Automatic swapping a manual C3500?
Posted by Coffee_Extension@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 9 comments
I want to swap my manual to an automatic transmission in my 93 Chevy 3500. What are the best ways to get that done in this specific truck?
GoonDawg666@reddit
I gotta ask, why?
Fakeone040@reddit
An auto swap isn’t a big deal at all.
Find a 4l80e, flexplate, and torque converter out of another obs Chevy. Junkyard, parts truck off of marketplace, whatever you can find.
You’ll need an aftermarket transmission controller. All they usually need is power and ground, and TPS signal. Get someone’s universal TPS or a breakout connector.
You’ll need to either shorter your driveshaft or get a new one made I don’t know lengths on the 4l80e vs nv4500. If the parts truck you pull the trans from has the same wheelbase as what you have, you can just take that driveshaft.
I don’t get the hate in the rest of the comments. Maybe this truck is super minty and he wants to keep it. Maybe it was grandpas and he grew up in it. I get selling is easier but if you’ve got a good truck with a known history I don’t see the sense in getting rid of it for someone’s mystery truck. If you’ve got some rotted piece of shit then yeah dump it and buy an auto.
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
Find a 700r4. Depending on engine it’ll bolt right up. You’d need a TCM and an ECU though. Lot more work than it’s worth. Looked at doing a 4BT/auto swap for my old frontier (now sold) and the shops were quoting me like $25k with like three months of lead time because they weren’t sure how they were going to integrate the transmission electronics into the truck.
Fakeone040@reddit
A half ton transmission in a one ton truck sounds like a bad idea.
The 700r4 doesn’t need an ecu or tcm. They operate using a tv cable. The truck would never know it had a new trans if using a 700r4 and going from a manual trans.
Ponklemoose@reddit
Might be cheaper to just buy a second truck and drive whichever one suits your mood.
If the truck has serious sentimental value and you really can't drive a manual, you'll want to buy a donor truck for all the stupid little pieces you'll need to swap: computers, steering column, rug, shift linkage, wiring harness. And then spend a stupid amount of time swapping things or a stupid amount of money paying someone else to do it.
RustBeltLab@reddit
Are you a little slow son? Sell your manual truck, buy nicer auto truck for less money, pocket difference.
MCXL@reddit
Absolutely don't do this. Just sell the truck and get a truck with an auto.
salvage814@reddit
Find some one who wants to manual swap theres and just trade trucks.
totaltomination@reddit
Short some really compelling reason to keep a particular vehicle, sell it and buy an auto with the money is the best way to this swap. There'll be someone looking for a manual for sure, so it'll go for a premium over an auto and quick then you can find yourself the nicest auto on the market and pick that up