4l80E - How much can it handle?

[brock1949]

I'm forming my game plan for the build.. err rebuild and trying to figure out what a Stock 4l80E with a shift kit can handle. My local trans shop and Transgo told me a 4l80E can handle 600-800 RWHP depending on weight of vehicle, rpms etc.

I guess the torque is the main number to watch and they put the 4l80E behind the duramax diesel in the vans putting down 300HP+ and 500-600Ft lbs Tq. Trying to figure out if its worth it to spend the money to setup everything for 4l80E or if i should just get a cheap turbo 400 and swap to some 3.07 or lower gears.

And if there a difference in strenght between newer LS1 style .. (i was told 1999 was the strongest year case etc)

Thanks..

 

[Six-is-Enough]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

Yes it can handle quite a bit. My truck makes 320 whp/500 wtq, weighs 3780 lbs with me in it and ran 11's. Blake 80e with a shift kit and good clutches only.

That being said, if you are not goin to do alot of highway cruising the t400 would be cheaper and just as strong.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

He is also 2wd so he doens't have to go through half the conversion portion of 4L80E that SyTy owner have to go through. I would do the 4L80E, Transgo HD2 shit kit and a decent torque converter. George Blake has mention about all the strength of the 4L80E and different years at one point and time, I would try searching his name.

 

[autoaddictions]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

IM using a fully built GB 4l80e. As many of you have seen at the Nats it takes a beating.
I was told the built 80e will hold 1000 hp. Roberts truck runs the same parts as mine internally. I believe hes making 1000+ hp. Im making 650. The 400 is the same just no OD

 

[brock1949]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

sounds good, thanks again you guys. I'm working with nolan right now trying to figure out what to do with this paperweight shaped like a truck i've got out in the garage.

I might go big stuff 3 with trans controller but i'm considering hitting up the turbo400's.. except for the whole running out of gear thing.

 

[INTMD8]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

I'm going to be using a 4l80 from Chuck at FLT trans. He isn't worried about it handling 1300+hp @4000lbs. I believe the trans he built for Parish's full size twin turbo truck held up well.

 

[brock1949]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

well it seems the 4l80E is going to be a pretty good option. I actually went ahead and ordered Big stuff 3 with the 4l60E/4l80E harness etc.. So i've got a semi built 4l60E with a good stall to burn through then it'll be time for the 4L80E.

I was told to use 2003-2004 4l80E's but those would be LS1 style bell housings.. so just run it with those bolts? My DD is a 2003 2500 silverado with a 03 4l80E and transgo kit etc and so far its be awesome trans so i'd love to see it in the s10.

 

['JustDreamin']

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

The later year transmissions have some lube circuit revisions, besides the LS1 bellhousing pattern.

But, I can't remember when the last round of lube circuit revisions was. Basically, they set up the cooler return to spray one of the planetaries to keep it cool (and some other revisions that should make it stronger). Not sure if the revised case was ever available with the Std bolt pattern, or if it was late enough that it'd only be the LS1 pattern.

As GM has been continually making updates to these transmissions to make them live longer, I'd suggest you get as late a trans as you can. There is also the 4L85E version, which is rated a little higher. I think that's 5 pinion planetaries vs 4 pinion ones. Not sure which of those is truely stronger (George Blake might be a good person to ask).

And the 80E is certainly a tough trans. The one in Parish's truck was dealing with 1000+ Hp & Tq and lived for a fairly long time (although he did break and input shaft, believe it or not). I think they swapped to a Cyro'd one (or maybe it was some super duper billet shaft) and it held up better. But anytime you can snap a shaft that's that big, you've got some power.

'JustDreamin'

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

I could be wrong but isn't the LS1 bell house bolt pattern, just an additional bolt at the top. If so just leave that one out.

 

[brock1949]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

I could be wrong but isn't the LS1 bell house bolt pattern, just an additional bolt at the top. If so just leave that one out.

Thats what it seems to me, the guys on ls1tech are putting old style TH400 cases on ls1's and just skipping one bolt. But if you try to drill and tapp the Ls1 block for the other boss its in the coolant jacket.

I know when i put my LQ9 on my engine stand that the 4.3L was on it seemed to be the same bolt pattern with one moved to the top.

As for parish breaking a 4l80E.. nothing suprises me on that! except that he was using megasquirt and my truck ran different every day it was on MS. Will Big Stuff 3 run a 4l85E ?

 

[JSM]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

Yes LS1 has an extra bolt on top, you can even cut that tab off if you want.

But in the end with a few changes to the inside of the 80e just about any year is going to hold up just fine.

 

[MIGHTYMOUSE]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

i have had nothing but great success with the 80e in my TA and in my truck. I run yank converters in both and BS3 does a great job of controlling both.

i've got about $3500 outright invested in my ta's tranny which is the most built, upgraded shafts, t brake, low profile pan etc. They are both the ones with the fluid ports close together.

 

[brock1949]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

thats awesome, i just don't know who to trust around here to build one when the time comes. I am going to start collecting parts over the next 6-12 months and hopefully my 4l60E last until i can afford the 80E. I'm starting off small 8lbs of boost or so and slowly going to 20-22lbs.. On the streets 8-14lbs of boost and probably cutting it down to 8-10lbs for road racing so i don't die..

Also I need a 3 bar Map of BS3 and I need a syty boost soleniod.. someone hook me up.

 

[brock1949]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

What year 4l80E should i look for.. keeping in mind if things goto poop with my 4.3L i'm putting a 6.0L ls1 in..

 

[jpalmer]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

or go turbo 400 with gear vendors under/overdrive google them

 

[MRKING]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

In the new gmht mag , the lsx shootout winner averaged a 8.64 over 3 runs on his 4l80e pg 27 .. With a 101mm turbo on that car, I dont know what the 4l80e cant handle .

 

[MIGHTYMOUSE]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

mike brown has a th210 custom gear set in that car which is megabux from rossler.

however i hear the winner of the lsx true street also had a 4l80 and he drove it from virginia to memphis, ran a 9.90 and after drove back home. good looking guy too.

 

[SY2455]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

There is also the 4L85E version, which is rated a little higher. I think that's 5 pinion planetaries vs 4 pinion ones. Not sure which of those is truely stronger (George Blake might be a good person to ask).

And the 80E is certainly a tough trans. The one in Parish's truck was dealing with 1000+ Hp & Tq and lived for a fairly long time (although he did break and input shaft, believe it or not). I think they swapped to a Cyro'd one (or maybe it was some super duper billet shaft) and it held up better. But anytime you can snap a shaft that's that big, you've got some power.

'JustDreamin'

For what it's worth, the 2008 GM performance catalog list the 4L85E is rated at 460 ft lb of torque. Part # 19156258 for 4 WD and part #19156257 for 2 WD. Both of these transmissions come with a 2300 RPM stall torque converter. Use with controller part # 12497316.

 

[sy#2921]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

however i hear the winner of the lsx true street also had a 4l80 and he drove it from virginia to memphis, ran a 9.90 and after drove back home. good looking guy too.

I heard this guy paid someone to build his car, doesn't even know what spark plugs are but by dumb luck had a magizine article written up on the car along with some local hottie to get pictured in it. :rotf:

 

[MIGHTYMOUSE]

Re: 4l80E - How much can it handle?

hehe, ill show that to 'the local hottie' when i get home today, she'll get a kick out of it!