What Transmission should I use for an LS Swap?

One of the most common questions we get during LS swap projects is:

“What transmission should I use?”

And the answer is — it depends on the vehicle and the LS engine you’re dropping in.

-For Silverado Pickup Trucks

If you’re working on a Silverado and planning to run a 4.8L or 5.3L LS engine, you can usually stick with the stock 4L60 transmission. It’ll handle the power just fine in most daily driving setups.

However, if you're upgrading to a 6.0L or 6.2L LS, we strongly recommend switching to a 4L80 transmission. Pair it with a quality torque converter to handle the extra power and torque. Otherwise, you risk blowing up that 4L60 — and nobody wants that.

-For Camaros

Camaros are usually a bit more forgiving. Most newer models come with 4L80, 6L80, or even 10L80 transmissions from the factory. These are stronger units that can typically handle larger LS engines with minimal modification.

-Bottom Line

For trucks especially:

Ditch the 4L60, and go with a 4L80 if you're running anything bigger than a 5.3. It's the safer bet for long-term reliability and performance.

I'm Dale from Autoplex Auto Service, where we do LS swaps the right way — every day.

See you soon in the shop.