I was watching Horsepower TV on Saturday. They were installing a BBC in 69 Impala. They mated it to a 4L80-E Transmission from Jet Performance. They mentioned something about overdrive between 2 and between 3 gears for a total of a 6 speed OD tranny. Has anyone ever heard of this before or has anyone ever used this transmission?

Thanks

 

From what i have heard is that a 4L80-E is perty much just a electronicly controled TH400 with an overdrive slaped on it by GM.

 

Several people make vavle body mod kits for engagain OD and 1, OD and 2 and OD and 3rd.

Kind of cool and lets u make it into a 6 speed.

Its gonna cost u a lot of $$$ by the time u get done.

I have yet to figure out why people swap in 4l80E and than spend another 5-700$ on a controller when if your willing to make a harness the mid 90 truck pcm can do it alot cheaper.(this also applies to 4L60E swaps)

later
Jeremy

 

Yeah the stuff they do on Horsepower TV is always cool, and so far out of the average guy's price range it's a joke. I think their show is affiliated with Hot Rod magazine, which I don't buy anymore for the exact same reason.

 

I don't even make the harness's. I just cut them out of Fullsize vans. The harness's are extra long on the vans, have a groumet to allow them to pass through wherever you need. You can get them in 4L60E or 4L80E flavors.

The problem with the 4L80E is, well have you ever looked at one. They are massive. In my van, no problem, I am doing a swap myself. In a F-body, space is going to be your enemy. The 4L80E is much larger than a TH400.



Left to right
4L80E, 700r4, TH400.

 

So you ask why a controller, here why, It programable by the user. See my current part thottle shift table.

 

So is the PCM. This is just a partial view of everything that can be changed. This is the $0D code for a TBI engine, viewed in TunerPro RT. Stock 305/4L60E van.

 

There are always more then one way to do thirgs. I didn't have any problem with integrating the TCI TCU controller into my current TPI ECM. I got a new harness etc.

Using programs such as TunerPro RT is a lot more complex then using the TCI utility.

Another benifit of using the TCI TCU is that it does not void my warrenty on my transmission. I have a new 4L60e that has a one year/12000 mile warrenty. And its my money, I didn't mine spending the money for the TCI TCU. The TCI TCU is the same part that GM sells under the Performance Parts lablel

 

There are various ways to do things.

The GM ECM is pretty simple to integrate into a TBI,TPI system as well.

I doubt that a GM ECM would void the warrenty of the transmission.

You are right that it is your money, I was just trying to keep somebody from spending all the cash, when for about $200.00 they could have the same thing.

Tunerpro is not that difficult of a program to use.

 

4L80's will fit into G and F bodies without crazy hammering :-)

Test fit some for fun just to see.

I would imagine some cars might need a little cut and tuck depending on a monday or friday build.

But its not a matter of inches, most interference wasnt too bad.

Little tweaking :-) Its what we do.

I ever do one, I'll yank the van harness(and use tunercat), I never thought of that and the extra length would be bonus for routing it in non stock locations.

later
Jeremy

 

Yeah, I've heard the 4L80E swap is getting popular with the 4th gen guys who're sick of blowing up 4L60E's, so I'm guessing the swap isn't too difficult to achieve, at least not in a 4th gen anyways.