Hey all, In the throws of rebuilding the entire car and about to button up the engine in the 81. I decided to change the carb and distributor, but remembered that the ECM also controlled the TCC lockout. I think I know where the grounding wire is for that, under the center console, but does anyone here know if the ECM will continue to deploy that lockout function when all the carb and distributor sensors are gone?

And if not, does anyone know a workaround for that using that ground wire?

By the way, these are the parts I believe I will go with if anyone has any better recommendations, im all ears.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-1406?rrec=true
Or....
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pqx-4228331
And....
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pro-66941r

Thanks in advance for your time

 

Rebuilding the entire car?

Here's what you want. A completely mechanical solution! A bit more expensive, but it will add value to your car.

https://www.shiftsst.com/tremec-tkx-...-corvette/p248

 

Yes, other than the interior which is near 100%, anything else that holds oil, grease or has bolts, has been removed and replaced with as many non-GM perf parts as possible so far. I plan to go with the Edelbrock injection sometime next yr, but for now I am just trying to get it back on the road before it sits for another winter here.
And yes, the trans toss-up at the moment is either the easy route, 2004R, or the Tremec. But before adding more to my work load, right now Im more interested in knowing if the current ECU will continue to run the Torque converter, or if there is a work-a-round for that. As I intend to shake the car out for a bit with the T350 that's still in it.

 

you can add a simple lock up switch for the th350c if you choose to have lock up... will run without it just won't lock up, the 1980 uses the same transmission with a vacuum switch on the firewall that runs through the break switch... just needs a 12v source... if the current trans is just going to be replaced in the near future im not sure I would go through too much concern with lock up.

 

To me it's a no brainer. Forget about the fuel injection, carb/distributor swap, and definitely don't even think about the 200-4r swap. As Bikespace recommended and me, Tremec TKX all day long! The CCC feedback carburetor/EST distributor ain't the best system in the world but a 200-4r i even worse.

 

The problem seems to be. Your running a automatic transmission in a sports car!
lose the automatic. Put in a real transmission.
Problem solved.

 

this gets old but no surprise from the source... the guy who thinks his opinion is the only one.

 

With everything else bypassed, I don't think that ECU will operate correctly. You could manually control the transmission lockup, but it will run without it, and without the ECU.

Perhaps I misunderstood what rebuilding the entire car means. There is no better time to install the clutch pedal than when the engine, transmission, and possibly dash and steering column are out of the car. Heck, you could do the pedal swap (and add a hydraulic clutch MC, if you choose that route), and just have it ready for when you do the swap.

If you want to get some miles this year, don't waste a dime on a transmission. The 200R will not make your car more fun, because interstate highways are not fun. Put the TH-350 back in if you must, and wire up a manual lockup. Or better yet, don't. It won't really matter, and I can prove it. I've done the experiments! YMMV if you don't live near fun mountain roads in Virginia, where I do not need overdrive, and often don't even see 4th gear (1:1).

I had a 79 L48 with the TH350. Beautiful car, fun to drive. That transmission is dogshit.

My 80 L48 4-speed is, no exaggeration, one million times more fun to drive than my 79. Basically the same engine, improved suspension, most of the difference was the manual transmission.

My C5 Z06, with twice the HP, is about twice as much fun to drive as my 80, but it also has AC, and it's been really gross this summer.

So, as @Fly skids up! also pointed out, do the TKX swap first.

I pulled the TH350 out of my 79, and sold it to a guy on Facebook who promised to blow it up on a drag strip. Good riddance. The 79 is getting a TKX. If you absolutely have to put the automatic back in, get an aftermarket high-stall torque converter. That is an honest, serious recommendation, backed up by numerous threads on this Forum, and it will let you at least somewhat enjoy your car.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for that Bikespace, Unfortunately I never opted to remove the short block or the TH 350 yet because of all the other work ive been feverishly trying to get done before winter to test and tweak, mostly frame, suspension mod, brakes, cooling, and engine top end. And no, as I said, I wont touch the interior because it's oddly, perfect for the age, but definitely original. I seriously considered the TKX, as I used their older version in many other sports cars and race cars that ive built for myself and others, and $$ is not an issue at all, it was the added work involved for my time-frame. That said, if this project gets stretched out through this winter, then yes, I will do the TKX. As for the TH2004, I've also used them in their HP versions in cars meant for just cruising as I expect this vette to be used for, although I didn't put them in those cars. I have another car that costs more than most homes which is a handful to drive on the edge even for someone like myself with allot of seat time racing. So this vette is not meant for that, for me anyway, because here in this massive Western State, unless im up in the Rockies, it's mostly straight line driving; which for the most part sucks when driving the 812.

By the way, for anyone else wondering about how to use the 2004R or 700, I did find this - https://www.topflightautomotive.com/...700r4-th200r4/