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Just wondering if anyone here used a 4L80E and retained the factory shifter in their car. Mine is a Buick GN and I would love to keep the factory interior going but I just can't see how I can make this cable work with the 80E without really fabbing up brackets.
Just wondering if anyone here used a 4L80E and retained the factory shifter in their car. Mine is a Buick GN and I would love to keep the factory interior going but I just can't see how I can make this cable work with the 80E without really fabbing up brackets.
There are two issues getting the stock shifter to work with the 4L80 correctly(assuming one is using an OE 2004R shifter and not a TH350 3-speed shifter). Firstly, the gear selector shaft on the 4L80 transmission is relocated more than 2" further rearward on the case than any other GM automatic, which will create an extremely tight bend in the stock 2004R shifter cable. The second issue pertains to the mismatch between the throw of the stock shifter/cable and the arc length of the pin attached to the stock lever the 4L80 selector shaft; the pin needs to be moved closer to the center axis of the selector shaft to make it compatible with the stroke of the stock shifter/cable assembly. I cut and shortened the 4L80 lever and was able to get it to easily work with the stock shifter out of the car, but overcoming the tight bend in the cable when everything was put in the car was not met with satisfactory results. We opted to use the B&M Quicksilver shifter and it installed easily and functioned perfectly. It also provided for a simple way to hook up a neutral safety switch and the reverse lights.
There are two issues getting the stock shifter to work with the 4L80 correctly(assuming one is using an OE 2004R shifter and not a TH350 3-speed shifter). Firstly, the gear selector shaft on the 4L80 transmission is relocated more than 2" further rearward on the case than any other GM automatic, which will create an extremely tight bend in the stock 2004R shifter cable. The second issue pertains to the mismatch between the throw of the stock shifter/cable and the arc length of the pin attached to the stock lever the 4L80 selector shaft; the pin needs to be moved closer to the center axis of the selector shaft to make it compatible with the stroke of the stock shifter/cable assembly. I cut and shortened the 4L80 lever and was able to get it to easily work with the stock shifter out of the car, but overcoming the tight bend in the cable when everything was put in the car was not met with satisfactory results. We opted to use the B&M Quicksilver shifter and it installed easily and functioned perfectly. It also provided for a simple way to hook up a neutral safety switch and the reverse lights.
You're spot on as usual. I can make a bracket work. My biggest concern is the cable would have to be bent practically on a 90' to get into location. I looked at a lot of aftermarket B&M cabled 80e's and they just look like a waay safer set up to retain the life and geometry of the trans. Any pictures of the Quicksilver in the SS? I don't think I saw that one. Did you fit it into the console?
You're spot on as usual. I can make a bracket work. My biggest concern is the cable would have to be bent practically on a 90' to get into location. I looked at a lot of aftermarket B&M cabled 80e's and they just look like a waay safer set up to retain the life and geometry of the trans. Any pictures of the Quicksilver in the SS? I don't think I saw that one. Did you fit it into the console?
Yes, it was fitted to the console. I'll get a shot of it and post it up for you.
I guess what i'm wondering is if you had to elongate the shifter plate because of the shifter riding down further than the stock one. It may not ride down further I'm just questioning it.
This is the one i'm interested in because it does not have the little reverse lockout lever that I find annoying. do you remember which brackets you used on yours? Maybe i'll go back into the MCSS thread and see if you posted that linkage hooked up in a picture.
I guess what i'm wondering is if you had to elongate the shifter plate because of the shifter riding down further than the stock one. It may not ride down further I'm just questioning it.
Here's the shifter as used in our Monte, I'm sure you're console is different but you'll get the general idea. No elongation or modification to the shifter was needed since they provided a 4L80E specific lever in the kit for attachment to the selector shaft at the transmission.
Looks great. I like the way you did the Holley Dash too. I'm surprised you got the Holley harness to reach all the way to the console like that. I assume you ran down the middle and through the firewall? I went over through the factory PCM hole and it's good to under the dash and that's it. Now i'm worried the 80E harness will not reach to up under the dash.
Looks great. I like the way you did the Holley Dash too. I'm surprised you got the Holley harness to reach all the way to the console like that. I assume you ran down the middle and through the firewall? I went over through the factory PCM hole and it's good to under the dash and that's it. Now i'm worried the 80E harness will not reach to up under the dash.
The ECM install and all the wiring was done by a Holley lab tech, so I'm ignorant to a lot of the assembly details used to finish the car. I'd already moved on to the next swap project while all that type of work was being done. I can find out anything you need about the install however and post it up.
You can put the b&m quicksilver shifter under the console and retain a stock appearance. There is also a guy who makes a shift indicator lens for gn for use with the quick silver
As you can see the quicksilver bezel fits perfect. This is the easiest way to hook up a 4 l80 in a g body I think
I'm not willing to part with my factory 4 speed lightning rods so I'll be searching for an alternative to an aftermarket shifter. In my opinion putting an aftermarket shifter in my car would be akin to pulling off the SSIII Olds 442 rims and putting Keystone Classics on it. Based on what I've read, the detent's will not be an issue, just the cable length. Thanks jimmyg for posting the pic of the aftermarket shifter under the factory console. The option of using the factory cover plate is a great idea and doesn't look bad.
Anyone ever have Lokar make a custom cable? I'll likely give them a shout.
That looks like it's made for that console. was there any modification to get the actual shifter in place or did it just bolt in?
I think that's what this guy has.
It wasn't hard, just a little time consuming. I think I took out the front bracket for the factory shifter and used 1/2 in spacers for the back to level it out. The hardest part was positioning shifter so it would work with console . If u search the net there are a few threads on this install. You can put it in with self tapping screws first to get alignment just right
I'm not willing to part with my factory 4 speed lightning rods so I'll be searching for an alternative to an aftermarket shifter. In my opinion putting an aftermarket shifter in my car would be akin to pulling off the SSIII Olds 442 rims and putting Keystone Classics on it. Based on what I've read, the detent's will not be an issue, just the cable length. Thanks jimmyg for posting the pic of the aftermarket shifter under the factory console. The option of using the factory cover plate is a great idea and doesn't look bad.
Anyone ever have Lokar make a custom cable? I'll likely give them a shout.
If I had that shifter it would be a keeper also! Your best bet is a b&m cable and a shiftworks lever. B&m also sells a 4l80 bracket for their cable 20$ on Amazon. You could make it work easy. I looked into this route but the Lightning rods on ebay were crazy money
If I had that shifter it would be a keeper also! Your best bet is a b&m cable and a shiftworks lever. B&m also sells a 4l80 bracket for their cable 20$ on Amazon. You could make it work easy. I looked into this route but the Lightning rods on ebay were crazy money
Thanks for the lead jimmyg! I'll check out B&M's site. Yes, the L rods are big money when you find a good set but they make the car. More of a piece of Oldsmobile history than anything. Thanks again.
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4L80E users. What shifter cable??? 
