calling all rebuilders, what is the diffrents between 4l60E and 4l80E
12-28-2009, 01:08 PM
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calling all rebuilders, what is the diffrents between 4l60E and 4l80E I have a question for all the rebuilders out there, what is the diffrents in rebuilding a 4L60E compared to a 4L80E. What I mean is if I can rebuild a 4L60E can I do a 4l80E are they real diffrent inside or just beefer parts? Any info would be great. thanks
12-28-2009, 02:23 PM
#3
Many of the people that do it for a living had a lot of trial and error with the 4L80 rebuilding it shouldn't cause any issues but making it to handle power would be another story and you won't get any help on here if you make it to handle more than it's stock capabilities.
12-28-2009, 03:25 PM
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I have done many turbo 400 for racing and 350's, plus some 125 front wheel drives. Just getting started learning the 4l60e's but have 10 trucks with the 4l80E in it and have replaced 4 units so far. I want to do them in house instead of sending them out like I use to. I guess i am a cheap.
. My car has a 4l60E in it and when it needs to be replaced I will get one from a proforma, or FLT. I can't proformace build one that will last. But I can do a stock build.
. My car has a 4l60E in it and when it needs to be replaced I will get one from a proforma, or FLT. I can't proformace build one that will last. But I can do a stock build. 
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12-28-2009, 07:51 PM
#8
however the 4l80e does have two bands.They are really two totally different transmissions. Both of which do require specialty tools if you are going to build them and do a good job. The 80 is much like a 400 however the valve body is much different IMO and then there are the end plays and parts interchangeability to deal with. To me a transmission is what it is. Just parts right? As mentioned above trial and error is what makes good builders what they are. I can build anything but knowing the ins and outs of what makes them last is the key. I would suggest getting a manual and if you are destine to do it yourself I wish you the best of luck. Vince
12-28-2009, 08:23 PM
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You sound like an expert however the 4l80e does have two bands.
They are really two totally different transmissions. Both of which do require specialty tools if you are going to build them and do a good job. The 80 is much like a 400 however the valve body is much different IMO and then there are the end plays and parts interchangeability to deal with. To me a transmission is what it is. Just parts right? As mentioned above trial and error is what makes good builders what they are. I can build anything but knowing the ins and outs of what makes them last is the key. I would suggest getting a manual and if you are destine to do it yourself I wish you the best of luck. Vince
however the 4l80e does have two bands.They are really two totally different transmissions. Both of which do require specialty tools if you are going to build them and do a good job. The 80 is much like a 400 however the valve body is much different IMO and then there are the end plays and parts interchangeability to deal with. To me a transmission is what it is. Just parts right? As mentioned above trial and error is what makes good builders what they are. I can build anything but knowing the ins and outs of what makes them last is the key. I would suggest getting a manual and if you are destine to do it yourself I wish you the best of luck. Vince
12-29-2009, 07:58 AM
#11
maybe this will help-i have done a handful of 350's and 400's, i mean very few, ATI is 30 mins away, so was easier to let them do it rather than me take 2 weeks trying to do one
when i put the LS engine in my chevelle, i orig used a 400, but wanted a 4l80e-a guy at a chevy dealer offered me a 2004 unit for $150 if i took it right then, so i brought it home, bought 2 books off ebay how to rebuild one, bought a Kent Moore 4th clutch tool(actually only 1 of the 3 pieces) and took it apart, layed it out in a row, replaced all the bushings, thrust washers, steels, clutches, seals, etc-had to borrow a bushing driver set for the ones i didnt have, used an hd-2 shift kit (orig built it as a man shift, but didnt work out, so the hd-2 kit) their are some minor upgrades to do to help them,
but i have been running mine for over 6 months, made a bunch of 1/4 mile passes in the 10's, so if i can do it, you def can, lol
i did buy the comp 3 pieces for the 4th clutch, but was able to do it orig with the 1 piece and some hard plastic, like a glass bead tear off and trans grease to compress both seals-i ck'ed all the clearances during assemb., so i didnt just replace parts and slam it together-now the guys that do it all the time, they know tricks to make them live, burnt clutches seem to be a problem
hope that helps your decision
when i put the LS engine in my chevelle, i orig used a 400, but wanted a 4l80e-a guy at a chevy dealer offered me a 2004 unit for $150 if i took it right then, so i brought it home, bought 2 books off ebay how to rebuild one, bought a Kent Moore 4th clutch tool(actually only 1 of the 3 pieces) and took it apart, layed it out in a row, replaced all the bushings, thrust washers, steels, clutches, seals, etc-had to borrow a bushing driver set for the ones i didnt have, used an hd-2 shift kit (orig built it as a man shift, but didnt work out, so the hd-2 kit) their are some minor upgrades to do to help them,
but i have been running mine for over 6 months, made a bunch of 1/4 mile passes in the 10's, so if i can do it, you def can, lol
i did buy the comp 3 pieces for the 4th clutch, but was able to do it orig with the 1 piece and some hard plastic, like a glass bead tear off and trans grease to compress both seals-i ck'ed all the clearances during assemb., so i didnt just replace parts and slam it together-now the guys that do it all the time, they know tricks to make them live, burnt clutches seem to be a problem
hope that helps your decision
12-29-2009, 10:49 AM
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now that is what I was wondering if you can lay it out and follow the book. Trush me I know I can in no way build like a race trans from FLT but I think I can get it right for a service truck. Thanks for all the info from all.
12-29-2009, 08:11 PM
#13
You are absolutly right I am NOT an expert and I should know better considering I have one apart in my basement.
It does have two bands and they are easy to take out.
In fact the whole tranny is SO simple to break down in to the major pieces.
With no experiance and no book this took me less then two hours with zero special tools.
It does have two bands and they are easy to take out.
In fact the whole tranny is SO simple to break down in to the major pieces.
With no experiance and no book this took me less then two hours with zero special tools.
Last edited by Aaron91RS; 05-02-2010 at 06:53 PM.
12-29-2009, 08:16 PM
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You are absolutly right I am NOT an expert and I should know better considering I have one apart in my basement.
It does have two bands and they are easy to take out.
In fact the whole tranny is SO simple to break down in to the major pieces.
With no experiance this took me less then two hours with zero special tools.
It does have two bands and they are easy to take out.
In fact the whole tranny is SO simple to break down in to the major pieces.
With no experiance this took me less then two hours with zero special tools.
12-30-2009, 07:44 AM
#16
Looks like you have most of it apart. The special tools will be for the clutch drums,pump and teflon seals. Also if you are going to install new bushings you will have to find a way to remove them and also something to press them back in. As I said above in order to do a thurow job there is a bit more to it than just taking it apart and replacing what is broke. I do not build like that so to me it is more of a patch job then a rebuilt if this is how some of you guys are doing it. Good luck with the trans. Vince
12-30-2009, 09:08 PM
#17
Looks like you have most of it apart. The special tools will be for the clutch drums,pump and teflon seals. Also if you are going to install new bushings you will have to find a way to remove them and also something to press them back in. As I said above in order to do a thurow job there is a bit more to it than just taking it apart and replacing what is broke. I do not build like that so to me it is more of a patch job then a rebuilt if this is how some of you guys are doing it. Good luck with the trans. Vince
There are many things I am willing to work on but a transmission is not one.
12-31-2009, 07:45 AM
#18
lol, gotta agree with Vince-taking it apart is one thing, getting it back together is another-esp if you didnt keep track of all those thrust washers
a couple good books for these things is the ATSG manuel, and i found another one, GM 4L80E Rebuild Procedures by Cliff McCormick
i lost a lot of bids on Ebay trying to buy 4th clutch tools, then scored a bargain on the 4th clutch and all the sizing ones, kind of shocked me i got the bid, and it was Kent Moore, not the aftermarket junk
Transgo makes the seal kit with the "snap together" seals if you dont have the sizing stuff, although you can get around it
a couple good books for these things is the ATSG manuel, and i found another one, GM 4L80E Rebuild Procedures by Cliff McCormick
i lost a lot of bids on Ebay trying to buy 4th clutch tools, then scored a bargain on the 4th clutch and all the sizing ones, kind of shocked me i got the bid, and it was Kent Moore, not the aftermarket junk
Transgo makes the seal kit with the "snap together" seals if you dont have the sizing stuff, although you can get around it
12-31-2009, 12:20 PM
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thanks guys for all the info and when I take the core one apart I will let you guys know how it go's. Vince is right I am just doing a repair to the truck trans not a complete rebuild...I don't have all the tool's or the know how. Thanks all.
12-31-2009, 01:49 PM
#20
A shop here in Lauderdale has been doing them for the past 3 years or so into F-Bodies. 800 RWHP sc'ed T/A, a few ~700 sprayed F-bodies and some others.
As mentioned above, it takes some special stuff. This guy builds tranny's for 6-7 drag cars as his primary business. He builds/fabricates his own heavy duty parts for his 4L80E street/strip tranny's. They will hold 1,000 RWHP for a descent amount of time.
Just gotta know what the fugg your doing and be able to make your own one-off parts, which he does. I think he told me last year that one of his built TO THE HILT 4L80E's is about $4,000...and he does all the PCM tuning and installs. Plus warranties if he installs and tunes it.
As mentioned above, it takes some special stuff. This guy builds tranny's for 6-7 drag cars as his primary business. He builds/fabricates his own heavy duty parts for his 4L80E street/strip tranny's. They will hold 1,000 RWHP for a descent amount of time.
Just gotta know what the fugg your doing and be able to make your own one-off parts, which he does. I think he told me last year that one of his built TO THE HILT 4L80E's is about $4,000...and he does all the PCM tuning and installs. Plus warranties if he installs and tunes it.
