4L80E modification help

[Kustom_dude]

I really dig Steve's Shrifter so I had to find a 4L80E.

Now that I have 4L80E It is out a truck its bone stock with less the 30 thousand miles on it. It came with the stock converter.

Now to the million dollar question, what upgrades can I do to it with out having to do a rebuild. Do I get a new torque converter or keep the stock one, shift kit or no shift kit….

Also if any one knows the best place to get a dip stick and such please advise.

Oh ya this thing is super heavy do I need to run big block springs? I have a small block with aluminum heads.

Thanks in advance for the help!!

Kustom_dude

[Steve Chryssos]

What's up Dude,
Thanks for the kind words. If you tripped over that 4L80E and dug it out of the dirt, it should handle 500HP. You didn't specify engine output, so I'm not sure what mods to recommend. A performance rebuild IS a good idea since you get heavy duty bands, clutches and such. But if the doner vehicle was in good shape, feel free to wear it out and then do a major rebuild. A shift kit is recomended since it build mechanical line pressure. Then you will be able to fine tune the pressure curves with a computer.

Spring swap? It ain't THAT heavy. So no. Just heavy-er. Reply with engine specs and maybe I can be more helpful.

[Kustom_dude]

Steve,

I have around 475 dynoed hp going into a 71 convertible Chevelle. The car is in a billion parts right now. Money kind of got tight due to all of the other stuff I needed. I could have bought new, just would have had to skemp on a few other parts and I really wanted the shrifter.

If I would have bought a new trany.. well you know the price tag on all of the goodies I need. So instead I went with a stock trany with all of the goodies.

Seemed smart to get a stock trany and do some light mods from every thing I have heard. I will most likely get it rebuilt when its time, but for now I am getting close to havingthe body back on the frame. I want to put a few miles on it and make sure every thing is up to par, then blow it apart for final paint assembly.

Your advise is appreciated.

Kustom_dude

[EFI69Cam]

I would also check to make sure the converter is not a dual stator. They stall at like 500RPM, and don't work will with any sort of performance engine.
I used a Hughes 2500RPM in mine.

[Steve Chryssos]

Oh, and for a dipstick, go down to your local GM dealer and get one from an Impala SS. It'll take a little tweaking, but at least you will know that it is measuring accurately.

Edit: It also locks so that it doesn't get blown out at 150mph.
/Steve

[71Formula]

I am basicly doing the same thing for my 71 Firebird. I ended up just calling my transmission guy to see what he recommended, this innocent question ended up with me having him do a complete high performance build with almost every part swapped out inside, but at $3500 it isn't really the budget option. Now all I need is to find a flexplate strong enough to match the rest of the unit.

I agree with Steve about the springs, the 4L80E only weighs about 40lbs more than the th400, this shouldn't even make a noticable difference.

Summit has a TCI Saturday Night Special Torque Convertor for $410 (TCI-242900) that would probably work well for your car. You could give TCI or Hughes a call and they will spec out a torque convertor specifically for your application.

Good luck with the swap, let us know how it turns out.

[Kustom_dude]

I was looking at the TCI Saturday Night Special Torque Converter and also the Hughes 2500 Torque Converter.

I am going to do a shift kit. I just don’t know which brand. Any one have any advise on what kit to buy.

The tuff part about swapping this trany is that my frame is a convertible frame and it is boxed so I have to make some tricky extensions for the new cross member to work. I will take some picture and post them in the next few days.

Thanks

Kustom_dude

[myclone]

I am going to do a shift kit. I just don’t know which brand. Any one have any advise on what kit to buy.

Thanks

Kustom_dude

Transgo HD2 is what I use in the 80E's. Bout $110 once you buy it on line and have it shipped.

BTW, that stock torque converter is where most of you extra weight is coming from IMO (heavy SOBs arent they!). Get a higher stall after market piece in there and the weight will come down quite a bit.

[Kustom_dude]

Ok im a little confused here on the shift kit choices.

1. 46930-HD2 4L80E Performance REPROGRAMMING KIT.

The other kit says...

2. 46930 4L80E SHIFT KIT valve body kit is designed for installation installed during transmission rebuild. There is NO GASKETS INCLUDED.

So is one for the copmuter and one goes in the trany? Do I need both kits?

Please help,

Kustom_dude

[myclone]

Ok im a little confused here on the shift kit choices.

1. 46930-HD2 4L80E Performance REPROGRAMMING KIT.

The other kit says...

2. 46930 4L80E SHIFT KIT valve body kit is designed for installation installed during transmission rebuild. There is NO GASKETS INCLUDED.

So is one for the copmuter and one goes in the trany? Do I need both kits?

Please help,

Kustom_dude

Ive ordered ~15 of the below kits and they come with VB gaskets every time. Misprint IMO.

http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/...-046930hd2.htm

You dont have to rebuild the trans to install it. There are a couple of parts that are included with the kit that arent mandatory which require tearing the trans down but like I said (the instructions say this as well) they arent mandatory parts. The kit can be installed just by pulling the pan and valve body.

Just be aware that the Transgo kit directions are HORRIBLY written which means you should definately read through them (more than once if need be) before you pull the pan. The text doesnt really flow from one page to the next real well as in you get to page 5 and find out you need to drill hole in the valve body that you could have done 2 pages ago when you had it disassebled the first time.

Kinda hard to explain but I assure you that youll cuss at least a couple times when you have to go back and take something apart again to do another part of the install. Theyre easy to put in once you do 2 or 3 but the first time is a little bit of a pain.

BTW, you prolly already know this but just in case be sure to replace the front seal (doesnt come in the kit) since murphys law says it will leak if you dont. Might as well replace it since youll have to yank the trans if you skimp out and it leaks when you fire it up.

HTH

[Kustom_dude]

Thanks myclone for the help i need to get back on track. i ordered one from strange Eng I hope it works.. i will post back when i get it.

I am working on a 71 chevelle convert the frame is done. powder coated, brakes, blah blah blah ... now its time to make a cross member for the trans bolt the motor and trany into place and put the body back on.

i will post some pics of that in the project up dates

Thanks Kustom_dude