot of drive line slack/ jerking, especially when going down hills. I was leaning towards the 700r4 because I wouldn’t need a new pcm and harness. Now if anyone would want to trade for an auto I’d be interested lol.

 

[Gen210]

You need a 4L60e NOT a 700r4.

 

[DougE]

You need a shifter, wiring kit and kickdown linkage. Simple install. Lots of info online.

 

[Generalyen]

Easiest and often cheapest is to buy another truck similar to yours(but auto) that has had an accident or failurr not related to the parts you want to use. Then you should be able to move the stuff from one truck to the other.

Most people dont have the room to do this. But if you do it will result in alot of spare parts as well as having (almost) everything you need.

I have tore apart entire trucks selling the parts to get "free" parts on multible occasions. You have time invested. But its often worth it. If you have the time/room.

Yeah I think your on to something with the donor truck, even if the trans is kinda high mileage it’s not that hard to rebuild a 4L60e.

 

[cerial]

It might be "easier" to do a LS swap and mate that to a dumb TH350/400/700. Run the LS dirty (6 wire and vats delete). TH350/400/700 to a dumb cable/lever or easy to mod solenoid transfer case(or two as a doubler).

What your left with is a full standalone engine, transmission, transfercase(s).


Now. I don't know how this effects emissions/inspections laws in your state. You need to look into this to stay legal. Offroad/track only stuff is becoming tricky depending on the state. Here in Michigan I have minimal restrictions and love it. I respect the environment and other drivers. But, I am glad I dont live in some states where modification on anything (even offroad/track vechicles) is heavily restricted.


I won't go on about offroad restrictions further. Just make sure you fit inside whats allowed in your state.

If your allowed then going full standalone may be for you. Now if your not allowed there are several ways to run a 60 standalone. But I dont know first hand how (if at all) that will effect the 4.3 engine operation.

Now your talking about a big swap here. I would budget around $2500-$4000. To make a lm7,th400,205 swap happen. But the results may be what your after.

 

[Generalyen]

I have strict emissions in Colorado so I’d like to keep the 4.3

 

[oldeerslayer]

If you have strict emissions they'll likely want a trans from the correct year. Hooking up the 700R4's Throttle Valve Cable to your current throttle body would be quite tricky. It's not just a kickdown, it controls the transmissions internal pressure. If it's not set correctly you will fry your trans quickly. It's an art to get the geometry right on a throttle body not designed for one.
The 4l60E is the same basic trans, but it's controlled more precisely by your Powertrain Control Module (puter). Using all stock S10 part. You'd just need it reprogrammed as a truck with a 4L60E. Usually under $100. You'd need to add a trans harness, but the wiring isn't that tricky. You'd just be adding pins where there aren't any now into the computer connectors. They pop right in. Just be careful to put them in the correct spots.
Your 2001 has the famous 0411 computer so there is tons of support for it. I'm sure you can find the wiring diagrams all over on line.

 

[TomA]

The truck is solid axle swapped, that’s why I’d rather go through the trouble of swapping transmissions. I live in Colorado and we have a lot of rocks which leads to a lot of drive line slack/ jerking, especially when going down hills. I was leaning towards the 700r4 because I wouldn’t need a new pcm and harness. Now if anyone would want to trade for an auto I’d be interested lol.

It sounds like the gearing in your axles might be a bit too tall. I do tons of rock crawling, and never have the problems you described. I love wheeling with a manual, and would never trade for an automatic.

I agree that using a 700R4 would be much easier than a 4L60E because the 700R4 is not electronically controlled. It would not technically be legal, but I doubt most smog techs would ever even notice. They might give it some extra scrutiny, though, since it's obviously modified. The techs at the first smog station I took mine to after I put a manual transmission in it spent at least half an hour crawling under it and checking it with a scanner, trying to find something wrong with it. They finally refused to smog it, just on general principles. I've had it done several times since at other places, though, with no issues. It's a risk you have to decide if you want to take.

 

[cerial]

If you have strict emissions they'll likely want a trans from the correct year. Hooking up the 700R4's Throttle Valve Cable to your current throttle body would be quite tricky. It's not just a kickdown, it controls the transmissions internal pressure. If it's not set correctly you will fry your trans quickly. It's an art to get the geometry right on a throttle body not designed for one.
The 4l60E is the same basic trans, but it's controlled more precisely by your Powertrain Control Module (puter). Using all stock S10 part. You'd just need it reprogrammed as a truck with a 4L60E. Usually under $100. You'd need to add a trans harness, but the wiring isn't that tricky. You'd just be adding pins where there aren't any now into the computer connectors. They pop right in. Just be careful to put them in the correct spots.
Your 2001 has the famous 0411 computer so there is tons of support for it. I'm sure you can find the wiring diagrams all over on line.

Wait so the manual has an auto computer thats not doing anything transmission wise?

You dont need an automatic specific computer?

Changing to auto is just plugging in a harness and bolting up the transmission, etc?

Just nice info to know as I plan on buying several 2nd gens eventually (July 2023 goal) to part out/have free parts.

If that was the case the op might be able to just get the harness etc and save lots of dash electrical headaches.

 

[PeteD]

Easiest and often cheapest is to buy another truck similar to yours(but auto) that has had an accident or failurr not related to the parts you want to use. Then you should be able to move the stuff from one truck to the other.

Most people dont have the room to do this. But if you do it will result in alot of spare parts as well as having (almost) everything you need.

I have tore apart entire trucks selling the parts to get "free" parts on multible occasions. You have time invested. But its often worth it. If you have the time/room.

Best advice seen on this type of enterprise and well worth considering

 

[dadmoonbunny]

Don't forget to figure in the differences in mounts, cross members, exhaust routing, wiring routing, etc On my trucks, the manual transmissions have a different rear cross member and flexible mount that the automatic transmission versions.

 

[Generalyen]

My truck has a very modified cross member and exhaust due to the solid axle swap, if I have to make further changes that’s not a big deal.

 

[Generalyen]

Well I think I figured out why I have so much slack in my drive line, my motor mounts are smoked. So much so that the engine and trans shifted back about an inch and snapped off a bolt on my transmission mount. So that’s fun. Has anyone ran energy suspension motor mounts?

 

[TomA]

Has anyone ran energy suspension motor mounts?

Yup. I installed them when I replaced my engine a few years ago. They've been great.

 

[PeteD]

Well I think I figured out why I have so much slack in my drive line, my motor mounts are smoked. So much so that the engine and trans shifted back about an inch and snapped off a bolt on my transmission mount. So that’s fun. Has anyone ran energy suspension motor mounts?

On lotsa stuff. They be good!