BBC in a K10

[84chevk10]

Got a 84 K10 that someone put a early model 350 in. Engine needs gone through, compression is down and it doesn't have enough power to hardly pull the truck empty. I have a fresh stock rebuild .030 over 454 with a small Lunati cam, Mark IV, so figured I could stick this in it cheaper than a complete rebuild on the 350. Truck has a 700R and 3.08 gears so the 454 is probably needed. The trans is the only worries I got considering what I've heard about the 700. Don't know the mileage on it, no telling. I have a 78 truck ps pump, will the high pressure line work or is it the O ring type? Any advice from someone that's done it? Fooled with BBC's for years in my drag cars, just never put one in place of a sb in a 4x4 truck.

 

[austinado16]

There are a ton of high performance parts for the 700R4/4L60. You can build (or have built) as strong a transmission as you like. Check the Raptor, or bowtieoverdrives websites for details.

 

[74 Shortbed]

Talk to Dana at Pro-Built Automatics.

https://www.700r4l60e.com/

 

[glockholiday]

That'd be an awesome setup. 454 with overdrive.

 

[74 Shortbed]

That's what I'll be putting in mine..

 

[84chevk10]

Thanks, ordered the parts last night to finish up the 454. Got to come up with pulleys. That sounds good on the headers, I got a set of new hedmans for a 72 chevelle.

 

[84chevk10]

On the header comment, someone on another site told me he had used the early 70's chevelle headers on several truck builds. I have a set of new headmans for a 72 chevelle so that'll at least help.

 

[Camar068]

did any of the 4l60's come "beefed up" from the factory? Or did they just give it another model such as 4l65 etc etc?

 

[74 Shortbed]

The 4L60 is a 700R they just renamed it after the upgrades through the years, they are not "beefed up", just reliable stocker.

 

[HotRodPC]

I'd do one of 2 things. I'd either convert the 700r4 to a Th350 using the adapter so you can keep the same driveshafts, Tcase, crossmember locations etc.

Orrrr, I'd drop the gear ratios in both axles to 4.10s, even 4.56's if you don't have to change carriers to do so.

It's not a matter of the 454 having enough torque to make the thing move, it's a matter of the 700r4 surviving. The 3.08 gears are going to put a strain on the 700r4.

 

[CSFJ]

The 4L60 is a 700R they just renamed it after the upgrades through the years, they are not "beefed up", just reliable stocker.

I had heard it became the 4L60 when they became electronically controlled.

 

[74 Shortbed]

I had heard it became the 4L60 when they became electronically controlled.

That is the 4L60E which came out after it was renamed 4L60, same tranny just electronically shifted.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yep, it was simply renamed after GM changed up the way they model #'ed their transmissions to make sense. Upgrading had nothing to do with it. All the transmissions changed names. Turbo 350 was already out of production when this was done or it would have been named 3L60. Turbo 400 was renamed to 3L80, 700r4 to 4L60. Turbo 125C which is a FWD transaxle with lock up converter beceame 3T40. Things like Grand Prix's and Impallas get the 4T60-E. The newer way makes sense. First digit is the # of forward speeds, the L is for Longitudinal Orientation as in for Rear Wheel Drive, T would be for Transverse or Transaxle orientation usually in FWD applications, then the last digits is the torque strength designation. 40 being for a 4 cyl small cars, 60 being for mid to full size cars and 1/2 ton trucks, 80 being 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. The -E designates Electronically controlled. So it's nothing more than renaming but nothing to do with changing models or upgrades. Just so happens there was changes and updates made every year on 700r4/4L60 up until about 90, maybe even every year up until it became an E model and even then changes were still made on 4L60-Es. Good part is, alot of the updates made in the tunnel with drums, sprags, roller clutches, planetaries and all that, even in the 4L60-
E is backwards compatible in the 700r4's back to 1985 or so after the spline couunt on the input shaft was updated.

 

[bucket]

On the header comment, someone on another site told me he had used the early 70's chevelle headers on several truck builds. I have a set of new headmans for a 72 chevelle so that'll at least help.

I used Hedman's that were meant for a Nova, not sure if they are the same, but they fit great. Shifter linkage needed slightly tweaked with the th400, you may have troubles with a 700r4 linkage.

And the small block power steering hose should work. New ones are really cheap too.