"E" trannies, do i really need a pcm?

[El-Stupido]

i'm not a noob, its just been too long. right now the tranny shop has my 4spd and since its dated they are having trouble finding parts for it, so im thinking of a 4t6xe , problem is ive heard you need the pcm for the swap. can't i just wire up a 12v micro switch to manualy tell it when to shift up/down?

[brian89gp]

there are 2 shift solonoids and 1 tcc solonoid. The binary combonations of the 2 shift solonoids = the 4 gears. In reality all you need is something to control the solonoids and it doesn't matter much what it is.

[El-Stupido]

crap, like thats 2 systems running my car. wouldn't happen to know the combos would you?

[bszopi]

I do...

GEAR SOL A. SOL B.
1st ON ON
2nd OFF ON
3rd OFF OFF
4th ON OFF

[DarkKnight]

It's more complicated than just 4 solonoids though. It needs to know when to upshift, downshift, lock-unlock, and regulate line pressure. You would have to flip like 5 switches and adjust a pot while driving. I remember reading about a guy devoloping a stand-alone tranny controller, but I forgot where his site was. He had this cool little LED telling him what gear he was in too. I'm not sure, but it seems to me the 4tXXE should be electronically compatable.

[bszopi]

On the early model 60e's, the line pressure is modulated by vacuum still. In fact, from what I have heard, you can entirely disconnect the electrical plug and the tranny will still run fine. May not be "optimized", but it will run fine.

[El-Stupido]

dad works on electronics, he says he souldnt have a problem making a controller that i can tell when to shift up/down. manumatic. but then i hear most auto's dont agree with manual shifting, what kind of prblems would it cause? what cars have the 60e? all i could find were huge cars like caddies and buicks that had a tall final drive, like 2.38 or something lke that.

[brian89gp]

If your dad makes a controller to control the solonoids how is that any different then the PCM doing? Most people who say that usually don't know what they are talking about, the only problems you'll run into is over-revving it and other user error problems. They may be referring to manual shifting via the shifter and not the electronics, which auto's usually don't like all that much.

All w-body's that have a 60e have a 3.33 FDR, the ones with the 3.4 DOHC have a 3.43 FDR. Other makes and model's I don't know.

[Homer]

On 4t60s line pressure is not controlled by electronics, while on 4t65s it is. But it seems that even on a 4t60e where you just have to control shift solinoid A and B, and TCC, that the chance of flipping the wrong switch is very high. Lets say your going 55mph in 3rd gear so A=off and B=off, and you go to turn A "on" to get into forth gear, but you flip b "on" by mistake and you drop down into 2nd gear.

[El-Stupido]

the switching would all be conltrolled by an IC

[Homer]

So what you really want to do is make a trans controller? Where as the PCM is for both engine/trans you just want a ic for just the trans.

[El-Stupido]

exactly, more for the thought that i dunno how the other pcm would operate the tranny without knowing what the engine is doing, rpm, map, etc. its feasable to make a "stand alone" controller if the tranny is willing to shift manualy, should be kinda easy if you know your way about electronics, but will tranny hold up to you being the boss? really i perfer manual (my 4-spd should be done this week, yay!) but there a ton of autos out there and it would be logical that there are more spares for plentifull trannies vs. rare ones.

[bszopi]

Someone already makes a "stand-alone" tranny controller. Too bad it costs ~$2500!!

[El-Stupido]

sick! i could spend that in a million better ways...

[bszopi]

http://www.tciauto.com/electronics/index.htm

It says for the 4L60E, but I am almost positive it could control the 4T60E as well without any problems.

Interesting... guess the price has gone down since it initially came out. Summit is now selling it for $765. Not sure what all that comes with, so you are probably looking at closer to $1k when all is said and done. Still doesn't seem worth it to me.