Wondering if anyone has installed a 4L80 in an F-body. I know these transmissions are really tuff. We have them in some of our work trucks and they haul heavy loads with ease after many miles on them and are geared kinda low it seems. Like a TH400 w/ OD right? I guess it is a 4L80E or just 4L80?

 

Not sure if they made a non electric 4L80, but I'm pretty sure you would have to use a stand alone control unit with the 4L80E. I think it's been done before though.

 

I believe that the 4L80 is a bit bigger than the 4L60E. Someone asked this question in GMHTP if I remember.

 

The 4L80E is the beefy truck tranny, and from what I have read its too big to fit in the Fbody without modifiying the tunnel.
The 4L60E can be built to withstand quite a bit, you just have to get the right tranny builder.
The 4L65E is the beefed up version of the L60E but its nothing that a good tranny builder can not do to the 60.

 

It has been done, or so I've heard. The 4L80E is bigger and heavier than a TH400. ~5" longer and 2" taller. The TH400 is a tight fit on a 4th gen, I think that some tranny tunnel mods would be needed to install a 4L80E, especially to fit a shield. Not sure on the weight, but a dry TH400 is in the 140lb range and I've been told the 4L80 is ~70lbs more. I also have seen weights for a complete tranny (with converter) as 160, 190, and 260 for the 4L60E, TH400, and 4L80E respectively.

As far as controlling a 4L80, it could be setup for manual control or an add-on electronic controller could be used.

The 4L80 is based on the TH400, so it is a "TH400 with OD" in a manner of speaking.

Rich Krause

 

In the new Super Chevy there's an article about the 4L65E, which as stated earlier is a reworked version of the 4L60E, and AFAIK, uses the same controller box you already have installed. The 4L80 won't fit without extensive modifications.

You'd be better off having a reputable shop upgrade what you already have. That way, if you ever need parts or something, you don't have to take a list of the mongrel parts you have installed

 

You can do a search in the Advanced section. Someone has done this already. Also you would probably get even more detailed responses if you ask this question in the new "Drivetrain" section.


Hope that help,
Claude

 

I found the link for you...Here it is


4L80 SWAP

Hope that helps,
Claude

 

thanks Claude!

 

What would be the point of the swap? A properly built 4L60E can be built to take an F-Body well into the 10's. The 4L80E is just way too big and heavy, and it has it's reliability faults, too.

The 4L65E that everyone is referring to is nothing more than a 4L60E with 5 pinion planetaries (instead of 4 pinion 4L60E's), and a HD input shaft. The funny part is, 4L60E's rarely have input shaft or planetary failures in the areas they "fixed". Input shafts will rip the splines out of the aluminum input drum before they'll break. The needle bearings in the planetaries are the cause of most failures...The 60 and 65's have the same bearings.
The extra pinion didn't change any of that. The worst part about the 65 is, it has the same problem early 700's had...The rear ring gears aren't hardened enough, and they break.

Frank
All-Trans Transmissions

 

No Problem broh...
Glad to help!

Thx,
Claude