I was at the pick n pull this weekend when I found a 96' chevy work van with what I believe to be a 4L80E transmission mounted behind a vortec v-6. I did some searching and found that you need a electronic controller or you can use a transgo and manually shift it.

So with the transgo kit, do you have to shift into neutral everytime you come to a stop?

Would it be worth it grab it for under $100?

Thanks

- John

Don't think you will find a 4L80 behind a V6. Better do some more checking.

we both know you really want one of these: http://www.shrifter.com/ :)

I believe there is a stand-alone computer that you can purchase that will allow you to shift at any point you designate as well as allow the trans to be manually shifted... I'll call my local speed shop and post the product shortly.

Steve

It's the torque converter that "disconnects" the tranny from the engine when you stop. The transgo kit is full manual, you would have to shift to low gear manually to take off. Just like a stick car. 4L80E has big output yoke(like old TH400 1.885" O.D.). as oppposed to TH350 or 700r4(1.500" O.D.) which is much smaller.

Gm did not use the 4L80E behind a V-6 engine.

www.compushift.com has a great controller for the electronic trannys

The engine was a 'vortec' V6.

I might go back and look at it but it seemed different than the 700r4 that I have in the garage.

It looked alot bigger and so did the tranny pan -longer. That is what caught my eye. There was a very large wire harness running to the passengers side - more than some 4 pin connectors. The driveshaft was very large also.

Thanks for the replies.

- John

I have the trans go on mine. You do not have to shift to N coming to a stop. Whatever gear you have it in it will be in that gear till you shift it. If you forget to pull it down into low it will try to take off in 3rd/4th. I have a switch that locks/unlocks the TC.
I really like mine so far, but am thinking about installing a ratchet shifter of some kind. Can Anyone recomend one for the 4 speed??
I also run a GPS driven speedo.

Also the Trans Go is only $200.

I'll check and see if it is a 17 bolt pan (4l80E) vs a 16 bolt pan (4L60E).

Are there any other part numbers or casting I should look a 4L80E?

Thanks - John

540cutlaSS
I have a Hurst ratchet shifter on mine. The mechanism looks kinda cheapo, but it works like a champ. I only wish you could "reverse" the shift pattern on the 4L80 so 1st. gear was right after "N" You can just shift it like a regular shifter or push down on the handle for ratchet mode. I liked the manual 4-sp look of the handle is why I tried it first. You can really bank thru the gears just like a stick car. Gota go, will be outa town next 4 days if you need to know more.

the electrical connector on a 4L80E is on the drivers side.

there are also two speed sensors.... one at the the bell area for input shaft rpm, the other at the rear for output shaft rpm.

GM did not put the 4L80E behind a V-6 , vortec V-6 . The torque converter is too heavy for a V-6

;-)


The engine was a 'vortec' V6.

I might go back and look at it but it seemed different than the 700r4 that I have in the garage.

It looked alot bigger and so did the tranny pan -longer. That is what caught my eye. There was a very large wire harness running to the passengers side - more than some 4 pin connectors. The driveshaft was very large also.

Thanks for the replies.

- John

540cutlaSS
I have a Hurst ratchet shifter on mine. The mechanism looks kinda cheapo, but it works like a champ. I only wish you could "reverse" the shift pattern on the 4L80 so 1st. gear was right after "N" You can just shift it like a regular shifter or push down on the handle for ratchet mode. I liked the manual 4-sp look of the handle is why I tried it first. You can really bank thru the gears just like a stick car. Gota go, will be outa town next 4 days if you need to know more.
Do you have a picture or a model # of the shifter.

GM did not put the 4L80E behind a V-6 , vortec V-6 . The torque converter is too heavy for a V-6

I said the same thing,Tony,and it turns out after some checking we are both wrong. GM did offer the 4.3 V6/4L80E combo in some big box vans. Sounds kinda silly but they did do this.

If you can look at in person then the trans's are easily identified since the 700R4/4L60/4L60E all use the same square shaped pan while an 80E uses a sorta round/oval pan (looks like a TH400 pan on crack IMO).

I said the same thing,Tony,and it turns out after some checking we are both wrong. GM did offer the 4.3 V6/4L80E combo in some big box vans. Sounds kinda silly but they did do this.

If you can look at in person then the trans's are easily identified since the 700R4/4L60/4L60E all use the same square shaped pan while an 80E uses a sorta round/oval pan (looks like a TH400 pan on crack IMO).

I've worked on trannys for 3 decades and I learn something new every day..... it is the forgeting of 3 things a day that gets me... LOL

Ford put the E40D behind the 300cid straight 6 , so I guess it may have happened.

I checked with a friend today , he told me that he heard GM did the 4L80E with a V-6. He said that Gm built a different , lighter , smaller converter for them.

none the less, the descriptions I gave of the 4L80E are correct for ID purposes.

The 4L65E and 4L70E trannys look mostly the same as the 4L60E 3 piece case trannys.... although they have speed sensors on the input shafts now on the back side of the pump

540cutlSS- The shifter I used was for a 700R4(4 sp. auto) part# 383-8521 Summitracing says not available ?

Thanks I will see if I can locate one to look at.