4l80e upgrade's [Archive] - TheDieselPage.com Forums

Pete Dow

10-11-2007, 06:36

I was wondering if anybody knows of a torque converter upgrade for the 4l80e transmission.somthing to handle the increased torque supplied by aftermarket equipment.Also like to know if anyone has been able to get there trans to shift in this pattern 1st to 2nd with locked converter,2nd to 3rd with locked converter,3rd to 4th with locked converter.seems like my truck really pulls hard once converter is locked in 3rd(sets you back in the seat feeling)the resulting locking of the converter also kills heat created by shearing the fluid when trying to amplify torque.:cool:Pete

john8662

10-11-2007, 06:59

There is an article on Heath's website about wiring in a manual switch for the TCC lockup. I've also been told that you can run this setup, then under a race situation lock the converter at a stop, cause it won't lock. But when the trans hits 2nd it'll lock and stayed locked. You'll have to turn it off on downshift though, or get a code.

J

Robyn

10-11-2007, 07:10

IMHO
Running a 4L80 this way just may not be a good idea.
The input shaft was never designed to handle the abuse of the lower gear locked shifts.
The input shaft has passages through it and you may break it.
Tne TCC was designed to be used at higher road speeds for a mileage gain only.

There may be an aftermarket shaft that can handle the situation but I personally would not do it.

I have seen some of these shafts in multiple pieces and its real ugly and usually takes most all the tranny with it when it heads south.

If you feel the need for TCC locked shifts, go with the Allison.

Just some thoughts

Robyn

DA BIG ONE

10-11-2007, 08:20

I suggest you get a later model 4L80e (1999+) which already has all the updates to problems of the early 4L80e and then spend the $$$$ for a custom TC w/ceramic or kevalr clutch, got deep pockets then a custom billet tc is great.

Keep in mind the later 4L80 w/slight mods is the only trans that is qualified to stand up to the BIG RAT 572 ci race engine.

There many after market mods from input shafts to whatever even a full manual 4L80 for any beast you can throw at it and then some.

See: http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4L80E.htm

Cowracer

10-11-2007, 11:20

the 4L80e will take everything a 6.5 could ever give it without breaking a sweat. It is one of the finest trannies ever made. Drag racers prize them for their toughness and longevity behind 800 hp drag cars.

Don't sweat the tranny if you upgrade.

Tim

Billman

10-11-2007, 18:42

DA BIG ONE

10-12-2007, 01:21

With all due respect Mr. Moderator...

Who the hell is using a 4L80E behind an 800hp Drag Car?

Turbo 400. Yes. PowerGlide. Yes. 4l80E?

I'm not questioning their durability. Just a first for me to hear it being used like that.

G-car people, hot rodders w/more the 800 hp & wanting OD, the market is so big that adapters for the 4L80 to bolt to almost any engine are the thing these days. Hard part and TC options are staggering I dropped $4,500. last rebuild and will do it again way in the future. The 4L80 built right can stand to even the most high powered duramax, cummins or? The Bentley turbo/supercharged line use the 4L80e as their stock tranny.

Cowracer

10-12-2007, 12:09

With all due respect Mr. Moderator...

Who the hell is using a 4L80E behind an 800hp Drag Car?

Turbo 400. Yes. PowerGlide. Yes. 4l80E?

I'm not questioning their durability. Just a first for me to hear it being used like that.

Let us read from the good book,

First, there was the TH400. It found favor amogst the highly accellerated for its superior strength. But as hot rodders stared going to lower axle ratios and fuel prices shot up, crusing at 70 turning 4100 RPM just lost its appeal.

In 1982, the TH400 was joined with a OD 4th gear. And this holy union was called 700r4. And it was good. Very good. 'Culvers Frozen Custard' good.

Five years later, the mighty General decided to drop the good names of the TH400 and the 700r4, and bestowed upon them the title 3L80 on the th400 and 4L60 on for the R4. The new Hydromatic nomenclature was designed to tell you about the tranny. the first digit was the number of gears. The second (L) indicated longitudinal mounting, and the last two was an arbitary strength rating.

Eventually, electronics were incorporated, indicated by a final digit of 'e' The 4l60e went through some updating and was renamed the 4l65e (indicating it being stronger than the 4l60e) in 2003 and is still in production.

A heavily altered unit was made in 1994 called the 4l80e (again, by GM's nomenclature, much stronger than the 4l60e).

So you can see the direct link between the venerated th400 and the 4l80e. And since then the 4l80e has developed a rep as the strongest OD tranny the general has ever built.

But dont take my word for it...

http://www.ckperformance.com/resources/GM4L80ETRANSMISSIONS.html

http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/index.shtml

http://performabuiltautomatics.com/GM/4L80E.html

you get the picture.

Tim

moondoggie

10-12-2007, 12:32

Good Day!

IMHO it went like this:

TH350 >> 700R4 >>4L60 >> 4L60E

TH400 >> 4L80E

There may have been a 4L80, I don't know.

Not trying to be argumentative, just clear; I'm sure you & others will clarify the facts where I got them wrong.

Blessings!

Cowracer

10-12-2007, 13:02

moondoggie

10-12-2007, 13:14

Good Day!

OK if I print this & show it to my family? They're pretty well convinced that me being right never happens. :eek:

Blessings!
(signature in previous post)

Cowracer

10-12-2007, 14:29

Good Day!

OK if I print this & show it to my family? They're pretty well convinced that me being right never happens. :eek:

Blessings!
(signature in previous post)

:D

yeah, show em. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

TIm

Billman

10-12-2007, 15:43

I get your point, but...

My defintion of a 'Drag Car' is different than yours.

DA BIG ONE

10-13-2007, 06:05

I get your point, but...

My defintion of a 'Drag Car' is different than yours.

Well I must say there are some deep pocket types here in my AO who do use a powerglide on street drag cars which rarely see a highway.

Others like me love a deep first gear (when we can get it) and perhaps a few more gears up w/lockup & o/d for that sunday drive hunting for $$$$$$ imports to shut down!

RyanA

12-25-2007, 15:51

Back from the dead.

You people do realize that the 4L80E is basically a TH400 with overdrive, right? They are VERY strong. A guy in Omaha, NE is running one behind his 1000+ AWHP/AWTQ engine and has had great luck. The TH400 and 4L80E actually use many of the same internal parts.

DA BIG ONE

12-26-2007, 03:56

Now I'm hunting for a 6L80e to put in my burb....................

Peter J. Bierman

01-24-2008, 13:03

With a a PSC stand alone computer you can programn it to shift that way, I think you can have it locked in 1st gear.
It can be programmed to unlock during shifting or stay locked.
I programmed it to stay locked and no problem.
My program shift up early to run low RPM and keep under or at max torque, so I candrive 25 in third locked, at 1100 RPM, when hitting the throttle without gaving a downshift, it realy takes off, it makes driving fun.

Peter

Kenneth

01-24-2008, 16:57

Here's one site that is selling the 6L80e. It's not too pricy for a new tranny.

http://racetransmissions.com/store/index.php/cPath/1_25_644

JoeyD

01-26-2008, 19:35

You will want the 6l90 for a diesel truck. The 6l80 has a 450ft lb max tq rating.

DA BIG ONE

01-27-2008, 04:59

You will want the 6L80 for a diesel truck. The 6l80 has a 450ft lb max tq rating.

With that low tq rating I'd suspect this 6L80e is not based on the Turbo 400, or? Any info what tq rating the 6L80 diesel truck version has?

moondoggie

01-27-2008, 19:20

Good Day!

What's the max torque rating on the 4L80-E? I thought it was 430 lb/ft. If so, this is in the same neighborhood.

I'd guess one of our tranny experts might be able to tell by looking at the pics on the links whether it looks like a 4L80-E case or not.

Blessings!
(signature in previous post)