anyone ever install a 4L80E?

[Jannici]

I've got a 97 LT1 with the LT4 conversion kit and i'm using 150 wet shot of Nitrous. The other day my 4L60E finally went out on me. I found a good place that can build me a 4L80E to 1200HP, but they told me there would be serious modifying to the crossmember and drive shaft. They also told me I would need a $1000+ compushift for it.

Can anyone verify this or give me any advise on this install?

For the record I have plans to rebuild this engine for a procharger, and although i'll never see 1200HP, I want to get as close as the LT1 will take me. I also should mention that I have the stock 7 1/2 inch 10 bolt rearend which obviously has to be upgraded to a Moser or Strange (I'm leaning toward Strange). Would this 4L80E conversion be easier if I get the rearend first? Or will it not make a difference? Thanks in advance for any advise anyone can give me.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Here is some reading for you.
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4l60e.htm
Personally I wouldn't do it. You can easily build a 4L60E to handle the horsepower you have. And the 4L80E weighs more which will slow you down if you can get it in there not to mention the computer interface. I wouldn't let someone who has built a couple of these things to build me one. These guys have built hundreds of them. Leave the tranmissions to the pros if you don't want to have trouble with it. Remember you pay for what you get too. Start asking that guy building it if he will be upgrading the sun shell or what internal parts his will be putting in it. See if he knows his stuff.

[Jannici]

you gave me a lot to think about here. With that Raptor I will be good for awhile. Hell I bet I could install that thing myself. From what I understand it's just a well built 4L60E, so it should just bolt right on. Thanks for this

[99Firebird3800]

The 4L60E and the 4L80E are NOT the same transmission. Different case, tailpiece, etc. They're also completely different on the inside, as the 80 doesn't have any bands - it's all clutches.

I would talk to anybody who drag races and see where they get their trans from. I've got 2 places I can go locally, one is a trans shop that has been doing transmissions for the local circle-track racers for 30 years, and the other is a personal friend of my in-laws who has built a TON of transmissions for them and my own dad over the years. Let's put it this way, he built a turbo 400 that took 900 hp with no problems...the Ford 9" didn't like it though.

[Jannici]

I just called PACT to ask them about their Raptor transmission, but the guy told me that it wouldn't be a good fit for me. Their mega raptor can handle a fair amount of power, but the HP spike from Nitrous will kill it. He told me that his trans will hold up to the power for a little while, but with the use of nitrous, it would be a very short lived transmission. That's sort of what I was afraid of. He suggested his 4L80E transmission to me. He did say it would be heavier and I would lose a little bit of power to the rear wheels, but it could take a nitrous shot easily.

He told me everything I would have to do to get it to fit into my car which still sounded like a pain though. They sell everything I will need though, which is good. It's just going to be very expensive.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

That's good (except the cost). Sounds like he was honest and gave you some good advise. It's also good that you can get it from 1 place. That will make it easier.

I am a little surprised that he didn't think the 4L60E could hold up. I have heard of a lot of guyes spraying that much. Hmmm.

Anyway good luck with the conversion.

Did you ask him about the computer controlling the 4L80E?

Something else you could do is go the way that Injuneer went and use a turbo 400 and a gear venders overdrive.

[Jannici]

thats a good idea! I was actually looking into a Turbo 400 before thinking about the 4L80. There is a shop about 30 minutes from my house that is famous for their Turbo 400. The only problem is it sounded like I would be in the exact same spot as I would be with the 4L80 (need a new PCM, crossmember mods, drive shaft mods, ect) and the turbo 400 is rated at 800HP where as the 4L80E is rated at 1200HP. Of course the shop near my place can actually install it for me and their trans would set me back $1600. The 4L80 at from that raptor site is about $3800.

In that case I would have to say the Turbo 400 would be my best bet. Unless I just get that Raptor 4L60E and take my chances. Those guys would know what they are talking about as they told me they have been in business for 20+ years. It still seems to me though that a trans rated at 800HP should be able to handle a 450HP engine with 100 shot of Nitrous easily. I'll just knock my current 150 shot down to 100 and I would think it would be ok. Then again, that could be a costly mistake.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Honestly If it were me I would get the mega raptor and take my chances.

[Jannici]

I was thinking, if I were to get a extreme duty torque converter with an anti-balloon plate, wouldn't I be fine anyway? I thought thats pretty much what those torque converters were for. To take that initial shock from the nitrous or forced induction application away from the rest of the trans. I bet the torque converter that comes with the mega raptor has one of those. If not, I could just get the trans without the torque converter and buy a better one some where else.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Everybody I have seen launches then hit the nitrous. I would think forced induction would be harder on the drive train. I would dare to say the launch is harder on the drive train than when you hit the nitrous. Personally I think you will be fine.

[Joe 1320]

There must be some thought as to when you are going to spray. If you use it to push the MPH in the last 1/8th mile I think the 60E is fine as long as it's WELL built. If you plan on hitting it in all gears and you have traction, I would worry about an upgrade. You have to understand after all, they are in the business of selling parts and they will bump you right up to whatever you'll spend. They will always push toward their side of conservative.

You do realize that you'll be spending a boatload of cash on the rebuild, a boatload of cash on the trans, and a boatload of cash on the rear end. Then comes the driveshaft, suspension, the list is endless.

[Jannici]

Well what I have been doing is launching without nitrous, then hitting it, and letting up before every shift, and getting back on it after the shift (I manually shift it from 1st to 2nd and to 3rd, then leave it in 3rd. I never race with OD at the strip). My bone stock 4L60E lasted me almost 7 years like that. It "casually" went out on me on the street driving normally in medium/heavy traffic which I thought was random.

I was hoping to build a car that I could get on it right from the launch and pop the tires off the ground and everything. But at the age i'm at now and where I am in life, thats not important to me any more. I would race my car the same way I was racing it before.

[Injuneer]

The TH400 will take almost limitless HP if built correctly. Buddy of mine had an Art Carr TH400 in his 97 SS making 1,350HP at the flywheel, running low 8's and high 160's. My setup is only 800HP, including the 300-shot, but I have a TH400 built locally by a well respected builder. And the install isn't all that bad. Fits fine, even with a full tranny shield. A modified M6 cross member will support it. Not a major problem on the install. Added a JW UltrBell for protection from an exploding pressure plate/converter.

Big problem is the lack of overdrive. If you street drive the car, the rev's will drive you nuts. I picked up a Gear Vendors O/D unit because with street tires and 4.11's I was running almost 4,000rpm at 70mph.

If you "search" on CamaroZ28.com you should be able to find links to at least one person who installed a 4L80E and documented it with photos. But have no doubt... the 4L80E is a "truck" tranny, its huge and it weighs a lot.

[Jannici]

I have these guys near me:
http://tsiracing.com/index.htm

TSI in Addison IL are renowned for their high performance rebuilds. They have their famous Turbo 400 which I know will easily handle 900HP no problem. They come with a trans brake and everything. The guys there even said they would give me a break on the price. The whole thing would only cost me $1650 which is the cheapest i've seen so far. The only problem is I know nothing about a turbo 400. Is that the same thing as a TH400? If so, i'm going with TSI then.

I know my current PCM might be a little screwed up then. I would probably have to buy a PCM out of a 97 Camaro or Firebird with a manual trans. Then I would have to re-tune my car.....yuck!

[Injuneer]

The "TH" in TH400 stands for "Turbo Hydramatic" which was GM's trade name for the tranny. Sounds the same, but you would have to verify with the builder that he is starting with a TH400.

You have a problem with the speedo. If you run an M6 PCM program, the speedo will read 2.3X the actual speed, because the M6 expects a 16 tooth VSS reluctor wheel on the tranny output shaft, and the sensor you have to use (from a mid 90's Chevy SS454 pickup) has the traditional 40-tooth wheel used on the automatics. . You need the A4 program with the 40-tooth VSS setup. Then have the tuner "tune out" the A4 functions. Alternatively, run an M6 program, and use the Dakota Digital speedo interface box.