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Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

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Old Jun 18, 2024 | 04:00 PM
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 94 LT1 with Painless Perf. cam kit
Transmission: 700r4 2100 stall conv. Vette servo
Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Fellow Gear Heads, does anyone know what gadget I need to get my speedometer working again after a 4l80e swap? Car is a 89 trans am and had the 700r4 originally. Thinking the device needed is some type of splitter that allows the cars computer to communicate with the transmission computer correct? Fairly simple thing if I remember right. Just can't recall the name of the part.
Thanks for any help.
Gb
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Old Jun 18, 2024 | 07:25 PM
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From: honolulu
Car: '86MCSS
Engine: 396 .030"
Transmission: M20
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Dakota SGI-100BT
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Old Jun 20, 2024 | 10:25 AM
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From: Armstrong B.C.
Car: 1991 camaro Z28
Engine: Forged 370" LS turbo s488
Transmission: Built 4L80e FTI converter
Axle/Gears: MWC 9" 35 spline 3.25 gears
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Originally Posted by frankensteinGTA
Fellow Gear Heads, does anyone know what gadget I need to get my speedometer working again after a 4l80e swap? Car is a 89 trans am and had the 700r4 originally. Thinking the device needed is some type of splitter that allows the cars computer to communicate with the transmission computer correct? Fairly simple thing if I remember right. Just can't recall the name of the part.
Thanks for any help.
Gb
The 4l80e doesn't have a TCM built in. The controller for the transmission will be in the ECM itself. You need a Dakota digital box to send the VSS signal to there then off to your speedo
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 08:53 AM
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 94 LT1 with Painless Perf. cam kit
Transmission: 700r4 2100 stall conv. Vette servo
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Appreciate the information. Forgot to mention, I purchased a controller from Painless, so the 4l80e does have its own tcm. The engine computer is also from Painless. After doing some more research I found that what 4l80e swappers need to keep the original speedometer working is a VSS splitter harness. Current performance.com makes one and it sells for around $38.00. The Dakota box would probably work also but might be overkill for just needing to get the speedometer working.
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 08:57 AM
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From: Armstrong B.C.
Car: 1991 camaro Z28
Engine: Forged 370" LS turbo s488
Transmission: Built 4L80e FTI converter
Axle/Gears: MWC 9" 35 spline 3.25 gears
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Originally Posted by frankensteinGTA
Appreciate the information. Forgot to mention, I purchased a controller from Painless, so the 4l80e does have its own tcm. The engine computer is also from Painless. After doing some more research I found that what 4l80e swappers need to keep the original speedometer working is a VSS splitter harness. Current performance.com makes one and it sells for around $38.00. The Dakota box would probably work also but might be overkill for just needing to get the speedometer working.
I've got that exact same splitter harness on my 4l80e. For whatever reason the speedo output on my Dominator ECU doesn't work with my autometer speedo. So I have to split the signal and go straight to my speedo
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 09:12 AM
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frankensteinGTA's Avatar
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 94 LT1 with Painless Perf. cam kit
Transmission: 700r4 2100 stall conv. Vette servo
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

So the VSS splitter solved the issue then? Can a technology challenged hammer mechanic like myself wire up something like that without too much trouble? Probably doesn't include installation instructions.
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 09:14 AM
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From: Armstrong B.C.
Car: 1991 camaro Z28
Engine: Forged 370" LS turbo s488
Transmission: Built 4L80e FTI converter
Axle/Gears: MWC 9" 35 spline 3.25 gears
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

Originally Posted by frankensteinGTA
So the VSS splitter solved the issue then? Can a technology challenged hammer mechanic like myself wire up something like that without too much trouble? Probably doesn't include installation instructions.
Yea the splitter was the answer. Holley swears up and down that you cannot split those two devices but I proved them wrong. You should be able to just plug it in and go
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 10:11 AM
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 94 LT1 with Painless Perf. cam kit
Transmission: 700r4 2100 stall conv. Vette servo
Re: Speedo not working after 4l80e swap

That's good news. If it's a plug and play setup then that's even better. Prefer not to have to splice into wires. Appreciate the feedback. Glad you got it working.
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