Is 4L80 worth the extra weight, or go TH400?
04-18-2012, 07:37 PM
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Is 4L80 worth the extra weight, or go TH400? I know in the long run I need to upgrade. Hell, right now I'am pushing the limits of my 4L60. But I 'am really stuck on which direction. The TH400 is awesome for me because my ride is a street/strip car. And with a few ugrade and you have a 1000 hp ready tranny. But no overdrive!!! I love to drive it in the street when there is good weather. That why I keep rebuilding my 60.
My issue is the 4L80 weighs alot more then a 400.
Is a 4L80 worth it? Or should I just go with a bad *** TH400?
I have a H/C setup with 100 shot of spray, 12 bolt rear with 373 gear.
Car weights 3540 with me in it, which is why i have concerns about weight. I 'am going to add more spray and planning on a single turbo kit in the near future.
My issue is the 4L80 weighs alot more then a 400.
Is a 4L80 worth it? Or should I just go with a bad *** TH400?
I have a H/C setup with 100 shot of spray, 12 bolt rear with 373 gear.
Car weights 3540 with me in it, which is why i have concerns about weight. I 'am going to add more spray and planning on a single turbo kit in the near future.
04-18-2012, 10:54 PM
#4
Do what I did, Built a Turbo 400 that is said to be good for 1000HP and buy a used Gear Vendor with 15,000 miles on it for $500! You cant beat that setup and I am only $1500 into the 400/GV set up!
Joe
Joe
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04-19-2012, 08:28 AM
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The issue with that is cost as well. I forgot to mention i have a 98 f-body. To my understanding my computor will not control a 4L80, I would need an addition controler for the trans for the shift points and everything else. In my case i would have to run a manual valve body just like a 400.
04-19-2012, 10:15 AM
#12
The issue with that is cost as well. I forgot to mention i have a 98 f-body. To my understanding my computor will not control a 4L80, I would need an addition controler for the trans for the shift points and everything else. In my case i would have to run a manual valve body just like a 400.
What PCM?
04-19-2012, 10:20 AM
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The issue with that is cost as well. I forgot to mention i have a 98 f-body. To my understanding my computor will not control a 4L80, I would need an addition controler for the trans for the shift points and everything else. In my case i would have to run a manual valve body just like a 400.
04-19-2012, 12:04 PM
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I was right where you were for the longest time and finally I got the 80e. As stated above gives Jakes a call those guys are awesome and will be able to get you hooked up.
04-19-2012, 02:50 PM
#17
I'm short on time so I'll be brief,
4L80E is ~38 lbs heavier than a TH400, approx 3 and 3/8" longer, fits well in a 4th Gen Camaro and as slow67 eluded, there is a method to use a 98 PCM for auto function.
A GV weigs approx 40 lbs and adds quite a bit of length to the rear of a TH400. 13" additional IIRC. I uused a GV in my personal ride behind a TH400 a few years ago and wasn't impressed. IMO I would rather rebuild a 4L60E once a year than run that combo.
I found the GV to have an unrefined feeling, VERY clunky on downshifts, hard to achieve proper driveline angles, and not what I expected. The GV DOES have it's place. Probably a great piece behind a 4 speed manual in an old musclecar, I know the Monster truck guys use them, and other combos.
Another drawback to the GV is power consumption. They do have an additional pump internally that an OD auto doesn't have.
Hope that helps.
We can help you out with a TH400 or a 4L80E, whatever you decide give us a call.
4L80E is ~38 lbs heavier than a TH400, approx 3 and 3/8" longer, fits well in a 4th Gen Camaro and as slow67 eluded, there is a method to use a 98 PCM for auto function.
A GV weigs approx 40 lbs and adds quite a bit of length to the rear of a TH400. 13" additional IIRC. I uused a GV in my personal ride behind a TH400 a few years ago and wasn't impressed. IMO I would rather rebuild a 4L60E once a year than run that combo.
I found the GV to have an unrefined feeling, VERY clunky on downshifts, hard to achieve proper driveline angles, and not what I expected. The GV DOES have it's place. Probably a great piece behind a 4 speed manual in an old musclecar, I know the Monster truck guys use them, and other combos.
Another drawback to the GV is power consumption. They do have an additional pump internally that an OD auto doesn't have.
Hope that helps.
We can help you out with a TH400 or a 4L80E, whatever you decide give us a call.
04-19-2012, 07:02 PM
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I'm short on time so I'll be brief,
4L80E is ~38 lbs heavier than a TH400, approx 3 and 3/8" longer, fits well in a 4th Gen Camaro and as slow67 eluded, there is a method to use a 98 PCM for auto function.
A GV weigs approx 40 lbs and adds quite a bit of length to the rear of a TH400. 13" additional IIRC. I uused a GV in my personal ride behind a TH400 a few years ago and wasn't impressed. IMO I would rather rebuild a 4L60E once a year than run that combo.
I found the GV to have an unrefined feeling, VERY clunky on downshifts, hard to achieve proper driveline angles, and not what I expected. The GV DOES have it's place. Probably a great piece behind a 4 speed manual in an old musclecar, I know the Monster truck guys use them, and other combos.
Another drawback to the GV is power consumption. They do have an additional pump internally that an OD auto doesn't have.
Hope that helps.
We can help you out with a TH400 or a 4L80E, whatever you decide give us a call.
4L80E is ~38 lbs heavier than a TH400, approx 3 and 3/8" longer, fits well in a 4th Gen Camaro and as slow67 eluded, there is a method to use a 98 PCM for auto function.
A GV weigs approx 40 lbs and adds quite a bit of length to the rear of a TH400. 13" additional IIRC. I uused a GV in my personal ride behind a TH400 a few years ago and wasn't impressed. IMO I would rather rebuild a 4L60E once a year than run that combo.
I found the GV to have an unrefined feeling, VERY clunky on downshifts, hard to achieve proper driveline angles, and not what I expected. The GV DOES have it's place. Probably a great piece behind a 4 speed manual in an old musclecar, I know the Monster truck guys use them, and other combos.
Another drawback to the GV is power consumption. They do have an additional pump internally that an OD auto doesn't have.
Hope that helps.
We can help you out with a TH400 or a 4L80E, whatever you decide give us a call.
04-22-2012, 01:52 AM
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i run a th400 in my car. i had ptc make me a converter with an ls1 front/th400 rear cover, and used my factory flywheel. no adapters, elongating bolt holes or any of that crapp! dropped and bolted right in. Used a bmr crossmember too, which is the absolute best route, beleave me!!!
with the stock 3.23 rear end, it runs abiout 3k at 70mph on the highway. been driving it that way for like 6-7 years now. been on a few road trips even. people are quick to tell you about shitty fuel mileage, but for something that isn't a dd, who cares? i still get about 18mph on the highway at 70mph when i use my cruise. and that is in an h/c car with a 3600 stall converter, and 30lbs svo injectors too
Don't get me wrong, I kinda miss my overdrive a bit. but compared to rebuilding that pos 4l60e all the time, i can do without it!
I will warn you though, expect to loose 5-7 tenths right off the bat just swapping to either trans. The first gear in either of them will soften up your 60' times that much. you really will looose that much, just in the first 60 feet. this is something i didn't know and found out about the hard way
and was greatly dispapointed with when i did mine.
There is however a cure for that now. You can actually replace the 1st/2nd gear sets and get that same gear ratio that the 4l60e had now in your th400 or 4l80e. its north of $600 just for the gear sets depending on where you get them though. this is a must though, beleave me! this is one of my next planned upgrades for sure!!!!!
hope this helped ya....Todd
with the stock 3.23 rear end, it runs abiout 3k at 70mph on the highway. been driving it that way for like 6-7 years now. been on a few road trips even. people are quick to tell you about shitty fuel mileage, but for something that isn't a dd, who cares? i still get about 18mph on the highway at 70mph when i use my cruise. and that is in an h/c car with a 3600 stall converter, and 30lbs svo injectors too
Don't get me wrong, I kinda miss my overdrive a bit. but compared to rebuilding that pos 4l60e all the time, i can do without it!
I will warn you though, expect to loose 5-7 tenths right off the bat just swapping to either trans. The first gear in either of them will soften up your 60' times that much. you really will looose that much, just in the first 60 feet. this is something i didn't know and found out about the hard way
and was greatly dispapointed with when i did mine. There is however a cure for that now. You can actually replace the 1st/2nd gear sets and get that same gear ratio that the 4l60e had now in your th400 or 4l80e. its north of $600 just for the gear sets depending on where you get them though. this is a must though, beleave me! this is one of my next planned upgrades for sure!!!!!
hope this helped ya....Todd
