Anyone regret your 4L80E swap
10-15-2008, 03:42 PM
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Anyone regret your 4L80E swap I'm leaning on the fence now on what I want to do...a built 4L60E or a 4L80E swap....I hear lots of '60E builders say they build one that can withstand high HP but I want something that I know for sure won't break because this will be my DD for my 3 mile commute...planning on a Procharged 383 (650+ RWHP). What are your guys opinions? Any regrets? And FOR SURE, will the LT1 PCM NOT control the 4L80E, just the 99+ PCMs??
10-15-2008, 06:29 PM
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If you're going to modify the power levels, I would go with the 80. I just finished my swap last week. It wasn't that bad, laborwise. I've only logged about 300 miles on the setup, so I can't speak of the longevity of the setup. But it's nice having piece of mind that I have a stronger transmission in place.
I weighed the pros and cons of a built 60 vs 80 as well. It seems that people are still breaking built 60s, and it would be my luck to be one of those guys if I went that route. Also, for the price of a built 60 I could do the 80 swap with a used tranny, so that's the route I went.
I've heard you'll need a stand alone unit to control the tranny with the LT1 PCM, but I'm no expert on that so don't take my advice.
Good luck with everything.
I weighed the pros and cons of a built 60 vs 80 as well. It seems that people are still breaking built 60s, and it would be my luck to be one of those guys if I went that route. Also, for the price of a built 60 I could do the 80 swap with a used tranny, so that's the route I went.
I've heard you'll need a stand alone unit to control the tranny with the LT1 PCM, but I'm no expert on that so don't take my advice.
Good luck with everything.
10-16-2008, 09:15 AM
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But would that mean I would have to take out the trans and have it freshened up every year? If so, that wouldn't work out, this would be my DD.
10-16-2008, 09:20 AM
#7
I had years of trouble out of "built" 4l60's. I probably have 4-5k in my 4l60, including the initial $2k+ to make it a "stage 4". 4l60's hold up for a while, but are nothing compared to a 4l80. At ~550rwhp and 600ft lbs on the spray, no 4l60 held up for more than about a year.
My new combo should be 500-550rwhp on motor, and i play to spray an additional 300 to it. I knew there was no way a 4l60 was even an option. I ended up doing a 4l80. Once you see the difference in clutches, internals, etc, you will never consider a 4l60 again.
That being said... i have had problems out of my 4l80, but they all have to do with the "full manual" Trans Go kit i had put into it. Had i just went with the TCI Controller box, i imagine it would have been painless.
Go for the 4l80. Building a 4l60, is like throwing money into a 10bolt... you may be able to spend enough money on it to get it to hold up for a while, but why even mess with it when you can get a 9".
My new combo should be 500-550rwhp on motor, and i play to spray an additional 300 to it. I knew there was no way a 4l60 was even an option. I ended up doing a 4l80. Once you see the difference in clutches, internals, etc, you will never consider a 4l60 again.
That being said... i have had problems out of my 4l80, but they all have to do with the "full manual" Trans Go kit i had put into it. Had i just went with the TCI Controller box, i imagine it would have been painless.
Go for the 4l80. Building a 4l60, is like throwing money into a 10bolt... you may be able to spend enough money on it to get it to hold up for a while, but why even mess with it when you can get a 9".
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10-16-2008, 10:53 AM
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It does feel a little slower than it did with the 60 in it, but I think that is more attributed to going from a 4k stall to a 3600. Once it's in the power band it feels pretty much the same.
10-16-2008, 11:13 AM
#9
A 60E can take the power your looking to make. It needs to be done by the hands of the right builder. I have 150 passes on mine this year and about 8,000 street miles.
I will be pulling it looking to freshen but not because anything is wrong or not functioning. I will be pulling it because we have 6 months of snow and its worth it for me to take a look, and get it ready for another 150+ passes next year.
Talk with our sponsors, they can make a 60E capable of what u need.
I will be pulling it looking to freshen but not because anything is wrong or not functioning. I will be pulling it because we have 6 months of snow and its worth it for me to take a look, and get it ready for another 150+ passes next year.
Talk with our sponsors, they can make a 60E capable of what u need.
10-16-2008, 11:30 AM
#10
A 60E can take the power your looking to make. It needs to be done by the hands of the right builder. I have 150 passes on mine this year and about 8,000 street miles.
I will be pulling it looking to freshen but not because anything is wrong or not functioning. I will be pulling it because we have 6 months of snow and its worth it for me to take a look, and get it ready for another 150+ passes next year.
Talk with our sponsors, they can make a 60E capable of what u need.
I will be pulling it looking to freshen but not because anything is wrong or not functioning. I will be pulling it because we have 6 months of snow and its worth it for me to take a look, and get it ready for another 150+ passes next year.
Talk with our sponsors, they can make a 60E capable of what u need.
10-16-2008, 11:30 AM
#11
I've had 3 different built 60's and 1 built 4L65E behind my setup, and killed them all. It's just a transmission that won't last. The 80's are alot more heavier duty..but they are also alot heavier of a Transmission as well.
I decided to go to a T56 cause I got tired of the Auto, but if I was going to stay Auto, I would have put in a 4L80E.
I decided to go to a T56 cause I got tired of the Auto, but if I was going to stay Auto, I would have put in a 4L80E.
10-16-2008, 11:40 AM
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I see everyones point for one or the other...as said by Frost, my time is important. If the tranny does fail, I don't want to have to take it out, send it off to be rebuilt, and wait around because this will be my DD. I plan on building everything so it is reliable and won't break as easily...I also understand with those power levels, reliability is pretty much a crap shoot. Though I'm considering the fact that the 4L60E *might* be good enough to handle it, but has a greater chance of failure to a 4L80E that just won't break (for the most part).
10-16-2008, 11:56 AM
#13
I see everyones point for one or the other...as said by Frost, my time is important. If the tranny does fail, I don't want to have to take it out, send it off to be rebuilt, and wait around because this will be my DD. I plan on building everything so it is reliable and won't break as easily...I also understand with those power levels, reliability is pretty much a crap shoot. Though I'm considering the fact that the 4L60E *might* be good enough to handle it, but has a greater chance of failure to a 4L80E that just won't break (for the most part).
For ever 4l60 success story you read (and i guarantee these are the guys with the $2500-3k 4l60's, it isn't cheap to build one right), you will find 10 more guys who **** out their built 4l60 in a short amount of time.
A stockish 4l80 will hold more power than the best 4l60's. Its actually CHEAPER to go with the 4l80. Other than weight and a bit more power loss, i challenge people to give ONE good reason not to go 4l80.
10-16-2008, 04:05 PM
#16
lol at all the people in this thread with 60-e problems...and none of them make the power to kill a properly built one...including me...i have one...been running 570hp through an auto (about 650 though a 6 speed?) for almost 2 years now with over 400 passes on it...not a single problem yet...car runs 6.40' in the 1/8 at 108
10-17-2008, 12:20 AM
#17
Yep, I never hear people complaining that they overbuilt with an 80E, but I sure have seen people bitching and moaning about rebuilding their 'Good for 600rwhp' 60E's, for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th times!
Jim
Jim
10-17-2008, 05:53 AM
#18
I agree with DeltaT, I'm changing over from a six speed to a 4l80 ,because all i read on here that the 4l60e has nothing but problems, with HP, not every body, but most . And on the 4l80's its about the weight and cost. In the long term ,the cost and down time its worth the weight of the 4l80.
10-17-2008, 06:27 AM
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I agree I have a stage 3 4l65e with over 800hp to the tires I eat them 65s for lunch and dinner tired of putting then in an out,builder has fixed it and its gotten better as far as lasting but I have had enough of the BS glad its not a DD,and i will not suffice not having the overdrive so its def 4l80 for me.Now id say 600-700 would be a long time before theyd break the setup I have ,anything more forget it.
