Hey everyone,
Right now I have a 71 with a 350/TH 350 combo.
My friend just put a LS6 in his 2002 Camero. Which opened up his LS1 for a good price (because we found minor cracking in the block around the head bolt area. We did run a compression test, and it tests out fine). I am considering this option and going with an overdrive transmission as a winter project. I would like a four speed, but I believe a 700R-4 is more in my budget. My question is........... what transmission would you recommend on an extreme (on the low end of course) budget? What are the modifications I'm looking at? PS~I'd buy the carborater kit for the LS1 for budget and wiring reasons.

If you are using the LS1 you would not believe how much you would like the fuel injection and a 4L60E. There are several places to get simple wiring for the LS1 in your car. Some are pricey but there are a couple on ebay that are reasonable. The driveablity and mileage are a definite plus.:thumbsup:

I would definatly look into the fuel injection. I haven't worked all the numbers out yet. The only reason I was leaning to carb was that there is no fuel rail or intake on the LS1 now. It was all moved over onto the crate LS6. I've got time to make my decision, thats why I'm starting this post earily. So what would be the major advantage of a 4L60E? I see on the internet the two combined like this. 700R4/4L60E. I'm a beginner, so I'm attempting to gather as much info as possible.

you will need a 4l60e from an ls1 eng. because the bolt pattern is different

Well that is a definative point I didn't know. I guess that begins my quest for a decently priced 4L60E auto. Now I need to ponder the electronics. I could really confuse people with a carbed LS1.
This is the point you really start to think "if I do this will I get any money back out of it"
In your opinion does switching out a crappy 350 to an LS1 add a decent amount of value?
I wish I would have just bought a 71 with the work done, but I probily couldn't have afforded it. There is a reason I ended up with a 350/TH350 combo I guess.

you can use the 700r4.we make a special height converter for this purpose and no mounting bolt at the 12 oclock position on the bellhousing

Could you give me more details please?

The LS1 crank doesn't protrude as far from the back of the block as a conventional SBC. So you must use an adapter and different flexplate or a custom converter to use the older design transmissions on it.

The LS1s also use a 6 bolt bellhousing pattern design, but the bolt that is normally at the 2 o'clock position if viewed from the rear of the block, passenger upper hole, isn't there, so GM use the top of the bellhousing for the 6th hole.

If you use an older transmission with the LS engines, you will only be able to use 5 bolts.

Using a 700R4 with an ls1 would be like putting a propellor on a jet engine. Use the 460 or 480LE! Bolts right up and you already will have the required computer gear if you have the LS1 running.

Thanks guys, I'll keep all this in mind during my hunt for parts and driveline combos. I just want to break even with added car value for money of components I put in.

the only real difference between a 700r4 and a 4l60e are the electronic shift controls, electric speedo sensor, and the lack of a tv cable on the 4l60e.
a good chunk of the load bearing parts inside are the same- but the stuff that has been upgraded drops right into a later 700r4 case.
is there any reason why a 4l60e LS1 torque converter can't be used in a 700r4 to allow an easy bolt up?
if you do run the LS1 with a carb, you still either need to get an MSD ignition control to fire the stock LS1 coils, or get the GMPP front cover that allows the used of a small block Ford distributor. in either case, you are gonna spend $500 or more to get the parts to get it going. at that price range, the efi setup starts to look a little better, doesn't it?

I agree with the EFI looking better. If the cost of EFI is only a few hundred more I will eat it up. I've basically been attempting to figure out the cost of updating the tranny right now. I've just got too many options. This LS1 is almost a free-bee to me though, so I want to grab it up, just my funds are low to make it mate up with my car.