Best to spend the money on a lasting thing than throwing cash at a 60e/75-whatever that will give up the ghost in a matter of time.

 

i've never heard anyone say, "i'm so glad I stayed with a level XXXX 4l6Xe" lol. And on that list of upgraded parts, I don't see anything about output shafts... I've seen a ton of those fail. You just can't add enough strength to a shaft without going bigger in diameter like the 80e's have.

 

One more thing. Don't forget there are higher ratios available in a 4l80e for our pigs. On really high hp rigs wouldn't matter but I think it would at your level. I would use a drag racing app though to make the choice. For roll racing no but for drag racing yes. Probably 2.75 not 2.97 though. Happy thanksgiving to you as well!

 

OP, good decision, you'll be glad you did. I recently got through installing a 4L80. Its great. The job wasn't too much fun, but dropping a 60 to install a 60 wouldn't have made it much easier. The 80 shifts like it means business!

 

Haha...ain't that the truth!

I'd been looking at those as well, and added that to the list. It's been a busy day! I spoke with Chuck and ordered the FLT level 4 street-strip with billet input and Coan 2.75/1.57 6-pinion planetary upgrades. PCM of NC is having a sale and I got the conversion harness on the way. Also jumped on the P.I. Winter Madness sale and spoke with Todd to order their 10.5" Vigilante 3-disc "lock-up" converter with a 2800-2900 rpm stall for $1025 and free shipping. Pretty excited...

So with the DTR81 crossmember on the way, I just need to look at the driveshaft next. I would love to find an oem 5" aluminum ds that that fits without modification. We just got our first rain of the season today, and as curious as I am I don't want to roll around under the truck on the wet ground. Anyone have access to data on oem driveshaft dimensions? From there we can subtract the additional length of the 4L80e and know what length is needed.

 

UPDATE:

As mentioned above, placed the order for the FLT 4L80e and the PI Vig converter on 11/21. Chuck estimates that the 4L80e will likely ship after the Xmas/New Year holiday...PI shipped out the converter to FLT yesterday--considering the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm very impressed with the build time for the converter. Also received the DTR81 crossmember, PCM of NC adapter harness, a Tru-cool 4739 that I picked up from another member, and a B&M trans pan that I bought secondhand from a local race shop. The stock DS has 3R yoke ends, and my 9.5" 14-bolt is a 1350 (used a 3R to 1350 adapter u-joint to mate the stock DS). Looking at available trans yokes, I see that Sonnax has a nice 1350 for the 4L80e, but I am unsure of the spline length I should go with...thinking I should wait until the trans is in and take measurements for fabbing up the new DS at the same time.

 

UPDATE:
Chuck, owner at FLT, got the my new 4L80e assembled and dyno tested (with the new Precision Industries Vigilante 10.5" 3-disc converter) on Friday 2/1, then packed it up and put it in UPS Freights hands for shipping to me on Tuesday 2/5. Chuck was trooper, battling -40 temps and frozen roadway to get into his shop to complete the job...MAJOR props to him for toughing it out to get the job don--even UPS delayed shipping by two days because of conditions. But I picked it up from the freight service center today and excited to get started--now I just need a couple dry days to evaporate the small pond that has inundated the slab I call my work space!

As mentioned, I went with FLT's Level 4 build but also made a couple upgrades. Chuck uses only top shelf parts and when I asked about a higher ratio planetary set could only recommend the Coan 6-pinion planetary--he has used the TCI set previously but having seen and compared the quality of the Coan products, those are the parts he recommends and uses. So we went with the Coan 2.75/1.48 planetary as well as Coan's billet input & intermediate shafts. The only other part that I was considering was the forged drum and 36 element intermediate sprag, but figured that the likelihood of me getting into the 1200 hp range (where this comes into play) is zero-to-none so we called it good. I figure with the more aggressive 2.75/1.48 gearing, added billet shafts along with the quality components that are standard in the Level 4 build, all I need now is a strong driveshaft to tie the power to the 9.5" 14-bolt rear end.

OUTREACH:
I searched the internet and found a shop that I have heard of, and a couple that I have not. If anyone has received great service and reliability from a driveshaft shop that deserves a shout (one that supports the forum would be a plus) please let me know. I need to place an order real soon, and would like to hear what you bought and for what application. Thanks.

 

 

What rear gear you running?

 

Pat, you may be right...have a listen to my gears/revs in the drag video in my signature. You can hear how short 1st is with the 4L60, and 2nd is pretty good as well...if you can ignore the flaring that occurs at the shift you can hear that I barely get into 3rd before the trap. My goal with the 80e was to swap in the 4.10 gear set and to keep a similar 1st & 2nd while tightening up the 3rd gear and hopefully run it out close to redline (in 3rd) at the trap. A member LINKED a cool gear ratio calculator in one of the threads that helps illustrate it well. It's strictly academic but good for talking points... I'll get those ratio tables up in a few.
Currently I still have the 3.42 & G80 that came from that 08 Escalade. I do have 4.10 R&P set and a Truetrac in boxes but priorities dictated getting this 80 done first, next is upsizing the exhaust with 1-7/8" primary headers and true dual 3" with x-pipe, then the gears and posi. After that I want to open up the intake air path (I'm already 2-bar SD tuned so I need to remove the disabled maf and get 4" piping, and maybe a 95mm TB) and change the fueling to flex e85...that way I can do more power adding, starting with pulley down from 3.1 to 2.8 for more boost...I'm at 10 now and think 13 +/- is reasonable. Lastly I will get Pat to spec me a cam...