Pre VE 6 Speed Auto Conversion

[VT&VX]

Drive by the dragstrip like that, V16 is such overkill

 

[90TTZ]

In full swing! L76/4L65E next to soon to be installed LSA/6L90E. While the 6L90E is overall about 50mm taller, a lot of it is at the bottom. The extension housing on the 4L65E is about 5.5" longer than the 6 Speed so the tailshaft will need to be lengthened and also the front tripod swapped to a VE/VF V8.

Got a few bits and pieces to swap over such as the sump, engine mount brackets, valley cover and rocker covers. Some of the front driven accessories will need to be changed over as well since the AC compressor and PS pump pulleys will not align to the VE/VF configuration. The crank pulley from the L76 will need a key way cut to fit onto the LSA crank too.

 

[Lex]

In full swing! L76/4L65E next to soon to be installed LSA/6L90E. While the 6L90E is overall about 50mm taller, a lot of it is at the bottom. The extension housing on the 4L65E is about 5.5" longer than the 6 Speed so the tailshaft will need to be lengthened and also the front tripod swapped to a VE/VF V8.

Got a few bits and pieces to swap over such as the sump, engine mount brackets, valley cover and rocker covers. Some of the front driven accessories will need to be changed over as well since the AC compressor and PS pump pulleys will not align to the VE/VF configuration. The crank pulley from the L76 will need a key way cut to fit onto the LSA crank too.

Hi
Put in electric power steering pump (astra) , and while your at it add a electric water pump. (I've ordered a 130 L/M Craig Davies EWP.
I only have a vt v6 auto & l'm in the process of doing these 2 mods at the moment.
Waiting for parts to come in doing some mods while l wait for parts.
(I'm bored).
https://forums.justcommodores.com.a...ra-electric-power-steering-on-a-vy-ss.255811/

 

[90TTZ]

Well as suspected, it does fit! It's close but it is now in its new home.

Have moved the transmission breather hose from the left to the right side as it would squash against the trans tunnel.

The LSA needed a few things swapped over to sit in a frame it wasn't originally designed for. This includes the engine mount brackets and sump with the dipstick hole in the block plugged up. The LSA sump has a really nice integrated oil cooler that unfortunately can't be used in this project so I'll look into a remote air cooled unit at a later date. Swapped over the valley plate as the LSA cover has a PCV line as well as the LSA rocker covers having raised points for the coil pack brackets.

I've also measured up the tailshaft and it comes in at 135mm too short. The front tripod has to be swapped out for a GTS unit to mate up to the 6L90 slip yoke (yes it is different to a 6L80 yoke). Going to source one down then visit my local driveshaft specialist to get the necessary mods.

 

[90TTZ]

Got in touch with Jesse at True Blue Motorsport in Pennsylvania. What a top guy! Extremely helpful and very optimistic about getting my project working. After some deliberation we decided to use his standalone solution to allow the T43 TCM to communicate with the various analogue signals that derive from the ECM rather than patch directly into the CAN Bus. It will also accommodate tap up/tap down shifting and has other outputs for vehicle speed and reverse lights. Providing this works we're looking into a solution that will see these transmissions work behind ANY engine in ANY vehicle!

Have also fabricated a cross member for the trans and got the tail shaft lengthened by Driveline Services in Acacia Ridge. As for the front Tripod, trying to source a tailshaft from a wrecked GTS proved to be quite difficult as the tripod used on the 6L90 has larger diameter holes and the recess will not accommodate the donut coupling from a naturally aspirated LS. So I bought a 6L80 and swiped the slip yoke from it and got a cheap tailshaft from a 6 cylinder BF Falcon (yes it's the same as the Holden V8 tripod!) and used it as the donor to modify the tailshaft for the Crewman. I bought the 6L80 for another reason apart from the slip yoke. The standalone controller from True Blue Motorsport will not work with the later model TEHCM's (some point in 2010 forward) so I'll also be swapping the TEHCM from the 2007 6L80 with the unit from the 2014 6L90.

 

[VT&VX]

these transmissions work behind ANY engine in ANY vehicle!

Sounds like it will happen sooner than I thought.

 

[90TTZ]

Thought I would give a little update, well actually it's a big update, it works!!!! The TBMSport standalone system essentially wires into the necessary signals at the ECM and the module handles sorting them out for the CAN Bus so the transmission control module can read them.

The difference is outstanding! Off the line response is where this transmission comes into it's own. With such a short first gear ratio the car feels like it lost about 200KG compared to the lethargic long haul of the equivalent gear of the 4 speed. Before the swap I could never get the tyres to lose traction. With the now lower compression engine and camshaft suited for forced induction this engine is making less power than the L76 I removed yet the tyres light up with ease with the A6 from a standing start. Acceleration is superb and the shifting is smooth and light under part throttle and super swift and sharp under WOT conditions. I've put some 3000KM's on it thus far and hasn't skipped a beat with a good mix of highway and city driving in the middle of Summer. Hands down far better than a diff ratio change!

I'm in the process of moulding in the shifter with the centre console from the VF so it has that out of the factory look and will post up pics once I'm done.

 

[Lex]

Hi
I looked at your thread yesterday, wondering how the upgrade was going. Glad it came together successfully.
I've been thinking of doing this mod for a few years now, since seeing the thread (haven't a clue where l first saw it) on my v6 vt commodore. But really didn't think l would do it. I thought of doing lots of things to my car, but didn't really think l would, but l did, got bored, & glad l did.
2 of the mods l did was going electric power steering pump & electric water pump with computer control.
I really noticed the extra get up & go with the electric power steering. Also better on fuel economy.
When telling the insurance company , they said thats ok as long as it wasn't a performance upgrade. HA HA HA l didn't mention that.
Are you able to give estimates on completing the 6 speed auto upgrade?
Thanks
Anyway just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done.

 

[_R_J_K_]

Are you able to give estimates on completing the 6 speed auto upgrade?

Apart from the fact he changed the engine at the same time to do it, VT V6 and a VZ LS are a totally different bag of fish. The 6 speed auto (either 6 or 8) won't bolt up to an Ecotec and the VT doesn't have the canbus system he utilised, so the cost to him and the cost to you will be totally different. It would likely cost more than the VT is worth, and would probably be cheaper to just buy a VE that already has a 6 speed in it.

 

[90TTZ]

Actually _R_J_K_ that's not quite correct. The system I used does not interface with the VZ CAN Bus whatsoever. The TBMSport standalone is essentially an Analogue to Digital Converter. In my conversion I have spliced the necessary wires from the standalone module into the ECM wiring harness which is common to all EFI engines going back to the 80's.

As you have indicated, the main challenge of bolting up a GM A6 to another engine apart from an LS is the bellhousing which can be manufactured or modified. The once what was thought impossible task of interfacing the A6 TCM has been opened far and wide!