4l80 question
4l80 question I am thinking of putting a 4l80e in my 67 chevelle that is a cammed up 6.0 running a carb. I talked to a tranny guy about building a 4l60 and he said build the 80 and put manual valve body in it. Does anyone have input on this?
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: PA/MD
a 4l60e with the Raptor R input kit with Beast sun shell, hd sprag, 5 pin planets and shift of your choice should hold together great for you. this is the setup I have in my 04 H/C and stalled goat. I beat on it daily, you don't need to go with the 4l80, just upgrade the weak lonks in your 4l60 
The 4l80e is nothing more than a TH400 with OD & lockup, many parts inside are the same, along with a higher 1st gear than the 4L60E. It is bigger, heavier, and probably takes more power to turn than a 700R4/4L60E. The 4L60E has a deep 1st gear, probably a good thing for most street cars. One big draw back is the lack of a reasonable priced non-electronic control system for the 4L80E. I have a transgo-3 fmvb in my 4l80e, it works ok, but not perfect. If you are willing to drop an extra $500-700 on the controller, then the 80e is a viable street car option, but if you are making less than 500 hp then several vendors on this site can provide a very reliable street/strip 700R4 or 4L60E for less money.
i have a 4l80e in my 69-i first used the HD3 kit, trying to save money, but a 4 sp auto gets old shifting everytime on the street as a manuel-a 3 spd isnt as bad, but add that other gear, lol-i converted it to full auto with a compushift controller, love it-i can shift it and still keep frying the tires if i want
i rebuilt the trans my self, so saved some $$$ their-a cheaper alt might be a built up 200r4
using a 4l60e or 4l80e, not a lot of diff in cost buying the parts, just a diff in size making it fit-theres always a 400, and later get an OD unit and hang on the back
i rebuilt the trans my self, so saved some $$$ their-a cheaper alt might be a built up 200r4
using a 4l60e or 4l80e, not a lot of diff in cost buying the parts, just a diff in size making it fit-theres always a 400, and later get an OD unit and hang on the back
I appreciate all the info you guys have offered. I was a little skeptical about having to shift the tranny manually all the time but I also didn't want to be going through trannys (700 or 4l60). I am building on a budget so the manuel 4l80 sounded like a good idea initially. After some thought I am considering the 60 instead of the 80. Spend a little more on parts but I think it will be all that I need.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: PA/MD
I appreciate all the info you guys have offered. I was a little skeptical about having to shift the tranny manually all the time but I also didn't want to be going through trannys (700 or 4l60). I am building on a budget so the manuel 4l80 sounded like a good idea initially. After some thought I am considering the 60 instead of the 80. Spend a little more on parts but I think it will be all that I need.
I appreciate all the info you guys have offered. I was a little skeptical about having to shift the tranny manually all the time but I also didn't want to be going through trannys (700 or 4l60). I am building on a budget so the manuel 4l80 sounded like a good idea initially. After some thought I am considering the 60 instead of the 80. Spend a little more on parts but I think it will be all that I need.
The 4l60E, no matter how much money you throw at it will never be as durable as a 4l80E (period)
If you put a lot of money in "building" a 4l60E, and it does not hold up, and then decide to go with a 4l80E, you would have to fab up a new crossmember and cut the drive shaft, and get a new yoke, etc...
How are you going to control the 4l60E, still needs a controller like the 4l80E or manually shifted.
So if you decide to use a 4l60E, you will spend at least the same amount of money if not more for a weaker, failure prone transmission.
If it where me, and I was in the build stage of the project and did not already have a transmission. Then the decision is actually an easy one, 4l80 all the way!!
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If you don't plan on going over 600hp, a 2004r can be built pretty cheaply and doesn't need a computer to control it.
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Keep your eyes open, I just snagged a 4L80e off Craigslist with 89k miles for $200 with the converter and half the harness still plugged into it.
Mines going in a T76 6.0 '95 RCSB Sierra
Mines going in a T76 6.0 '95 RCSB Sierra
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Junkyard 4l80e's are stronger than most "built" 4l60e's. A very well built 4l60e might last. A decently built 4l80e will last. Having built each I can only describe the inside of the 60e as a "toy" in comparison.
Manual valve bodies gear old pretty quick if you are driving it a lot. The electronic controller really is the only way to go. Totally tune it to the way you like it and leave it. Beat on it all you want and never have to worry about it again.
The 200r4 is also a nice option if you want to go computer less but I am not seeing many of them around these days...
Manual valve bodies gear old pretty quick if you are driving it a lot. The electronic controller really is the only way to go. Totally tune it to the way you like it and leave it. Beat on it all you want and never have to worry about it again.
The 200r4 is also a nice option if you want to go computer less but I am not seeing many of them around these days...
I have the 4L60 good to 600, the 4L65e for over 600 and the 4L80 for over 1000hp all on sale. Now don't ask me the technical questions that's Johnny's Dept. (310) 714-3869
He builds our trannys so feel free to give him a call.
Cheers,
He builds our trannys so feel free to give him a call.
Cheers,
I have a Century built brf 2004r out of a Grand National that would handle 800+ in a full weight car.Its in the FS section if interested.You could not build ANY od trans to hold the power this one will for the money.$1500 and no core charge and its fresh with zero miles.Check it out.
The 4l80 is a great trans and damn near bullet proof stock,its just so bulky and the billet parts are quite expensive.The 2004r can get a bit expensive to build as well by the time you replace the breakage prone parts.It would still be cheaper to build an all out 2004r than an all out 4l60/4l65/4l70 and the 2004r will hold up longer.Only bad thing about the 2004r is that it can only be used in 2wd applications....
The 4l80 is a great trans and damn near bullet proof stock,its just so bulky and the billet parts are quite expensive.The 2004r can get a bit expensive to build as well by the time you replace the breakage prone parts.It would still be cheaper to build an all out 2004r than an all out 4l60/4l65/4l70 and the 2004r will hold up longer.Only bad thing about the 2004r is that it can only be used in 2wd applications....
