4l80e to 5.3 Flex Plate and Drive Shaft
 

I killed the 4l60 with the turbo and now I'm starting the 80e build. Where can I
get a flex plate that will mate to the 80e torque converter?

Is there any way to use the DS I have (2002 RCLB)? Different yoke? If not where can I get one of the correct length?

I pretty well know all the things I need just don't know where to get it all...

got my flex plate on amazon
Amazon.com: ATP Z-270 Automatic Transmission Flywheel Flex-Plate: Automotive

drive shaft you will prob have to have yours cut and rebalanced

This plate has the spacer needed?

yup and bolts

Some converters will mate to a 4L60E or 4L80E style flexplate, so you may want to talk to your converter company first.

Good suggestion Slow.... If you are getting a custom converter then it can be built to what ever flexplate you have - no special adapters or spacers. But if you are trying to use the OE 310mm converter, then the link above will work. Also keep in mind the link above is for an OE style plate. If you are planning some serious HP then I suggest an SFI upgrade.

Chris

Chris sells a "dished" flexplate that eliminates the need for the spacer. But I'm not sure if it's for an 80E or 60E bolt pattern, maybe both?

As mentioned talk to your torque converter company before buying the flexplate.

As of now I'm only pushing 6lbs of boost, probably around 400, so I would figure OE would work. I am going to start with the converter that came with 80e. I just finished the turbo build and funds are low...eventually more boost and probably a stall but not yet.

plenty of guys have done 600+ on stock plate, but a SFI one would be suggested above that
i know atp had a bulliten for this flex plate that it was redesigned to be stronger as some of that style were known to break in the middle

Just an FYI, we have a great budget 4L80 278mm converter. Rated to handle about 500 at the tires. Will work with the turbo setup much better than the big 310mm OE. And it has the LS bolt pattern so no need to swap flexplates.

Circle D Specialties High Performance 278mm Torque Converter for GM 4L80 LS

Chris

is that 500 crank or 500whp? Im in process of doing my 4l80 swap and i was just going to for a rebuild factory high stall converter, my truck will be 500-550whp area, would that converter work?

I would feel safe with it. Rated at 500 at the tires. They have been thoroughly tested in the 4l60 version and have held considerable more. It is a single disk, so make sure you do not lock under power.

Chris

Thanks for the info chris!

I used the 4l80e flexplate tci makes and it is super heavy duty. When I killed my 60e the stock flexplate had stress cracks all around the starter engagement ring. It wasn’t gonna last much longer. Slow is the man when it came to me needing help wiring my 4l80e to work with my 60e tune. Chris @ circle d did my converter but I went with the stock 6 pad configuration cuz its what I needed. The tci plate comes with the spacer thats needed. The 4l80e im using had a bolt on style yoke. It seems to me most are like this if you get a truck 4l80e anyway. I simply sealed the back of the yoke and used it as a slip yoke with the stock driveshaft. Worked great for a while but just recently I found the correct slip yoke for my application. I ordered it and to my surprise it is the correct slip yoke and is counterbored like I needed. The part number is N3-3-2431X and it is from neapco. I ran the stock converter for a while but it is such a heavy unit at 13" diameter I decided it was doing more harm then good. The circle d converter is a masterpiece there is no comparing it.

For a converter like that, what would I expect in DD situations. I probably won't be on a racetrack but maybe 5 times in the truck's life so surely I would want the lower stall here wouldn't I? Haven't done my research in this area yet...

With this you could use the drive shaft from the 4l60? How did you seal the yoke, I'm not visualizing well today....

you could use the stock one but u will leave some performance gains out on the table. if you want a nice light converter that can take plenty of abuse then have chris spec one for you. I dont drive my truck much on the street these days I can live with my 4k stall converter u may not be able to but u dont have to have one that stalls up that high. the yoke I listed is sealed in the back and yes you can use the stock driveshaft. the only thing is the u joint is a half breed. it uses the truck style caps and dimensions on the driveshaft but the 4l80e yoke caps and dimensions on the yoke side. I forget the number on the joint but its common. I will dig up the part number I used from precision.