My LX450 is getting an LS - LQ4 with 4L60E (1 Viewer)

[MMaxim]

I only followed recently, so I am not sure what was done, or how it was done.

1. I would short the connectors to check bulb/wiring. All those t-case wires are not part of the swap and should have been retained.
2. Sounds like a transmission issue. Are you not in park/neutral when switching 4H <-> 4L?

Appreciate the response!
I retained all of the TC wiring and it is all plugged in. Center Diff locks when I put it in 4L (checked with 4 wheels off the ground).
I am in Neutral when switching to 4L and it grinds and refuses to go into 4L, but I do not force it. I can put it in 4L withiut issues if I kill the engine and put transmission in N.

 

[PNWGERMAN]

Hello, Mud!

This is time for me to throw my hat in the LS swap game.

This is my 1996 LX450 that I had since 2019.

View attachment 3673815

Purchased it with 168,000 miles in need of TLC and maintenance. At 180,000 I had a blown HG but decided against the LS swap at that moment. It was my daily driver and I wanted it on the road as quick as possible. I knew the swap will take much longer and will be way more expensive. HG job turned into a bit more than just a HG replacement, and I ended up decking the block, resurfacing the head, cleaning and lapping the valves, honing the cylinders, installing new rings, regasketing everything. The engine has been awesome for the last 15,000 miles, no complaints at all. It will be for sale soon!



I am a big fan of LS engines and always wanted one in my rig. This brings me to the current time.

Engine I am using is an LQ4 out of 2005 Express Van. Unlike truck LQ4s it had DBC throttle body. Transmission is a 4L60e that I chose for the lower 1st gear.

Initially I planned on using the engine as-is with a small cam/springs upgrade, but I noticed something in the #7 cylinder with the bore scope that didn’t look right. When I removed the head I found some strange damage/scoring on the thrust side. That triggered a full rebuild (block bored 0.030 over for new pistons, new rings, cam, rod and main bearings, heads resurfaced, cleaned, valves lapped, etc.) I have a new engine now and can actually call it 6.0L, and not 5.96L!

LQ4
Cylinder #7
View attachment 3673827

Rebuild Completed

View attachment 3673832
For the transmission I went with a core out of a 2008 2WD Silverado that lost 3rd gear. I rebuilt it myself with upgraded parts, shift kit. It should be good for the power I am planning to put through it.

4L60E
Almost completely assembled
View attachment 3673851

So at this stage I have engine/transmission Marks adapters, engine management ready. Almost all other parts are lined up as well.

This will most likely be a slow moving process, I barely have 4-5 hours a week to get this done. I am determined to finish this in 3 months and hopefully, contribute to this group.
Here we go!
View attachment 3673858

Nice Z car! One of my dream cars.
Good luck with the swap. Looks and sounds like you got the skills and tools to do it right.
I'm working on an LS swapped Jeep DJ5 project right now. Old postal delivery Jeep. Hoping to put an LS in my wife's LC80 in the next few years.

 

[NeverFinis]

Appreciate the response!
I retained all of the TC wiring and it is all plugged in. Center Diff locks when I put it in 4L (checked with 4 wheels off the ground).
I am in Neutral when switching to 4L and it grinds and refuses to go into 4L, but I do not force it. I can put it in 4L withiut issues if I kill the engine and put transmission in N.

1) Ok, I had to go back and review the wiring diagram. I am using the LX450 EWD. IL1 = IH1 on the Toyota EWD.

You need to replicate the P/N switch, which was housed in the Toyota transmission.

I have to look at what I did (if I did it..) when I work on the truck next. I am using SwapTime's muscle car module which provides P/N output when my 6l90 is in those positions. The 4L60e should have something that produces a P/N signal.

I should have made a power relay that was activated via GND ( Relay pin 85) from the SwapTime's muscle car module and a 12V ignition source (Relay pin 86).

Relay 85: Park/Neutral Triggered GND
Relay 86: 12V ignition source
Relay 30: IL1 pin 21
Relay 87: IL1, pin 15


2) Does it still grind when the transmission is in Park rather Neutral? If not, you might have an issue with your transmission rebuild.

 

[MMaxim]

1) Ok, I had to go back and review the wiring diagram. I am using the LX450 EWD. IL1 = IH1 on the Toyota EWD.

You need to replicate the P/N switch, which was housed in the Toyota transmission.

View attachment 3791066

I have to look at what I did (if I did it..) when I work on the truck next. I am using SwapTime's muscle car module which provides P/N output when my 6l90 is in those positions. The 4L60e should have something that produces a P/N signal.

I should have made a power relay that was activated via GND ( Relay pin 85) from the SwapTime's muscle car module and a 12V ignition source (Relay pin 86).

Relay 85: Park/Neutral Triggered GND
Relay 86: 12V ignition source
Relay 30: IL1 pin 21
Relay 87: IL1, pin 15


2) Does it still grind when the transmission is in Park rather Neutral? If not, you might have an issue with your transmission rebuild.

I have wired the P/N switch on my 4L60 to work with my ignition so it will only start in P and N. So that is done.
Need to do more testing on the grinding. Didn't grind today.

 

[MMaxim]

Nice Z car! One of my dream cars.
Good luck with the swap. Looks and sounds like you got the skills and tools to do it right.
I'm working on an LS swapped Jeep DJ5 project right now. Old postal delivery Jeep. Hoping to put an LS in my wife's LC80 in the next few years.

Thank you! Good luck with your projects!

 

[MMaxim]

A little update.
Have been driving for about 2 months now, and have done a few snow-wheeling day trips. Really happy with the swap! Everything works as it should and there is plenty of power. Really like the lower first gear of 4L60! Works well for snow.

Pretty much the only problem is the shifter. FJ80 unit I have have too much play in it and each position is a little uncertain. Works fine for now, but I would prefer more positive feel. Need to see if I can replace the spring inside the shifter with a stronger one.
Other than that I am very happy!

 

[MMaxim]

More testing, and I am running out of things to fix!
Developed a small leak at the transmission cooler where the high pressure lines connects. A quality clamp should take care of that.

On the picture below you can guess who was breaking a trail!