RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

I like the TCI 4l80e 6x, but it's too rich for my blood. I was told that some shops are doing the 4l80 / 6 speed mods, but I got no names.

So what's the deal with this conversion? I couldn't find anything on it in the search.

I did find a link to this, in a thread though...

http://www.powertraincontrolsolution...ed-Valve-Body/

mrvedit

You are already participating in the most detailed thread on this subject:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...r-6l80e-3.html

A bit more info is in this thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...use-one-2.html

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

Oh, I thought that threads was only about the 6L80E. I need to go through it again.

I'll take a look at the second thread, thanks!

joecar

https://ls1tech.com/forums/17902723-post58.html

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

Why are you linking me to my own post?

poorhousenext

First place I would try to find transmission shop that would build 4L80E is the PCS website. Try "where to buy" and see if any of the shops listed will build you a 4l80E 6sp.

joecar

Oh, I didn't realize it was your own post, sorry, I was linking you to a post that I had just looked at that I thought contained a relevant link.

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

Not much out there on this! Why is there no interest on this MOD!?

poorhousenext

Mod was only released back around June of 2013. Not much advertising, but have heard of couple of builds.

Give PCS a call. They've always been helpfull when I've needed information.

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

Oh okay, I didn't realize that it's a new mod. I thought it's been around longer than that.

Yeah, I've talked to the guys at PCS and they said that their valve body will not be out for another month or so. If this MOD works and hold up to the stress, I can see it being very popular!

So how does this work? I still don't understand how they make a a4 into an a6; if it has 4 gears, then how does a valve body covert it into 6 gears or is it a complete rebuild with 2 extra gears

Jake's Performance

iTrader: (2)

TCI has been doing a 6 speed version for some time now.
It isn't as refined as what PCS is doing.

One of the reasons the PCS setup will be better is the ability to bring engine braking on in some gears.

Making a 4L80E into a 6 speed (without engine braking) is fairly easy hydraulically.

There are no real internal changes. You simply turn the OD clutch on in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Giving you 1st over (2nd gear), 2nd over (4th gear which has little ratio change to 1:1), and then 3rd over (6th) which is the same as the stock 4th gear ratio.

Ford did the same thing effectively on their 4R44 trans to become a 5R55, and on their 4R100 to become a 5R110W. They bring the OD on to make 1st over.

The issue I see is the lack of engine braking on the TCI design (and I assume engine braking will only be available on the PCS unit on 1st, 3rd, and 5th due to conflict anytime the OD is on), and the heat generated in the OD clutch if it shifts 3 times through 6 gears.
I also see timing being an issue. The PCS controller has enough resolution to handle this, but then you get into the same issues with tuning being VERY critical that you run into on the 6L80/6L90 GM units.

It's a neat concept and if used as a 5 speed it should be fairly reliable assuming the tuning is there.

It's not a unit I'm interested in building/selling though.

mrvedit

Roughly, a 4L80E is a TH400 with an overdrive (OD) unit added.
The stock valve body (VB)only activates the OD in 3rd gear, giving 4th gear.
The TCI and PCS VB can activate OD in any gear, producing 6 close ratios.

zgp

The TCI 6 speed was from developed from PCS except TCI they did not do it how they were instructed. As with most assumptions, the PCS Current VB has engine braking in all gears except 1st and 2nd. That will change in the next few weeks. The 6 speed 4l80e is designed for those applications that can not integrate a 6L80E OR 6L90E easily. For those of us that are truly parts designers, we also design the controls to support it.

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

When I talked to PCS, they told me that the system will engine break through all gears. And yes, I reiterated that point, to make sure I heard him right.

RONIN LSX

iTrader: (44)

Have you guys head of this company? They seem to doing some crazy ****! It's the first company that I've seem offer 300M shafts, and they have a 6 speed 4l80e, though priced through the roof!

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4l80e.htm



.

Jake's Performance

iTrader: (2)

We've been using 300M shafts for years in our 4L80E builds.

I'm not sure how they will get engine braking in any of the gears that are using the OD since activating the over-run clutches and the overdrive will create a bind.

mrvedit

I have followed them for years and even bought stuff from them years ago (before I knew better). While I have not heard anything really bad about them, I find them arrogant and over-priced. Bit of an "over-promise and under-deliver" kind of company. Anything they do, someone else does too, either better and/or cheaper.
Also their website is the absolutely worst; I guess they think it is still 1995.

zgp

Arrogant and overpriced I truly agree. They are just resellers of other products with poor customer support.