4L80E modifications guide
4L80E modifications guide Last edited by 5.7stroker; Sep 30, 2021 at 09:04 PM.
Wow, what a great job. This is years of "professional builder" info that is now free to the average builder... Great resource.
I'm also fascinated with the 4L80e and watch every video I can find on it. Thank you for this.
My mods consist of:
91 Core
300m input shaft - oem intermediate
Rossler D3
CK Rollerized billet front hub
CK Upgraded Intermediate Plate with springs (TH400 style)
CK rebuild kit
TH400 Direct Piston with upgraded springs/6 clutch setup assembled from CK
Early TH400 (1964-66) reaction carrier with the "desired" roller sprag. Saw this upgrade on a few sites and found one on ebay
I'm also fascinated with the 4L80e and watch every video I can find on it. Thank you for this.
My mods consist of:
91 Core
300m input shaft - oem intermediate
Rossler D3
CK Rollerized billet front hub
CK Upgraded Intermediate Plate with springs (TH400 style)
CK rebuild kit
TH400 Direct Piston with upgraded springs/6 clutch setup assembled from CK
Early TH400 (1964-66) reaction carrier with the "desired" roller sprag. Saw this upgrade on a few sites and found one on ebay
Last edited by 455GTO; Feb 2, 2021 at 06:03 PM.
Nice parts list you have there! I’m simply passing along the information that has already been shared, but in a compiled form. I made this document because many of the same questions were being asked on facebook so now I can just link to this guide and the correct page. It certainly doesn’t contain everything, but there’s a good chunk of info in it. I was given a ton of advice by the folks that I mentioned at the end of the document so this guide was possible only because of their generosity.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,203
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Wow, what a great job. This is years of "professional builder" info that is now free to the average builder... Great resource.
I'm also fascinated with the 4L80e and watch every video I can find on it. Thank you for this.
My mods consist of:
91 Core
300m input shaft - oem intermediate
Rossler D3
CK Rollerized billet front hub
CK Upgraded Intermediate Plate with springs (TH400 style)
CK rebuild kit
TH400 Direct Piston with upgraded springs/6 clutch setup assembled from CK
Early TH400 (1964-66) reaction carrier with the "desired" roller sprag. Saw this upgrade on a few sites and found one on ebay
I'm also fascinated with the 4L80e and watch every video I can find on it. Thank you for this.
My mods consist of:
91 Core
300m input shaft - oem intermediate
Rossler D3
CK Rollerized billet front hub
CK Upgraded Intermediate Plate with springs (TH400 style)
CK rebuild kit
TH400 Direct Piston with upgraded springs/6 clutch setup assembled from CK
Early TH400 (1964-66) reaction carrier with the "desired" roller sprag. Saw this upgrade on a few sites and found one on ebay
Those very-early Reaction-Carriers are quite scarce now.
I only ask that you refer to the early style Reaction-Carrier as a "Sprag" type reaction carrier.
Referring to it as a "roller sprag" is going to confuse people who are not in the know... and probably have never seen the very-early Reaction-Carriers.
The two versions of this part, are the "One Way Roller-Clutch" type, and the "Sprag" type.
Very nice!
Those very-early Reaction-Carriers are quite scarce now.
I only ask that you refer to the early style Reaction-Carrier as a "Sprag" type reaction carrier.
Referring to it as a "roller sprag" is going to confuse people who are not in the know... and probably have never seen the very-early Reaction-Carriers.
The two versions of this part, are the "One Way Roller-Clutch" type, and the "Sprag" type.
Those very-early Reaction-Carriers are quite scarce now.
I only ask that you refer to the early style Reaction-Carrier as a "Sprag" type reaction carrier.
Referring to it as a "roller sprag" is going to confuse people who are not in the know... and probably have never seen the very-early Reaction-Carriers.
The two versions of this part, are the "One Way Roller-Clutch" type, and the "Sprag" type.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 1,328
From: Iowa
A. those carriers are weaker than the roller clutch type
B. Not desireable
C. If you do want to use it despite A and B, get an E4OD sprag. It is a direct fit and will be stronger than the sprag that is in that reaction carrier now
B. Not desireable
C. If you do want to use it despite A and B, get an E4OD sprag. It is a direct fit and will be stronger than the sprag that is in that reaction carrier now
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Great info, thank you. It's already in the trans and is up and running. Hopefully the info shared in this thread will help those reading in the future!
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,203
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Since the "One Way Roller-Clutch" type reaction carrier has not been a problem for me in 2,000+ HP builds... I have never tried to use the "Sprag" type in a high power application.
I keep the "Sprag" type, primarily for people looking to correctly restore their "Switch-Pitch Super-Turbine 400" Transmissions or 1964/ 1965 THM400 Transmissions.
I am now curious as to what your findings have been in regard to testing or research of the 'Sprag" Type reaction carriers.
I recall the largest Sprag used in the E4OD Transmissions being the Intermediate Sprag... I do not Recall the C6 using it... But the 4R100 might, hmm... or it went to a "Roller-Clutch" instead.
I would suspect this is the Sprag in which you are referring to.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 1,328
From: Iowa
Yea, e4OD sprag direct fits for the sprag type reaction carrier
its' statically applied in low gear, ramp type is much stronger.
sprag type is a novelty at best. If you happen to get a trans that has one and you're doing a budget rebuild, use the e4od sprag and it will likely be fine...at least as long as the 34 element direct drum sprag is good for.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to try to find one
its' statically applied in low gear, ramp type is much stronger.
sprag type is a novelty at best. If you happen to get a trans that has one and you're doing a budget rebuild, use the e4od sprag and it will likely be fine...at least as long as the 34 element direct drum sprag is good for.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to try to find one
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,203
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Yea, e4OD sprag direct fits for the sprag type reaction carrier
its' statically applied in low gear, ramp type is much stronger.
sprag type is a novelty at best. If you happen to get a trans that has one and you're doing a budget rebuild, use the e4od sprag and it will likely be fine...at least as long as the 34 element direct drum sprag is good for.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to try to find one
its' statically applied in low gear, ramp type is much stronger.
sprag type is a novelty at best. If you happen to get a trans that has one and you're doing a budget rebuild, use the e4od sprag and it will likely be fine...at least as long as the 34 element direct drum sprag is good for.
But I wouldn't go out of my way to try to find one
I will have to inspect these further as they should not be statically active!
They should be dynamically holding or overrunning.
I will compare the next one with the sprag from a Ford E4OD.
I always enjoyed finding parts (bushing, bearing, etc) that are shared among unrelated transmissions.
As you know, the THM400 Low Roller-Clutch also fits the Ford AOD/ AODE based transmissions.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 1,328
From: Iowa
When I say statically, I mean it is holding the drum from moving in low gear. So, it "starts" to hold right when you shift into low gear and are not moving. From that point on, it just holds until you shift to 2nd
Unlike the 2nd gear sprag where it is overrunning in 1st then gets shocked into holding on a 2nd gear shift
Unlike the 2nd gear sprag where it is overrunning in 1st then gets shocked into holding on a 2nd gear shift
I'd like to add to the discussion of mods. I opted not to upgrade the intermediate shaft as I just didn't have the extra $300 during the rebuild process. I can't seem to find any online instances of people breaking the intermediate shaft on the 80E's. There is plenty of evidence of the input shaft going out at all different power levels. Do you guys have any insight on how just how vulnerable the intermediate shaft is in these transmissions?
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,618
Likes: 1,328
From: Iowa
depends on weight and shift rpm.
Main usually breaks on the 1-2
as a general rule of thumb...I've seen them over 1000, between 1000 and 1200 I STRONGLY recommend it to customers, over 1200 it gets replaced with aftermarket.
Main usually breaks on the 1-2
as a general rule of thumb...I've seen them over 1000, between 1000 and 1200 I STRONGLY recommend it to customers, over 1200 it gets replaced with aftermarket.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 591
Likes: 235
From: Lewisville, TX
Tremendous amount of info. Just emailed the pdf to myself so i can transfer it to the garage comp. Thank you. This might keep me from asking a bunch of dumb questions in the coming weeks. Lol.
when it comes to these transmissions. There’s so much that goes into these. I’m just passing along the info that has been graciously shared to me.
