cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

4l80..pm me and i have a friend selling one like mine for a great price but its manual vb

Camaro Chris

iTrader: (1)

Id say with out reading this whole thread go with a 4l80e

xXxSilveradoxXx

iTrader: (5)

4l80-E all the way, I've got 5 of them.

lt1badbird

iTrader: (-1)

which year/model 4l80e would be the best for throwing in bone stock behind a 750+ hp turbo car to take my chances with

elias_799

iTrader: (8)

just to let everybody know that the 4l80e swap is not a direct swap

you will need a new converter

flexplate (unless you get a converter that works with the ls1 flexplate)

transmission cross member

adapter harness

computer retune

some banging on the transmission tunnel


i am sure i am missing a couple of little things, but swaping to a 4l80e is worth it

xXxSilveradoxXx

iTrader: (5)

There were two 4L80-E models if I remember correctly. There were some updates in I believe 1998; band, piston, etc. Nothing major that couldn't be updated on an older one. There is also a 4L85-E which was suppose to be even stronger than the 80-E. I suppose it's kind of like the 4L60-E, 4L65-E and 4L70-E. I know you want a stock transmission but you should seriously think about a shift kit and a large cooler. They are cheap, easy to install and make an already strong transmission even stronger.

lmt0705

iTrader: (7)

why do you have 5 of these? do you own a bunch of trucks? so if I get a core i want a post 98 one?

lt1badbird

iTrader: (-1)

Yeah i already have a bigger trans cooler, braided lines etc. and ive looked into the kits. I may do the shift kit just want to avoid spending like 3k on one right now, and see how long it'll last. Ive tried searching and havent come up with anyhting concrete. Ayy idea what year the 85e was. It seems like the 2000 yr was the best for them from what i have gathered.

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

I think the older and newer style are basically the same. The main difference is the older style uses a different cooling circuit so the cooler lines hook up in different places. With the newer style you need to clearance the body for the rear cooler fitting. The older ones have the ports towards the front and do not need any modification for clearances.

Older style


Newer style


Thanks to Dave (Mightymouse) for the pictures

xXxSilveradoxXx

iTrader: (5)

This is my trans list:

1994 4L80-E going into a 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
1998 4L80-E that was swapped into my 1989 Silverado 1500
1999 4L80-E that came stock in my 1999 Silverado 3500
2003 4L80-E going into my 2002 Silverado 1500

I must have accidentally counted my 4L60-E or 700R4 as an 80-E when I came up with my initial number of 5.

98+ are better but the difference is minimal at best.

After a little research I've found that the 4L80-E is rated to be able to handle vehicles up to 8000 lb GVWR with up to 440 ft·lbf of torque. The 4L85-E is rated to be able to handle vehicles up to 8500 lb GVWR with up to 460 ft·lbf of torque. The 4L85-E was first offered in 2002 and replaced the 4L80-E when the Vortec 8100 or the Duramax was used.

According to GM 4L85-E Design enhancements include:

-A more robust overdrive roller clutch, featuring larger diameter rollers and a "shuttle car" design; it allows high-speed 4-2 downshifts without any shift sequencing delays and is designed with error-proof assembly features

-A more durable turbine shaft; the shaft is induction-hardened using an electrical heat-treating process and then shot-peened to relieve internal stresses in the metal

-Brazed blades inside the torque converter; they allow the torque converter to accept and transfer higher torque levels and increase durability

-More pinion gears (five total), allowing the gearset to handle higher loads

elias_799

iTrader: (8)

so the f body pcm will be able to control the 4l85e ?

anybody swap a 4l60e to a 4l85e yet ?

Uglydog56

These quoted prices are crazy high. You can get a working trans for 400-500 from junkyards every day. I called for one for my dually pickup and every junkyard in my area had one for that price. Put in a transgo stage-3 shift kit. It is $260. It makes the tranny full manual, you don't need a controller, and it will handle the power you are making with no further upgrades. A modified stock converter will handle your power for $550ish. All the controller you need is switched 12v power for the lockup and a simple board with various resistors from radio shack for shifting. I found a 4L80e with the transgo shift kit already installed for 750 on craigslist in Portland. If you can install a shift kit (which I am confident you can) you can get out of a 4L80e for 1500 easy.

Also, the newer the better. 91-93's are the least desirable, but even they aren't bad.

White.Lightning

iTrader: (53)

Someone on the boards found a way to allow an A4 PCM to control the 4L80e using relays. Do a search.

I think swapping in the 4L85e would be the same thing as swapping in a 4L80e. They are the same transmission except the 85e had some internal upgrades to make it "better".

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

Turbo 400 and pick up some cheap taller tires to run during the week and whatnot to bring the revs down a bit. There was a guy that had 31" all-terrains on the back of his Camaro for weekday driving..not saying I'd go that tall but I believe he had a pretty steep gear. Pull them off and thrown on the drag radials or slicks when you need to.

lmt0705

iTrader: (7)

i really enjoy crusing on the highway though. Im starting to lean strongly twords a 4l80e. what are these companies that are charging 3-5 k for rebuilds adding for hard parts to justify the cost? how much is a trans brake for one of these?

cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

rossler tbrake is the best for the 80e...6-700 bux

HydroStream6

iTrader: (16)

If cost is the main factor just do what half the people here have already said and find yourself a working good condition 4L80e and put the Transgo Stg 2 shift kit in it, order the conversion parts, and get your pcm flashed. It won't be over $3k for all that. Or better yet if you can read a manual and don't mind getting dirty, order the $200 HD rebuild kit and build it yourself. It ain't that hard.

xXxSilveradoxXx

iTrader: (5)

The F-Body PCM will be able to run the 80/85E. A lot of truck guys have swapped in the 80/85E. It shouldn't be a problem putting it in an F-Body.

Word

lmt0705

iTrader: (7)

i dont mind getting dirty, i might try that. id like to know what hard parts shops are replacing in there builds for 4 k and if there nessesary

COPO9560

I would vote for a Kilgore Superlite T400 - not cheap but will be quicker than either a full weight 400 or 4L80. Kind of cool to have 400 strength with internals that rivel a 350 turbo.