LS swap with stock trans

[Rooney77]

Has anyone here put an LS in front of the 727? If so, how'd you handle the kickdown cable?

I have a free to me 2004 6.0 I'm researching to swap into my 81 cherokee. I know the 4l60e would be a better choice, to some, but it's also a much more expensive choice. I'm hunting a 4l60e and tcase but if I don't find an affordable one soon I'll be going with the 727.

[wiley-moeracing]

or bolt up a turbo 350 /400/ 700r. these are cheap and easy to find.

[Rooney77]

or bolt up a turbo 350 /400/ 700r. these are cheap and easy to find.

What would that gain me? A th400 has basically the same ratios as a 727 and it would require a new tcase and possibly an axle swap depending on tcase.

[80Limited]

I have a 5.3 bolted to an AW4. I have yet to drive it, but the adapter was expensive. I have yet to run it an work the bugs out of it. I made a bracket for my TV cable to attach to my accelerator pedal. I don’t know about the kick down mount. There should be something that hooks to the TB.

[Rooney77]

[QUOTE=80Limited]I have a 5.3 bolted to an AW4. I have yet to drive it, but the adapter was expensive. I have yet to run it an work the bugs out of it. I made a bracket for my TV cable to attach to my accelerator pedal. I don

[Rooney77]

I'm also curious if the stock radiator is up to the task.

[80Limited]

I don't know about the kickdown mount. You could try a Lokar cable and hook it to the throttle body. Other than that I don't know. Since your 6.0 is "drive by cable" it is a lot easier to figure something out.
My 5.3 is "drive by wire" so thats why I had to rig the Throttle Valve cable to the pedal. I'm hoping this works for me, if not back to the drawing board.

[Rooney77]

I don't know about the kickdown mount. You could try a Lokar cable and hook it to the throttle body. Other than that I don't know. Since your 6.0 is "drive by cable" it is a lot easier to figure something out.
My 5.3 is "drive by wire" so thats why I had to rig the Throttle Valve cable to the pedal. I'm hoping this works for me, if not back to the drawing board.

Mine is dbw as well and your solution is pretty much what I figured I'd do.

Edit: not sure why my previous quote didn't work. I dig the aw4 and feel it's under appreciated.

[80Limited]

Ah ha! The 2004 slipped my mind, sorry. Maybe something a long the lines of what I did with a cable kickdown instead of the linkage might work. It is a lot of work for trial and error. I hoping the geometry and travel is the same with the pedal verses the carb.

I am going to try to use my stock radiator in mine, since it's only a year old. I don't see why it wouldn't work. I just cut up my old hoses and bought a couple different angle ones to make it work.

[80Limited]

I had the AW4 in my 80 and didn't want to get rid of it so if it works I might do an XJ or something down the road.

[Rooney77]

Ah ha! The 2004 slipped my mind, sorry. Maybe something a long the lines of what I did with a cable kickdown instead of the linkage might work. It is a lot of work for trial and error. I hoping the geometry and travel is the same with the pedal verses the carb.

I am going to try to use my stock radiator in mine, since it's only a year old. I don't see why it wouldn't work. I just cut up my old hoses and bought a couple different angle ones to make it work.

Awesome news on the radiator.

For the cable, I've read that it's supposed to be a 1:1 ratio of range of movement you just have to have the initial position set right. But that's for the 727. I'm unsure about the aw4.

[wiley-moeracing]

those trans will bolt up with out expensive adapters and having to figure out the kick down cable, that's what it will give you.

[babywag]

yes but using chevy th400 or 700r4 will almost certainly require driveshafts/mounts and possibly other things.

the ls engine adapter leaves current trans./xfer case/driveshaft(s) expenses off the table. While expensive probably cheaper than swapping trans. as well.

[wiley-moeracing]

Agree, but it may be cheaper and easier also. He will have costs no matter which way he goes, nothing is free or cheap.

[Rooney77]

Agree, but it may be cheaper and easier also. He will have costs no matter which way he goes, nothing is free or cheap.

Very true.