I Screwed Up - 4L80e Fluid Level
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Teching In
Joined: Oct 2024
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I Screwed Up - 4L80e Fluid Level So my donor engine/transmission came from a 2005 Savanna 3500 van that I'm putting in my 51 Pontiac. The original dipstick tube was 3 sections long as it needed to go to the front of the engine bay of the van. When I removed it, I put the dipstick in the tube and measured how far it stuck out of the end going into the tranny - 2.5". My thought was simply get the same distance when we shorten everything up. I removed the long intermediate tube and shortened everything up - put the dipstick back in - marked the 2.5" and cut the dipstick accordingly and transferred to low/hi markings to the new dipstick. Well I don't know why, but now the dipstick is too long and is hitting the bottom of the pan and won't fully seat itself in the tube. So I'm not sure how to get the correct volume of fluid in the tranny. I can't use the original fluid volume from the van as I removed a large cooler and about 20 ft of lines.
I'm needing to drop the pan as I have a gasket leak, so can someone tell me how far the dipstick is supposed to go in the pan? Or suggest another way to get my levels correct??
Thanks for any assistance!!!
Cheers TM
I'm needing to drop the pan as I have a gasket leak, so can someone tell me how far the dipstick is supposed to go in the pan? Or suggest another way to get my levels correct??
Thanks for any assistance!!!
Cheers TM
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 716
From: Poplarville, MS
Yes, as said here the full fluid level should be 1/8 inch above the pan rail. You can then use the marks from your original stick to transfer the rest of the marks onto the stick if you so choose.
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 716
From: Poplarville, MS
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From: BERWICK PA
Yes even the stock dipstick many times is only ball park accurate i have found and if the bracket is bent or modified at all way off , Best to install and mark it, Full hot should be just above pan rail 1/8 to 1/4 above is good and of course a DEEP pan is always suggested for the 80e or 60e as this takes much of this off the table with the apropriate filter and or filter extention.
Unfortunatly unlike the 60e no inexpensives good deep pan options exist that I have found, I did use this one once but it does not come with extention so was nessesary to make one NICE pan solid but making the extention even with tha lathe is to much a pain , So while I do still put new pans with drain plug on my 80e units I just stay with stock depth.
Unfortunatly unlike the 60e no inexpensives good deep pan options exist that I have found, I did use this one once but it does not come with extention so was nessesary to make one NICE pan solid but making the extention even with tha lathe is to much a pain , So while I do still put new pans with drain plug on my 80e units I just stay with stock depth.
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Frank formerly of Performabuilt, Now just me, What can I build for you today? Call or message me. Click sig pic for my facebook
Frank formerly of Performabuilt, Now just me, What can I build for you today? Call or message me. Click sig pic for my facebook
