4l80e

Try Me

New member
Not sure if anyone had seen this. Sounds interesting. Nice part is it doesnt require any kind of computer control. interesting...

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

"The baddest of the bad, this is a non-electronic 4L80E transmission. Some of the features are: Full manual shifts - the transmission will be in the gear you select and changes to any gear you choose when you move the selector, no computer or wiring needed, Red Eagle clutches, Kevlar band, RedEagle PowerPacks for the forward, intermediate and direct clutchs, Kolene steels, Blue Plate Special clutches for the overdrive and overrun clutch sets. The 16 element intermediate sprag is replaced with a 34 element sprag, rated at 900 + horse power and has full throttle 3-4 up-shifts. It comes with a non-lock-up torque converter rated at 600 horse power (#L80-NLU) and the core charge is included in the price. This is the transmission that off-roaders, big horse power streeters and racers have been waiting for. Something with an overdrive gear that you can beat the snot out of without giving it or you a runny nose. It just gets comfortable at 900 horse power. The shift kit alone costs us $250.00 and takes a full day to install. All of this can be yours for $2895.00. It doesn't get any better than this folks. Every Quadzilla transmission is tested in our test truck. If you have over 500 horse power you may want to consider this transmission. Add $150.00 for LS1 type bell housing bolt pattern. The late model type are built from 1997 to 2001 cores, known to be the best.

Can be ordered with a 11 inch torque converter rated at 1200 horse power for an extra $529.00 (#6XX). Gear ratios, 1st 2.48, 2nd 1.48, 3rd 1 to1, 4th .75 . In other words when in 4th gear a 4.11 rear end ratio would be equal to a 3.08 rear end ratio. Can be ordered with a 2.75 1st gear ratio and a 1.57 2nd gear ratio for an extra $650.00 (John Kilgore). Can be ordered with a deep cast aluminum pan for an extra $212.00. Order the hardened input shaft if you have nitrous ($324.00). It comes with a speed sensor for an electronic speedometer and can be equipped with a speedometer control unit to control a speedometer cable (#68 below). We now have a tail housing available for a gear driven speedometer cable, see below. The 1997 up 4L80E transmission should be used on the new Chevy 572 cubic inch motor, because both have 7 bell housing bolts. The freight will run $125.00 to $175.00 in most cases"

I am definetly going to a 4l80 after my engine is done, now that there are adapters to make work w/ the awd. I know the adapters exist, but does anyone sell the longer propshaft/shorter rear driveshaft that ive read you need?
 

JSM

Active member
Re: 4l80e

Manual valve body is an option, just keep in mind you will be shifting yourself for every gear, up and down.

Good for a drag car, not sure I would like it on the street.

Driveshafts are easy. Call gilbert tell them you need a front prop shaft 3 1/4" longer. Take your stock rear to local shop with $50 and have it shortened 3 1/4".
 

mattw

Active member
Re: 4l80e

You are also giving up one of the main benefits of having a 80e by going manual.. To me having the ability to tune the transmission would be very nice..

-Matt
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: 4l80e

mattw said:
You are also giving up one of the main benefits of having a 80e by going manual.. To me having the ability to tune the transmission would be very nice..

-Matt

I totally agree, I wish I could change my shift points without having to screw around with trial and error govenor swaps.
 

DanenGraham

Big in the rear
Re: 4l80e

Yeah, the reason i am looking to get a 80e is because it a BMF AUTOMATIC W/OD!!! If i want to have a manual valve body it would be on a 3-speed T400
 

Try Me

New member
Re: 4l80e

Yea, that is a very very valid point for a mostly street driven truck. I am still considering all options because i dont plan on doing this swap until this winter, or until my current trans exposes its internal organs all over the street ;). I just want overdrive and lockup, and not have to worry about the motor im putting in there twisting it in half. I dont drive mine too much and wouldnt mind the shifting. i have a 5 speed daily driver and have driven many manual vb street cars, so it wouldnt be much of an adjustment. I dont know how much the computer controls cost either. I think fast has one, which would make since b/c i have the fast engine computer too. I currently dont have lockup, so that would be nice.

As the late, great, former NHRA Pro Stock champ, and friend of my dad Larry Kopp said... "... you cant run monkey parts with gorilla power..."
 

Try Me

New member
Re: 4l80e

I might have had an angel in my house last night. Or, maybe it was just my friend and neighbor. Either way, he works at a body shop and had a late model 2500 gmc come in that was a work truck that got rolled over. They totaled out the truck and left it for dead. He had the presence of mind to snag the engine/trans and they have been laying on the floor for a while and are "in his way." Long story short, he told me i could have the tranny! Free core is a nice way to start. I still dont know what i am going to do exactly. manual shifting is a lot cheaper than a control unit... ;)
 

JSM

Active member
Re: 4l80e

If you do go the 80e route, I can help you through a cheaper controller alternative if you want to be the test mule.

Total cost would be around $125 or so.
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: 4l80e

Out of curiousity, is their anyway to use a newer ECM to just control the tranny (sort of piggy back it). What would the addition connections beside tranny harness would be needed TPS, temperature or would the ecm be too smart (dumb) to work without all the engine operations.
 

JSM

Active member
Re: 4l80e

Yes.

Obviously isn't as clean as an aftermarket setup, but offers most if not all the same features.
 

Try Me

New member
Re: 4l80e

"If you do go the 80e route, I can help you through a cheaper controller alternative if you want to be the test mule.

Total cost would be around $125 or so."

I am definatley going to put an 80e in my truck. whether its electronicly controlled when i am all done is still up in the air. I will obviously know more when the time comes to install it. I will have to get with you at that time and see what kinda sweet toys youve got developed by then :)
 

supersports10

New member
Re: 4l80e

SeattleSy#1255 said:
what are the price differences between manual shift vs. control unit?

electric controllers like tci unit are 750-800 out of jegs,

full manual shift kit from transgo is 100-175, cant remember off the top of my head.:tup:
 

JSM

Active member
Re: 4l80e

I have heard when you convert to manual 80e, it is a one way street and takes a fair amount of time to install.

If you decide later, not to go manual you will need another core. This is what I have been told anyways, but haven' confirmed myself.

Summit sells the TCI unit for $659.95

http://store.summitracing.com/defau...art=TCI-377000&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch

I would say if you want no effort install that would be it.

The TCC control on the TCI unit is basic, doesn't provide much.

Bigstuff is providing a controller now, estimate ~$2k if I remember for that, but you would get fueling also.

www.transmissioncontroller.com also has a unit. From my information it has better TCC control than the TCI and new firmware's are being developed. I haven't researched them much in past couple months. I think that one would be around $850.

Then there is the stock ecm piggyback route. I have talked to someone that did this on a 60e before, piggybacking off the stock ecm. Not sure exactly what ecm he used but he mentioned it was missing a few things he would have liked to have in it.

So options are

- Manual valvebody ~$200 ish parts + labor
- GM ECM ~$125 parts + some development tweaking time
- TCI ~$670, pretty much bolt in and go
- BS2 ~$2k, would hope they have a base 80e program, then you have fuel to do.
- PCS ~$800, base program plug and play
 

Crimson93Ty

PITA new guy
Re: 4l80e

New guy here FWIW.
I've called Transmission Center (www.transmissioncenter.net) and they told me the same thing. Once the 4L80E is set up for manual shifting, it cannot be reversed. Takes them all day to install a kit. Too much drilling of connecting passages. They'll sell the kit for ~$250 but you have to buy other stuff too. I've seen the kits outright sold for ~$300. Guy said it uses vacuum modulation to control line pressure since the computer controls are eliminated. Probably what makes it cost so much.
I've checked on the TCI unit too. Ended up being one of those things that if you didn't mind splicing into wires you could go with the basic kit. If you wanted to just plug stuff in, the additional piggyback connectors were ~$55 each additional. :2cents:
 

10secTy

Sy-Ty builder and Tuner
Re: 4l80e

I have 3 of the BigStuff3 units with Trans control on the way. I will let you guys know how the control is. I talked to John Meaney and from what he told me the trans control will be kick ass. I have set up the TCI controler and yes the TC lock up is simple but if you set up the down shift tables properly you will not notice it.

The stock ECM thing works been there done that. I just did not like some of the quirks of the stock CODE. It did not alway do exactly what you want.

Nolan
 

Syborg Twin Turbo

Syborg Twin Turbo
Re: 4l80e

Couple of things.

If you have a syclone you things are going to be tight under there. My GT is only about a 1/4 inch from the body seem. It's not a big concern for me since i am remaking the entire fire wall and trans tunnel.

Also the trans is very close to the tunnel - thus the reason that i am redoing the tunnel.

If you own a typhoon you will have a little more room as the body sit's about an 1" higher.

btw - i am also using the Big Stuff 3 to control my everything. And as far as quality goes it exceeds my standards (which is very hard to do)
 

kwick6

Donating Member
Re: 4l80e

10secTy said:
I have 3 of the BigStuff3 units with Trans control on the way. I will let you guys know how the control is. I talked to John Meaney and from what he told me the trans control will be kick ass. I have set up the TCI controler and yes the TC lock up is simple but if you set up the down shift tables properly you will not notice it.

The stock ECM thing works been there done that. I just did not like some of the quirks of the stock CODE. It did not alway do exactly what you want.

Nolan

Good luck with them.

Are you using one of Meaney's LS1 harnesses or keeping the distributor?
 
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