I have a couple of questions about this transmission. I was wondering if it would be a direct fit into a 91 camaro. If not, I was wonder what would be required to make it fit, and last, does the 480le use the same converters as 460le/700r4. Thanks for any help!

 

The 4L80E will bolt up to the engine however the tranny is very big. Some sheet metal work may be required to get it in. The transmission is also computer controlled. A special computer is required to operate it. The 4L80E is also very long. A special tranny crossmember will be needed.

To my knowledge, the spline count is the same on the converter so a 4L80E, 700R4, converter should work but there may be other differences that say it won't.

 

I installed a 4L80E in my corvette, which was originally equipped with a 700R4. The 4L80E is very similar in size to a TH400, but the tail is a little larger. It fit in my car without any mods, other than moving the rear mount about 3" farther back and shortening the driveshaft.

Typically a computer is needed to control it, but Transgo does offer a manual valvebody kit for it for less than $200. No computer required, but you have to manually shift it, up and down.

I don't have first hand experience with putting on in a F-Body, but I picked up a magazine recently called "Camaro Performers", it's one of those special edition magazines from Hot Rod, or CHP, etc. Anyway, there is an article in it about putting a 4L80E in an F-Body and they said there were no tranny tunnel mods required, just the same one's I mentioned above.

 

Thanks alot for the help guys, I was looking into that option of installing a manual valvebody, I was curious if you used this in your car? Ive heard several times a manual valve body will turn a 700r4 into junk, I was wondering if it might do the same thing to a 480le. How do you like the trans? Are you happy with it?

 

I'm using the FAST/TCI T-COM transmission controller, so I didn't use the manual valvebody kit. I like the tranny alot, with the use of the programmable controller you can practically do anything you want. I have it set up using the manual shift funtionality, which is similar to the "paddle shift" technology used in F1, and on high-end OEM's like Porsche, BMW, etc. I have two button on my steering wheel, one allowing me to "manually" upshift, and the other to downshift. It's basically like a clutchless manual tranny in this configuration.

Additionally, you can program it to shift via road speed for part-throttle shifts, and engine rpm for full throttle shifts.