What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

4l80e with no computer

blazinzuk

blazinzuk

Buzzbox voodoo
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Dec 20, 2002
Posts
21,029
Reaction score
11,621
Location
Rexburg Idaho
Anyone hear of a kit to make a 4l80 into a full manual trans that does not need a computer, anyone run one of these I think it is called the 3 stick kit from transgo. A freind told me about it. It says that the shifts are "showoff shifts" so I would imagine it shifts pretty dang hard which is fine with me

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has run or knows someone running one with this kit
 
Transgo make the kit IIRC. Early 90s deisels use the standalone ECMs, supposed to be getting one, but I'm gonna be using a stock 454/4l80 ECM instead. But before I found this stuff, I was gonna use the Transgo, but a manual valve body gets hold real quick. And shifting off the column is a PITA....
 
blazinzuk said:
Anyone hear of a kit to make a 4l80 into a full manual trans that does not need a computer, anyone run one of these I think it is called the 3 stick kit from transgo. A freind told me about it. It says that the shifts are "showoff shifts" so I would imagine it shifts pretty dang hard which is fine with me

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has run or knows someone running one with this kit
Click to expand...

It sounds like your talking about a manual valve body.

Those DO exist for the 4L80E, and you're right about the harsh shifts.....there will be full line pressure everytime you shift between gears, so the shift quality will be brutal.

Also, from what I remember that manual valve body ain't cheap either.....not as much as a nice CompuShift setup....but it's still a few hundred bucks IIRC.


:usaflag:
 
Last edited:
You can use the manual shift but it will be a PITA for the reasons stated. The stand alone controller for early diesels will still take work unless you are running a diesel, because of the diesel shoft points and such. I just spent the money to get a fully customizable computer from transgo or something like that. It was about $400.
 
It also seems to be very difficult to find a trans shop that can get the full manual valve body installed and operating properly, at least around here. ORD had a problem with the trans in Cousin Willard and Shawn has had the same problem.
 
The transgo kit is very involved. Shawn finnally got his running after the third or so tear down and having a new valve body modified for the trans.
I have a reverse manual kit in my TH350 and my bro has one in his 700R4. We both like them but we have no street driven vehicles.

The up shifts aren't bad. The down shifts will make you eat dash if you are going to fast.
I can break the rear tires loose at will on a down shift on pavement.

If you want a manual VB the transgo kit seems to be good but you might have a bit of trouble getting the thing to work unless someone very familiar with them does the work.
 
If you could just get a simple controller that set line pressure based on throttle position (or something), that manual valve body might be nice.
 
The manual VB kit removes all electronic control of the tranny. The only option is a lock up Torque converter or non locking with the kit.

If you get the locking TC you need the wires to it that lock it up and that is all.
 
I'm wondering what sort of tuning is possible with the diesel 4L80E ECU. Napa seems to think they have the right one for about $130, if the thing is as easy to "tune" as the ECM's of that era, then it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than some of the aftermarket options. I'm sure someone somewhere has explored this approach, but I can't find any info online that mentions it. Maybe diy-efi.org, gmecm section, which I might look at.

If you can buy a transgo controller for $400, that would probably be the best route.
 
I really don't mind the full manual thing, I will put a floor shifter in, the freind that told me about this rebuilds transmissions and is pretty good at it. Plus I get the parts at his cost. Just depends on if I can find a 4l80 for next to nothing and a 241 for next to nothing.
 
As long as it's an offroad rig only, sounds like that is a good way to go then.

Full line pressure all the time is going to be hard on everything, but if it's not driven much, who cares? :)
 
dyeager535 said:
As long as it's an offroad rig only, sounds like that is a good way to go then.

Full line pressure all the time is going to be hard on everything, but if it's not driven much, who cares? :)
Click to expand...

Well lately it really doesn't get driven much but thats cause I bent a spring, hopefully within a year I will have a trailer.
 
blazinzuk said:
I really don't mind the full manual thing, I will put a floor shifter in, the freind that told me about this rebuilds transmissions and is pretty good at it. Plus I get the parts at his cost. Just depends on if I can find a 4l80 for next to nothing and a 241 for next to nothing.
Click to expand...
Around here they seem pretty common for around $600, usually with tcase. Although it's a driver's drop tcase. :doah:
 
dyeager535 said:
I'm wondering what sort of tuning is possible with the diesel 4L80E ECU. Napa seems to think they have the right one for about $130, if the thing is as easy to "tune" as the ECM's of that era, then it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than some of the aftermarket options. I'm sure someone somewhere has explored this approach, but I can't find any info online that mentions it. Maybe diy-efi.org, gmecm section, which I might look at.

If you can buy a transgo controller for $400, that would probably be the best route.
Click to expand...
What kind of tuning would you want to do? Are you figuring the shift points are going to be where you want them? You'd also need a TPS correct? I know the aftermarket controllers include a TPS. Would it have to be a TPS from the same diesel truck?
 
TPS and engine speed are I believe the two external inputs the TCU (or whatever they call it) need. Diesel shift points are certainly going to be different than gas, that's what I'd expect people to want to tune. It would probably be about the same as what people experience with the non-electronic trannies that are behind diesels...they shift way too early for gas engines.

I doubt the TPS would need to be anything special, it might wire up differently, but to my knowledge, all the GM TPS' out there from about '81-95 or so operated the same way, even if different in physical construction. I've never really looked into them, but some of the pictures I've seen of the diesel TPS looks like the wiring is identical to the gas versions.
 
Fwiw, having full pressure shifts w/ a manual VB is no big deal. It's just like engine oil pressure, it's proportionate to the amount of throttle given. I drove a manual VB TH400 in my old K10 for years, shifts were soft with light throttle and hard at WOT. Not unpleasant at all.
 
Manual valve body removes the modulator as well?

True enough, the pump is what supplies pressure, and that's based on engine RPM if you are talking full pressure. Off throttle downshifting is a different story though.

I could never really feel the difference when the modulator hose fell off the TH400 in my car. :)
 
Yeah both the gov and modulator are gone with a manual VB.

Also, most manual VB's don't have backpressure when down shifting (kits will though). I think only a couple of manufacturers offer backpressure, Cheetah and Art Carr iirc. When shopping I'd be sure to ask a lot of questions before buying.
 
I have the TCI kit in my TH350 and I am not kidding about the downshifts. They are beyond harsh.

I have to stop to shift to first if I am in fourwheel drive and 4:1 low range. I made the mistake of shifting down one time. That was all it took to learn.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom