FWD 4T65E/60E/45E Converter

[1988GTU]

Last week I was in a conversation about torque converters and one of the persons happened to be a multi-experimental type of person that said it would be possible/financially feasible to use a tc from a supercharged 3800 into a drivetrain that uses 60*v6. I debated it over bring up fitment issues in regards to bellhousing clearances along with flexplate to pump spacing. I am aware of bolt pattern differences, but that is easily solved and is not the main concern.

So what I would like to know is if it's true that a 4T60E and 4T65E torque converter could be interchanged with a 4T45E and 4T40E? If so, what needs to be addressed (if anything other than bolt pattern correction) to make it fit/function correctly?

Does anyone have any concrete information to support this topic? I guess if I had the specs and measurements of those torque converters I'd be able to answer the question.

[HOYS]

http://www.idatc.com/

Some good information on that site, but not everything.

I know you can use a 4T65ELD (Light Duty non HD) converter in a 4T45E. Remember that 65LD's came with 60 deg's in W bodies (Impalas, Montes).

[robertisaar]

there are 245 and 258mm torque converters in the 4T65s, some 3800s got the 245 as well, but it was mostly 3100/3400 applications.

[Schmieder]

I got a 4t60e TC sitting in my basement and a 4t60e wideopen in the garage alley covered up. I can make some measurements if you want. Or I could stick the TC into the trans bell housing and take a pic. Atleast you could see the clearances for the stock TC in the 4t60e.

May I ask, what is the reasoning behind this workshop madness? haha, If it's just to make two things work together when they were designed otherwise...cool.....I like s*** like that.

[1988GTU]

I got a 4t60e TC sitting in my basement and a 4t60e wideopen in the garage alley covered up. I can make some measurements if you want. Or I could stick the TC into the trans bell housing and take a pic. Atleast you could see the clearances for the stock TC in the 4t60e.

Nah dont worry about it right now. I am going to see if a few contacts have this info on hand for me after my work permits me enough time to do so.

May I ask, what is the reasoning behind this workshop madness? haha, If it's just to make two things work together when they were designed otherwise...cool.....I like s*** like that.

That is exactly it. It's one of those "Because I can" type of scenarios.

[1988GTU]

From a physical test fit the 3800 tc rubs the case of the 45E.

[1QUICKHATCH]

don't forget that the converter will pull away from the bell housing a little when bolted to the flex plate.

[1988GTU]

It doesn't work with the 45E. BUT there is hope with the 245mm size tc's. Looks like some really quality units can be had for sub 300.00US pending the specifics.

More to come.

[1988GTU]