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Standalone 6L80e controller idea ??

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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:41 AM
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Cool Standalone 6L80e controller idea ??

How about this?

Someone 3D print a block to replace the internal valve body (T43).

Use 4L80e solenoids controlled with an Arduino Mega and MOSFET drivers.

The Mega has tons of inputs and PWM outputs.

Some of you smart guys can figure out the fluid flow diagram for the 6L80e trans and someone else write the Arduino code.

Surely the parts cost would be under $100 and it would take some DIY volunteers.

Just brainstorming and want your thoughts?

Last edited by aknovaman; Feb 21, 2022 at 07:55 AM.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 09:59 AM
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Whoa! Quite an undertaking! Let's see who picks up the ball...
And PLEASE don't call me Shirley...
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 02:07 PM
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well i have two 3d printers and a couple of arduino boards just no 6L80e....
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 02:14 PM
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:07 PM
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What's the benefit over 4L80E? Isn't the 4L80e easier to make hold lots of power? is the 6L80E easily available? What does one cost? how many solenoids are there. Are they all PWMed?

if there is serious effort I don't have any problem chipping in my 4L80E software. Don't see that much effort converting it to and extra 2 gears.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 09:37 PM
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What do you mean by "my 4L80E software." ??
Some people want the two extra gears even though the ^l80e is massive compared to the 80e.
Far as I know the early 6L80e had some weak points and can be shredded easily.

They are also pretty expensive and rebuild.
I have no idea what solenoids nor the fluid flow patterns or PWM OPS.

I was just asking the question and proposing possible solutions based upon my limited knowledge. Dunno if there would even be any interest or need for such a controller.

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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by aknovaman
What do you mean by "my 4L80E software." ??
I've designed and built a successful arduino based 4l80e controller that I've got many thousands of miles on and as well as quite a number of track pulls. in addition to the transmission, it also replaces all the gauges and controls fuel pumps, 5 fans, alternator and more.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic...ontroller.html

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Old Feb 22, 2022 | 07:36 AM
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people, including myself, have experimented with the ZF 8HP by doing a similar thing. i never finished my project where others have.
you basically cut out the internal ecu and wire up directly to the solenoids and sensors and control it from the outside.
im not sure where a 3d printer fits into the equation except its a cool modern buzzword.
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Old Feb 22, 2022 | 08:13 AM
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My understanding, (limited) is the T43 block (TCM) contains both solenoids and computer. So, 3D printing a block to replace it and screw the solenoids to it would be the simplest design. I don't know of another way to attach solenoids to the trans.
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Old Feb 22, 2022 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by TrendSetter
you basically cut out the internal ecu and wire up directly to the solenoids and sensors and control it from the outside.
That's doable, but alot of work to install. This is similar to what's been done with DCT controllers. If you get me the info on what each solenoid does, i'll look into it further.

Depending on whether GM locked the interface with some special security code, it may be much easier to just figure out the CANBUS codes the transmission needs, leave the existing computer in the transmission, and build a controller that sends the transmission the proper messages. That's very easy to do. I do that to test my 4l80E transmission controller when the engine isn't running. So all you would need is a TPS or MAP signal and a vehicle speed signal and you can tell the trans what to do. Vehicle speed may even come from the transmission for all I know. If someone has access to a standalone 6l80e transmission tester, a canbus messsage capture device can read and record the messages. Needless to say, if someone had a copy of the interface document, that would make it even easier. This would be much, much easier and more reliable and very easy to make. I'll help design the board and software if someone gets the messages needed. Have no intention of making a business out of this, just open source.
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Old Feb 22, 2022 | 09:22 AM
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you described the tcm-2650. its like $900 but i could see making your own the way you describe.
without cracking open a 6l80 its hard to know which is the easier route.
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Old Feb 23, 2022 | 03:17 PM
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From what I understand, the 6L/8L/10L have very different control strategies. It isn't just some solenoids being activated by the ECU...That's all I got...It's complicated...LOL

The 4L60/70/80 is dead simple. ECU triggers a shift solenoid based on a few parameters and then it is up to the transmission to hydraulically execute that shift. The 6L80 actually controls the hydraulics, line pressure, clutch engagement, etc...

Andrew
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Old Feb 24, 2022 | 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Project GatTagO
From what I understand, the 6L/8L/10L have very different control strategies. It isn't just some solenoids being activated by the ECU...That's all I got...It's complicated...LOL

The 4L60/70/80 is dead simple. ECU triggers a shift solenoid based on a few parameters and then it is up to the transmission to hydraulically execute that shift. The 6L80 actually controls the hydraulics, line pressure, clutch engagement, etc...

Andrew
While it is more complicated than a 4L80, at the end of the day the 6L80 is just 6 pressure solenoids (4 clutch pressure, 1 line pressure, and 1 TCC pressure) and 2 shift solenoids (the 8L adds an additional solenoid)

​​​​Charts below show how the clutches and solenoids correlate, first two are 6L80, last two are 8L90







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Old Feb 24, 2022 | 11:02 AM
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Yes, it is just more solenoids / clutches, BUT, the 6L, 8L, etc.. are clutch to clutch transmissions. You can get nasty tie ups which will destroy the transmission if things are not timed appropriately. The 4L80E is not as complicated.
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Old Feb 24, 2022 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by turbo_bu
Yes, it is just more solenoids / clutches, BUT, the 6L, 8L, etc.. are clutch to clutch transmissions. You can get nasty tie ups which will destroy the transmission if things are not timed appropriately. The 4L80E is not as complicated.
Agree and well aware, I've tuned the 6L's to live north of 900whp but I'm still not a fan of them. I was just pointing out the details that's its technically possible to control them.
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Old Feb 24, 2022 | 07:56 PM
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I’ve never seen anything official but I see LOTS of similarities in the guts between the 6 and 8 speed hydramatcs and the zf stuff. I’d bet the same zf 8hp approach would work on the 6 and 8l stuff.
one of the big selling points from zf is only one clutch change between gears and those graphs posted above show that same trait.
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Old Feb 24, 2022 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by SLOW SEDAN
While it is more complicated than a 4L80, at the end of the day the 6L80 is just 6 pressure solenoids (4 clutch pressure, 1 line pressure, and 1 TCC pressure) and 2 shift solenoids (the 8L adds an additional solenoid)

​​​​Charts below show how the clutches and solenoids correlate, first two are 6L80, last two are 8L90






That's a great start. Looks like 7 pwms and 2 on and off. Now if we could get the PWM duty cycle range and frequency for the 7 PWMs for each gear, that would really help.
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Old Feb 25, 2022 | 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by LSswap
That's a great start. Looks like 7 pwms and 2 on and off. Now if we could get the PWM duty cycle range and frequency for the 7 PWMs for each gear, that would really help.
Yup, the data is out there in the service manual and third party sites. Kent-Moore makes a bench test tool for the TCM/solenoid unit as well, some of that data is in the instructions.
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