1995 fzj80 5.3/4l60e/np203/splitcase swap

[Mr.Bryan]

Well, after a little bit of research;

There may be a few options, if I can somehow replace the speedo gear in the 60 case with a tone ring, I may be able to create an adapter to put the vss on that. Other options are jagsthatrun.com; they seem to have a bunch of parts to retrofit vss plugs into a bunch of different things. I may be able to put the vss off the back of the 60 case. Not positive on how, I'm going to call monday and see if I can get some info or at least a point in the right direction. Stupid electronic crap. Shoulda went 700r4.

 

[rockrod]

do the 60 cases use an electronic vss or are they cable drive? it doesn't matter where you get the signal from, but somehow, you have to be able to tell the pcm how fast the truck is going, or the trans won't shift out of 1st gear.

other options? 700r4 or maybe a full manual shift valve body. even if you went with an aftermarket trans controller, you still have to get a vss to it.

is there a spot on the 203 adapter where you can drill a hole larger enough to accept the gm vss and have it read the stock tone ring? I have seen a few people do this.

At any rate, here's a few pics to give you an idea of where to position it in relation to the 203 adapter:

On this last pic you can see the vss sticking through the hole in the marks adapter. notice that it's slightly tilted in the mount - this would later prove to be an issue when i first drove my cruiser - the trans would not shift because the sensor was not picking up the signal. It's that critical for the 4l60e to shift.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Yea, I'm going to make a few calls Monday. Marlin sells an adapter that looks like it make work from the 60 case and AA has a universal that may work as well.

Side project, helton heat exchanger for hot showers!

 

[My4x4FJ40]

Hey Brian,

Are you using a 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive 4L60 the 4wheel drive does not have the tone ring at the tail shaft like the 2 wheel dr does. I had to get a clamp on tone ring from AA and I may have it fingered out how to set it up a buddy at a machine shop is going to drill and tap a hole in the adapter to use the GM vss for me next week and I will let you know how it works out The part # on the AA tone ring is 716074 a pic of it is below. As far as I know you can not put the vss in the t-case because in low range the trans will not shift right, the PCM compensates for that in the factory set up. Does the adapter between you trans and t-case look like the one pic below.

I hope this helps out.

thanks
lee

If you want to call me my # is 423-743-9233

 

[My4x4FJ40]

Here is the vss that I'm using and the guy at the machine shop is going to cut the lip off and cut the threads up to the nut so it can be screwed in futher to set the gap at .010

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Nice. Let me know how that works out. I have that same adapter and looks like I'll be doing the same thing if that works.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Interesting thought, what about using the tone ring and sensor from the abs ring in the hub?

 

[rockrod]

that might work if you can convert the signal to something the pcm will recognize.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Wouldn't the signal be the same? The pcm would just need to know how many teeth per revolution right? If I could make that work, holy crap would that save a bunch of work.

 

[rockrod]

most certainly. You would have to 'step' up' the count by the gear ratio in the axle.

have you called jags that run to see what they say? I know they make some VSS devices that will work with a cable driven speedometer. They might be able to save the day with a custom one. A buddy of mine did this with a ford engine swap.

 

[My4x4FJ40]

I have no ideal what the tooth count is on the ABS ring but the VSS is 40 teeth and the air gap has to be the same. But if you want to use a adapter for 203 you can spend 252.00 for the AA adapter plus the factory 203 front adapter and you are good to go, but why spend 252.00 when you don't have to and have less adapters to work with. Here is a set up the another guy is using but I'm going to use mine off road and think mud would have a affect on it. but that's just my opinion.lol

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Haven't spoke to jagsthatrun yet. Calling them today. Ideally if I could do a sensor that just took place of what was in the 60 case, that would work the best, but if that is going to screw up the trans shifting, that's a problem too. The 60case is cable driven. If the pcm is seeing a slow speed out of that, it won't shift out of first I'm assuming. So basically I'd have to mount this somewhere just after the trans?

Jon at psi said the abs sensor would work, but brought up a good point that the speed will change due to turning.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Here's my update on the situation:

There's a few options but from where I'm at now, they start getting $$$.

I spoke with jagsthatrun as well as AA and there's an adapter set that I can buy for $500 that includes the reluctor ring and basically joins the trans to tcase. The big problem is, it may effect my driveshaft length (already had them modified) as well as I would have to modify my crossmember that I already built.

I'm going to try and chase down the idea of drilling and tapping the existing adapter. My uncle owns a machine shop so I'm going to see if he can help me.

The adapter that currently exists apparently is only 1/8th wall, so it may not be enough to get any threads into, but I'm going to see how that works out. I'm thinking if it's too thin to do anything with, then weld a bung into it and go from there.

 

[rockrod]

since the adapter is cast iron, you should be able to drill the hole and then weld a pipe bung to it that will accept the threaded sensor. it doesn't need to be fancy - it just needs to send the signal to the adapter.
you might search on pirate4x4 and see how others have negotiated this issue. it can be done with a little work. that clamp on reluctor ring is the ticket.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

it's an aluminum adapter and I can't tig weld. I may have it figured out though. Lee mentioned cutting back the threads on the sensor which would require a lathe and tap but should be quite easy as long as I can get access to the machine. The sensor is plastic so it should be really easy to do.

I'm going to order that clamp on ring tomorrow.

 

[My4x4FJ40]

Be sure to get the one for the 4wd as the main shafts are different diameters 716074 is the part# I'm all most positive that this is going to work.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Be sure to get the one for the 4wd as the main shafts are different diameters 716074 is the part# I'm all most positive that this is going to work.

Yea, I think I'm going to order it from jagsthatrun as I think the guy mentioned it was 60-70$ as opposed to AA who wanted $200 for it.

I don't see why it won't work, its not a pressurized area, and the sensor doesn't see any stress. Just has to sit there and not move. Pretty simple.

 

[My4x4FJ40]

the tone ring from AA is $55.75 for the ring only you do not need the tone ring kit just the ring 716074 is the part #

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Ordered.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Here's what I got with that adapter off. I'm assuming the reluctor ring clamps on the shiney part right behind the splines?