Which 4L80E?
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Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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Which 4L80E? I've been searching around for the last hour or so and can't really find a definitive answer, I'm just wondering if there's anything inherently bad with an earlier 4l80e? I have a chance to buy one out of a 92 for a good price but while I can find places that list differences in the years I don't see anything saying early or later ones are actually worse. I'm building a turbo LQ4 and plan to use a fitech controller with a 4l80e, is there any reason for me not to go with an earlier model? Thanks.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
The 2 most important differences.
-16 element intermediate sprag on '91-'96 vs a 34 element sprag on '97 & up.
-Larger O/D Roller Clutch on '91-'00 vs the smaller one on '01 & up models.
Of lesser importance...
-"Turbulator" steels in the Overrun & 4th Clutch starting in '97.
-Wider pinion gears on the rear carriers starting in '99.
-4th/OD clutch housing backing plate to housing anchor starting in '99.
-Wider intermediate brake band starting in '99.
-16 element intermediate sprag on '91-'96 vs a 34 element sprag on '97 & up.
-Larger O/D Roller Clutch on '91-'00 vs the smaller one on '01 & up models.
Of lesser importance...
-"Turbulator" steels in the Overrun & 4th Clutch starting in '97.
-Wider pinion gears on the rear carriers starting in '99.
-4th/OD clutch housing backing plate to housing anchor starting in '99.
-Wider intermediate brake band starting in '99.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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I seen the difference is element count on the sprag, etc on the sloppy wiki but can find any posts telling me if those things are bad things or good things lol. I am completely green when it comes to the internals of auto transmissions.
Clinebarger knows his transmission stuff, so whatever he says is golden/free information I trust, and in additional I am also throwing this out there that I was told to avoid the old 4l80e versions by several trans builders while doing my research, to find and use only the 4l80e versions with the split lines (one up front, one in the back) I think they started either in 2000 or 2002. PBA specifically recommended a 2004 version 4l80e in fact, which is what I went for ultimately. They should cost $400-$600 used, and we install a $90~ shift kit and now it should handle 500-800 horsepower they say. " they say " I figure for $550~avg price per transmission we can afford to break a couple to find out, its not like wrecking a $5000 built version. I've seen people blow 10k trying to get this 4l80e business sorted out
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...E-out-of-state
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...E-out-of-state
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 33
From: Fort Worth, Texas
The 34 element intermediate sprag in the '97 & up units hold more power.
The lager O/D roller clutch found in '91-'00 unit seem to hold up better.....Though I have seen both versions fail when beat on (Do Not beat on a 4L80E with the shifter in D4....Use D3)
Are you going to rebuild the transmission or try to just throw a shift kit in it?
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 33
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Clinebarger knows his transmission stuff, so whatever he says is golden/free information I trust, and in additional I am also throwing this out there that I was told to avoid the old 4l80e versions by several trans builders while doing my research, to find and use only the 4l80e versions with the split lines (one up front, one in the back) I think they started either in 2000 or 2002. PBA specifically recommended a 2004 version 4l80e in fact, which is what I went for ultimately. They should cost $400-$600 used, and we install a $90~ shift kit and now it should handle 500-800 horsepower they say. " they say " I figure for $550~avg price per transmission we can afford to break a couple to find out, its not like wrecking a $5000 built version. I've seen people blow 10k trying to get this 4l80e business sorted out
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...E-out-of-state
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/sho...E-out-of-state
Early units can be built to be just as strong & reliable as later model units, Most issues I see with early units are builder mistakes along with using wrong &/or worn out parts.
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Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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Thanks for the info so far. Honestly with all the money I'm pouring into the engine build, conversion, turbo system, etc. I'm probably looking to get a unit just to throw the shift kit and a decent convertor in and go. If it lasts long enough to get the rest of the build ironed out without needing anything major I'll be happy but the longer it lasts without a rebuild required the better.