6L80E conversion from 2wd to 4wd
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Norway
6L80E conversion from 2wd to 4wd I have a Complete donor setup 2007 6,2LS3 and 6L80E from Escalade(still in the car) but tranny needs rebuilding. However I do have a good 2wd tranny from 2009 Pontiac G8 6L80E.
So - Can I convert the 2009 2wd tranny into an 4wd, using tailhousing from the 2007 4wd? Do I run into compatibily problems because the 2wd being a 2009? I have reason to belive the valvebody in the 4wd to be a mess so can not rely on swapping it to the 2wd tranny. Any VSS issues?
Want the setup to function 100% before I throw my 1964 Suburban chassis over the whole 4wd setup.
So - Can I convert the 2009 2wd tranny into an 4wd, using tailhousing from the 2007 4wd? Do I run into compatibily problems because the 2wd being a 2009? I have reason to belive the valvebody in the 4wd to be a mess so can not rely on swapping it to the 2wd tranny. Any VSS issues?
Want the setup to function 100% before I throw my 1964 Suburban chassis over the whole 4wd setup.
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 954
Likes: 9
From: Encinitas CA
The answer to your question is a qualified yes.
2WD and 4WD output shafts are different, which is basically the first part stacked with clutch baskets you put in the case when building the transmission. The 2WD version is longer.
Not sure the 4WD version has a tailshaft housing. it might just bolt direct to the transfer case.
Other internal parts should transfer over. It might make sense to inspect the clutches and steels of the G8 version before swapping to the 4WD output shaft. Those parts are cheap to replace. Labor to get to them is expensive.
You might need to keep the earlier computer (TCM) to match the main PCM. Some adjacent years are compatible.
You would also be best served to change the pump to the later version (I think 2012 and later). There are some flaring issues solved by newer seal designs on the pump. Amazon has the pump for $125 or something similar. It is a cheap solution.
in my 2WD 6L80 application, speed signal comes calculated by the computer (I pull from CAN bus), not from a speedo drive on the transmission. But, in 4WD, there may be some sensor on the transfer case. Check there for that sensor.
Doug
2WD and 4WD output shafts are different, which is basically the first part stacked with clutch baskets you put in the case when building the transmission. The 2WD version is longer.
Not sure the 4WD version has a tailshaft housing. it might just bolt direct to the transfer case.
Other internal parts should transfer over. It might make sense to inspect the clutches and steels of the G8 version before swapping to the 4WD output shaft. Those parts are cheap to replace. Labor to get to them is expensive.
You might need to keep the earlier computer (TCM) to match the main PCM. Some adjacent years are compatible.
You would also be best served to change the pump to the later version (I think 2012 and later). There are some flaring issues solved by newer seal designs on the pump. Amazon has the pump for $125 or something similar. It is a cheap solution.
in my 2WD 6L80 application, speed signal comes calculated by the computer (I pull from CAN bus), not from a speedo drive on the transmission. But, in 4WD, there may be some sensor on the transfer case. Check there for that sensor.
Doug
