MFJ

iTrader: (4)

Yep. It's finally completed. Here are my first impressions. I haven't taken it to the track yet. That's this Thursday. we'll see if it's slower or not.

Cons
1: It feels slower than my T-56
2: Downshift isn't really an option from 2nd to 1st. Rubber shredding going on there.
3: My gearing 4L80E, 3.42 and 28x 10.50 r15 M/T drag slicks is questionable
4: It uses way more gas now than before. Probably due to the 3200 stall

Pros
1: No more killing expensive clutches
2: Should be better launches
3: I had it built up so it shouldn't break (I had lots of T-56 breaks)
4: Put it in 4 and go.

Seems like 26" tires would be better for me with my gearing but I got these for free so I'm going to see what they do at the track first.

Gonna start with my normal 100 shot and go up to my 150 shot which is what I plan to run all the time now.

cbr600rx7

iTrader: (12)

Its hard to beat a good auto at the track. I am sure the consistency will be a lot better over the T56. I am also sure track times will be slightly better.

WVhuggerSS

Thanks for posting your impressions, Ive been thinking about switching to 4l80e for a while now, Im ready to build my car this winter and was wondering if I might as well do it while its apart. I think it would save me money bc a auto would be easier on the drivetrain and whatnot. What did it cost you to do the swap?

Mystery Bird

iTrader: (7)

Yeah, the gearing is not optimal that's for sure. I run 26 tire, 3.90 gears, and a 4000 RPM TC. It is fantastic on the street and even better at the track. I might try 4:10 gears next year though.

MFJ

iTrader: (4)

All in all I spent around $2200 for the swap including building the tranny. (My brother in law builds racing transmissions so what should have cost me $2500 for a build cost me $820 and the tranny core I gave him was free).
Not taking into account I sold the majority of my T-56 parts including my busted tranny and recouped a lot of what I spent.

As far as the swap goes....well it's a pain in the *** if you're on a budget like I was. Trying to find all the swap parts, making plates and covers that look nice and fit correctly and stay on budget was the biggest challenge. The wiring harness and re-pinning the pcm was a piece of cake.

You'll have to gently (beat the **** out of) massage the tranny tunnel where the harness plugs into the tranny and shave the bellhousing but other than that everything fits nice.

I really would rather run a 26" tire with a 3.42 rear gear even with the gearing in the 80E. I believe it would come off the line better. But I'm tuned for spray and that should help with the 28" tires.

allout06

iTrader: (11)

Did you re-use the T56 console? id like to see some pictures of how you mounted the shifter. i know you have to make like a stand or something on the tunnel if your coming from a manual for an auto shifter. I see a lot of guys using the m6 console and i like how it looks. I as well plan on going to a 4L80E. I dont understand why it feels slower to you though.

Smo's04Gto

iTrader: (8)

we need track results.if you can post time slips t56 vs 4l80.

Blackpanther99

iTrader: (8)

Probably feels slower cuz you arent the one shifting the car

Once you get yo see those track slips and getting good passes you will know its worth it

MFJ

iTrader: (4)

I bought an A4 console top. All you have to make is a plate to cover the hole from the manual shifter, but I contoured mine to fit the tranny tunnel and sealed it off.


I'm working all the bugs out now. It is a little quicker, not faster though.
It's shifting 800 rpm's early in 1st with my slicks on the car. Doesn't do it with my street tires on though. That's a lot of momentum killing too. Even with the weight reduction.
A4 - 1.72 60' 7.66 1/8th mile 11.76 @ 117 1/4 mile

M6 times:Old best E.T 12.021@117.68 w/ 1.94 60'
Old best MPH 12.20 @ 122.10 w/2.03 60'



It's not that it necessarily feels slower just not as strong as the T-56. Maybe because of the stall or boredom while driving.

allout06

iTrader: (11)

You think a RMVB would be more fun?

MFJ

iTrader: (4)

I can manually shift mine to a certain degree. Enough to realize I don't like doing it. It's not the same as as the 6 speed. Now it is a tire shredding machine!! So obviously the torque is there it just doesn't feel like it.

I'll upload pics of the shifter install.

allout06

iTrader: (11)

Hmmm. Ill be making around 900-1000whp, prolly going with a tighter 3600 stall. Hopefully mine doesnt feel lazy like your saying. Any way to use an m6 console? I see guys using them with th400's, not sure itll work with an 80e. You have any issues with getting it to start comimg from a m6? Looks good.

MFJ

iTrader: (4)

I don't know if you can use the M6 console without modifying it. I bought my A4 top cheap. Like $20 for the top. I'd rather pay $20 than modify my old top.
No. Mine started right up. Make sure the clutch switch is wire tied closed. Well, after I remembered the clutch switch, it started right up.

Down shifting from 2nd to 1st is almost a no go with the 80E. If you're above 25 mph it won't do it on it's own.

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

I've seen lots of guys run a quicksilver or gated shifter in an M6 console. It actually looks pretty clean when done......



I want to do something like this, with a ratchet or gated shifter. This is REALLY clean.