Who here is running a 4l80e behind their 6.xL diesel?

[Russell]

I am seriously tempted to swap my manual transmission out with an automatic. As much as I love rowing through the gears, I keep finding that I need to catch another gear, but if I do I loose all my boost and power out in the next gear.

The torque multiplication and quick shifting is really looking quite attractive. What is all required to install the 4L80e as far as the factory controller goes? Just a TPS and ESS on the engine?

Are the 4l80es as bad of power suckers as the older mid 80s TH400s were?

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Don't tell me this.

There are stand alone controllers for the 4L80E, including the rare 1991 Chevy stuff for our generation trucks.


So whacha doing with your NV3500 stuff?

 

[DK5]

if you are going to go automatic, why not just throw in a 700-R4? Can't you beef them up a bit and throw in a diesel torque convertor? Just asking because I have one in my back yard

 

[Russell]

I have destroyed entirely too many 700r4s to waste my time with another one... It's gonna be 4l80e or nothing, haha

The NV3500 would probably be fine with some better gearing, but I still question it's strength with how I drive it

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I keep thinking about your NV3500 swap.


Bastard.

In the long run it will probably be that or a SM465...possibly with a Ranger OD box.

 

[longbedder]

My eventual plan is to pull the 6.2l w/ 700R4 from my pickup and put it in my Blazer. I'm then going to put my milsurp 6.5l Optimizer in front of a 4L80E and put that combo in the pickup. I've already got a Compushift controller with their TPS I'm gonna use (can you say paddle shifter ).

A stock 4L80E does have about the same amount of parasitic loss when not locked up as a TH400...but realize that lockup control on these is actually pretty sophisticated. They're almost always in lockup if not accelerating hard or braking - losses at cruise are minimal. You can also lower the parasitic loss pretty dramatically by using a non-stock torque converter.

 

[Thunder]

If you can find a donor 91-93 6.5 truck with a 4l80e trans. That would be the way to go. They had the stand alone controler(TCM) or ECM and the TPS that mounted on your IP.
After 93 they went totally electrical drive by wire on the 6.5 trucks.
. If you can get the stock pre 94 TCM, TPS, and wireing. The swap is easy and fairly cheap. If you have to go with an aftermarket kit plan on spending at least 1000 for the kit.
I love my 4l80e behind my 6.5 TD. Has plenty of power. Way perfer it to NV4500s I have driven. But i like autos better than manual in a 4x4.
I think It tows better with the 4L80E. When it shifts it always seems to be right in the sweet spot in the power band. Dont loose boost or torque.
Just be sure to get a good trans cooler. altho a lot stronger than 700r4s. They still dont like heat.