LS conversion and speedomiter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
LS conversion and speedomiter
For those that have done or are working on a LS swap with a 4l60E Transmission how are you dealing with the lack of manual speedometer gear on the Transmission.
I have found that you can purchase a new tail shaft that has both the VSS and manual from
http://www.shiftworks.com/tailhousing.htm#t56
But they are very proud or the tail shaft. 500.00 +
I have found that you can purchase a new tail shaft that has both the VSS and manual from
http://www.shiftworks.com/tailhousing.htm#t56
But they are very proud or the tail shaft. 500.00 +
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 730
Likes: 37
From: Catoosa Okla
Yup. Aware of that. I was kinda hoping you had came up with an alternative. My tach was mechanical on my 74. That was a project getting it converted to electronic AND keeping the number stencils looking the same between tach and speedo. Unless a cheaper alternative is found, we both may be sheeling out 500 bucks for a 25 dollar sandcast with some milling work
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Yup. Aware of that. I was kinda hoping you had came up with an alternative. My tach was mechanical on my 74. That was a project getting it converted to electronic AND keeping the number stencils looking the same between tach and speedo. Unless a cheaper alternative is found, we both may be sheeling out 500 bucks for a 25 dollar sandcast with some milling work
I keep trying to find another company that is making them. I think 250.00 would be reasonable but 500.00 ouch.. I don't need it right now but would like to have this off my list...
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
From: FRANCE (Lyon)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
I have done a little research. Putting a Manual Speedometer adapter where the VSS sensor is then adding a VSS kit might be the way to go.
Advance adapters sells a VSS kit that can be installed. I have a email into there tech department. The adapter kit is 250.00
The manual speedometer adapter appears is a direct fit into the 4l60E where the present VSS is located the adapter for the speedomited is 39.00 on ebay
http://www.advanceadapters.com/produ...-output-shaft/
One Plus for the shiftworks solution is they take your tire size and diff gears and have it all set up so you should not need to mess with getting the speedometer being correct.
Advance adapters sells a VSS kit that can be installed. I have a email into there tech department. The adapter kit is 250.00
The manual speedometer adapter appears is a direct fit into the 4l60E where the present VSS is located the adapter for the speedomited is 39.00 on ebay
http://www.advanceadapters.com/produ...-output-shaft/
One Plus for the shiftworks solution is they take your tire size and diff gears and have it all set up so you should not need to mess with getting the speedometer being correct.
Last edited by Tim 1973; Feb 18, 2014 at 01:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Jags That Run have some parts for installing both a cable drive and a VSS sensor into the tail of the transmission. Here is an example of one of the parts they make to mount both the gear and reluctor onto the tail shaft.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Feb 18, 2014 at 06:16 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The Shiftworks kit looks to add a 40 pulse reluctor like factory so I'm not sure how they compensate for rear gears or tire diameter.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I use a Cable-X box but Dakota Digital just announced their version of the Cable-X:
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd886.htm
They charge $300 for their box. I forget what I paid for my Cable-X but I bought it on ebay from a guy who listed it both as a Buy-It-Now and an auction. I bid the minimum in the auction and won as the only bidder.
Seems like the biggest difference between the two products is the calibration. I calibrated my Cable-X with a GPS and it is very accurate. The Dakota box uses some other form of calibration than DIP switches.
Rick B.
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd886.htm
They charge $300 for their box. I forget what I paid for my Cable-X but I bought it on ebay from a guy who listed it both as a Buy-It-Now and an auction. I bid the minimum in the auction and won as the only bidder.
Seems like the biggest difference between the two products is the calibration. I calibrated my Cable-X with a GPS and it is very accurate. The Dakota box uses some other form of calibration than DIP switches.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Jags That Run have some parts for installing both a cable drive and a VSS sensor into the tail of the transmission. Here is an example of one of the parts they make to mount both the gear and reluctor onto the tail shaft.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
I will take a good look at this when I get back from our local corvette meeting.
Thanks for the link...
Tim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
I use a Cable-X box but Dakota Digital just announced their version of the Cable-X:
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd886.htm
They charge $300 for their box. I forget what I paid for my Cable-X but I bought it on ebay from a guy who listed it both as a Buy-It-Now and an auction. I bid the minimum in the auction and won as the only bidder.
Seems like the biggest difference between the two products is the calibration. I calibrated my Cable-X with a GPS and it is very accurate. The Dakota box uses some other form of calibration than DIP switches.
Rick B.
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd886.htm
They charge $300 for their box. I forget what I paid for my Cable-X but I bought it on ebay from a guy who listed it both as a Buy-It-Now and an auction. I bid the minimum in the auction and won as the only bidder.
Seems like the biggest difference between the two products is the calibration. I calibrated my Cable-X with a GPS and it is very accurate. The Dakota box uses some other form of calibration than DIP switches.
Rick B.
I will take a look at this solution, but I'm leaning toward having the manual drive cable and VSS on the transmission.
Tim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Jags That Run have some parts for installing both a cable drive and a VSS sensor into the tail of the transmission. Here is an example of one of the parts they make to mount both the gear and reluctor onto the tail shaft.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_4...uctorRing.html
Look around on the site, they have other similar parts too. They're cheaper but you have to tap the sensor right into the case instead of getting that adapter piece. But then the part above also gives you the tab to hold the speedometer drive gear in place. The tailshafts of the 4L60e transmissions generally don't have the hole for the speedometer gear clip.
Here's another link with a different but similar setup.
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Spe...tor.html#clamp
I believe to run a speedometer gear adapter you need a 700R4 tailpiece or maybe an older 4L60e one.
Thanks so much... Just got my list together.. for about 150.00 I will be set. The speedometer adapter is not listed but will look some more... Its available on ebay... This is what I have been looking for and I will
pass it on to others..
Tim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
What lionelhutz posted does the same thing, where the stock R wheel is located on the 4l60E you insert the old style adapter then you add a R wheel on the shaft but save about 350.00
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 730
Likes: 37
From: Catoosa Okla
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
The speedometer does not touch the PCM in the shift works solution its a direct cable. Now the VSS does go through the PCM but has no impact on the reading on your cable driven speedomiter. The shift works picture does not show it well but spent 30 min on the phone going over how there's works.
Last edited by Tim 1973; Feb 19, 2014 at 10:09 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Yes, I can see what it does. 
Pretty much the same thing as the JTR parts I linked too. The kit mounts a gear and reluctor onto the output shaft and the new tailshaft housing has holes to mount both the VSS sensor and the mechanical cable drive. You tell them rear gear and tire and they give you the mechanical drive gears you need so the speedometer works but the PCM still requires setup to match.
Pretty much the same thing as the JTR parts I linked too. The kit mounts a gear and reluctor onto the output shaft and the new tailshaft housing has holes to mount both the VSS sensor and the mechanical cable drive. You tell them rear gear and tire and they give you the mechanical drive gears you need so the speedometer works but the PCM still requires setup to match.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Yes, I can see what it does.
Pretty much the same thing as the JTR parts I linked too. The kit mounts a gear and reluctor onto the output shaft and the new tailshaft housing has holes to mount both the VSS sensor and the mechanical cable drive. You tell them rear gear and tire and they give you the mechanical drive gears you need so the speedometer works but the PCM still requires setup to match.
Pretty much the same thing as the JTR parts I linked too. The kit mounts a gear and reluctor onto the output shaft and the new tailshaft housing has holes to mount both the VSS sensor and the mechanical cable drive. You tell them rear gear and tire and they give you the mechanical drive gears you need so the speedometer works but the PCM still requires setup to match.
But instead of 150.00 using JTR for kit and purchasing old style speedometer gears and drilling/tapping one hole When I do this I will write it up with links and part numbers it takes to complete the mod. the alternative is 500.00 to (shiftworks) No mater what way you go you are still removing tail housing. 4 bolts..
Thanks for all the input and links.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Lots of people will find your write-up very useful since the pictures and info are rather lacking on the JTR site.
I was real close to using the JTR parts but then put a Dakota Digital dash into the car instead and ran the tach and speedometer right off the PCM.
I was real close to using the JTR parts but then put a Dakota Digital dash into the car instead and ran the tach and speedometer right off the PCM.