Looking for an EXPERT on 4L65E ... vs 4L80E
Looking for an EXPERT on 4L65E ... vs 4L80E Hello folks, A&A Corvette is building me a nice engine that will have about 800HP on a long body all wheel drive Escalade weighing about 6000lbs
I have heard so many different opinions that I am lost.
I was told 4L65E cannot handle more than 500HP under such a heavy car reliably so go for a built 4L80E conversion. So I did. Later I heard thats BS and a rightly done 4L65E can handle it no problem.
Now I would much rather go with the 4L65E so I can avoid having cross members and drive shafts made. But I have no clue who is telling the truth.
HELP
I have heard so many different opinions that I am lost.
I was told 4L65E cannot handle more than 500HP under such a heavy car reliably so go for a built 4L80E conversion. So I did. Later I heard thats BS and a rightly done 4L65E can handle it no problem.
Now I would much rather go with the 4L65E so I can avoid having cross members and drive shafts made. But I have no clue who is telling the truth.
HELP
Well 800 I am assuming rear wheel HP but even crank in such a heavy vehicle would definatly be pushing the limits if not exceeding the limits of a 4L60E but I would like to put our level three up to the task if you decide to stay with the 65E so take a look at it.
__________________
WEll, I have actually mentioned to Andy, the builder if maybe we should back off the boost to lower the power to 740HP.
I have noticed that Lingenfelter which has their twin turbo at 740HP, still runs with the 4L65E. On one or two occasion they told me they went to the 4L80.
I do not plan on racing the car, but for that once in a while making a yellow light or hitting the petal to the metal, I want to make sure I do not hear a blender with Ice in it under the car.
What I wonder is if the 4L80 is really that much stronger? I have hear people having more problems with the 4L80 than the 4L65E. I got this built 4L80 from Speed Engineering.
Any opinion on teh difference between the two?
I have noticed that Lingenfelter which has their twin turbo at 740HP, still runs with the 4L65E. On one or two occasion they told me they went to the 4L80.
I do not plan on racing the car, but for that once in a while making a yellow light or hitting the petal to the metal, I want to make sure I do not hear a blender with Ice in it under the car.
What I wonder is if the 4L80 is really that much stronger? I have hear people having more problems with the 4L80 than the 4L65E. I got this built 4L80 from Speed Engineering.
Any opinion on teh difference between the two?
One other note, The guy who bulit the 4L80 mentioned something about the (again I am no tranny expert) 4L65E having a much weaker reaction shell???
or an aluminum housing around the main shaft with the 4L80 having an steel??? Sorry if I sound totally dumb, but he was stating a fundamental limitation.
Was he truthful? IS the 4L80 really that much stronger than the 4L65E?
Many thanks
or an aluminum housing around the main shaft with the 4L80 having an steel??? Sorry if I sound totally dumb, but he was stating a fundamental limitation.
Was he truthful? IS the 4L80 really that much stronger than the 4L65E?
Many thanks
The 4L80E is that much stronger its a comparative monster really , Its used in very large dually trucks to pull very heavy loads, So theres no doubt they are the stronger option an I tell you that even though we dont presently offer them, The down side is there heavy and exspensive to retro into the place of a 4L65E. And yes the 4L65E does have and aluminum input drum. and the 4L80E a much stronger set up but really the service you would get would really depend of how you drive. But that is a heavy vehicle and I will say this If you go with the 4L60E go with someone with a good warranty. And if you Go with the 4L80E get with someone expereinced with the swap.
__________________
Not for a while yet since we dont require core returns we only offer transmissions we have and adequate core supply on but we are working on it So maybe in a few more months /
__________________
Trending Topics
FormerVendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: D-F/W
A 4L65E could conceivably be built to withstand that power to weight package. But it can be pricy for some. It would need to have the input and output shafts replaced with hardened components.
If it were my vehicle, there is no doubt that I would install a 4L80E. As previously mentioned it is a brute. It's a pain now, but you'll be glad you made the swap months and even years down the road.
Good Luck.
g
If it were my vehicle, there is no doubt that I would install a 4L80E. As previously mentioned it is a brute. It's a pain now, but you'll be glad you made the swap months and even years down the road.
Good Luck.
g
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
all I had to do was read the first sentence of post #1... an 80 is the ONLY way I'd go in something like that, especially after breaking 7 4L60E variants before getting my level 5 FLT unit. so far at a little over 450rwhp/500lbft and 4600lbs of truck on top if it, my FLT's running flawlessley...
A properly set up 4L60E can handle big power over a long period....Twofast4lv (Speed Secrets) has proven this time and time again. Ellis has one of his tranny's in a 402 cammed, full lenght headered Hummer running 12 lbs of boost. It's now been in there 2 years with lots of drags runs. Ellis's car is making 600+rwhp on juice and has had zero problems. Wahuskers car is making 620 rwhp, street drives it, drag races and is a class winner at an open road race. The only failure so far was Ryan K's turbo car at 700-750 rwhp (broke the output shaft). It ran for years at 650 rwhp. Dynoed 800 rwhp with the tranny before the output shaft snapped (a hardened shaft would fix that problem...) Now, if your looking for something that races big power and last 5 years you might want to move on to a 80E or a turbo 400...
Originally Posted by jimbob
Now, if your looking for something that races big power and last 5 years you might want to move on to a 80E or a turbo 400...
I'm doing a nitroused 427 (750RWHP is the goal) and I dont want to bother shifting my 6speed when I need to keep my attention on the track (going for single digits).
Thanks,
Jeff
if you main goals are track oriented, I'd go with a 400, way cheaper for a quality converter... and cheaper for a trans thats been proven to handle some SERIOUS power... the only drawback is having no overdrive... for a single digit street car, I'd go with the 80...
Originally Posted by silver-mod-o
if you main goals are track oriented, I'd go with a 400, way cheaper for a quality converter... and cheaper for a trans thats been proven to handle some SERIOUS power... the only drawback is having no overdrive... for a single digit street car, I'd go with the 80...
I'm almost afraid to ask, but how much is a quality converter for the 80?
-jeff
I found this company that has 4l60E to 4l80E conversion kits, even for AWD.
http://speed-eng.com/store/index.php...9e725e31593e06
http://speed-eng.com/store/index.php...9e725e31593e06
OK well its been a while so thought I post an update.... 4L80 is in, what a nighmare... last bit of problem: The tranny is only going into 3rd gear. Suspect its a software problem as they are trying to convert from the 4L65E, they have the adapter plug but its not behaving right.
That would indicate a software or wiring problems sorry its being a pain for you 
__________________
FormerVendor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: D-F/W
I would doubt the transmission is at fault immediately after such a conversion. However.... if you have access to a scanner you could determine the condition.
The trick is to make sure the command is being made for it to go into 4th. If that signal is making it to the transmission then it could be inside the unit.
g
The trick is to make sure the command is being made for it to go into 4th. If that signal is making it to the transmission then it could be inside the unit.
g