I'm in the process of building my 4L80E and got to the intermediate clutch tonight. I am using 4 Raybestos high energy frictions and 4 Kolene steels. The pack thickness is 0.600". The stock pack was 0.595" thick. When installed with the Transgo HD snap ring, the clearance is 0.083" with the new pack. This is with dry frictions and using the wave plate.

The manual says to aim for around 0.04-0.12" (forgot the third digit) so I'm right in the middle there. But I keep reading to aim for 0.010" per clutch plate.

Is 0.083" too much?

If so, how do I reduce the clearance? I can't seem to find thicker 80E steels. And the thicker frictions are not high-energy. What about using a single TH400 steel? They are around 0.024" thicker.

 

I use a single TH400 steel in place of an 80e intermediate steel in every 80e I've built. That clutch pack takes a nasty beating, so I like it to engage firmly and quickly. Some builders might tell you that too tight with the clearance will make the clutches drag on the steels, but once you put the transmission through its paces with a few full throttle pulls, the clutch material will get compacted to some extent and open up the clearance a hair. So its not bad to go tight with the clearances on high power, high abuse builds.

 

Sounds good! One TH400 steel should get me down to 0.059" in theory. The intermediate is applied in every gear except 1st, so any extra drag would be negligible IMO. And it's still more than the 0.010" per clutch recommendation.

When you use the TH400 steel, where do you put it in the pack? I'm assuming it doesn't matter.

For the sake of consistency, does Kolene make TH400 intermediate steels?

 

Just ordered a Kolene TH400 steel 0.100" thick. The place I bought my rebuilt kit from forgot some stuff, so they are going to toss it in with the missing parts.

 

I don't use Kolene steels, just stock stuff. And it really doesn't matter where you put the thicker steel. FWIW, I put it on the bottom with the wave spring...

 

Thanks Jake! What about the direct clutch? I'm using BW high-energy frictions and Kolene steels, 6 of each. The clearance is around 0.096". The steels of this pack 0.060" thick. I could get a 0.090" thick steel which should give around 0.066" clearance.

Or is there a thicker snap ring?

 

You might run it a little on the tight side on the directs. Intermediates are really the only ones where you need to pay extra close attention to the clearances. The direct drum is more sensitive to the volume of fluid fed to it on a shift than the clutch clearances. Dual feed the directs, set it just a tiny bit tight, and it'll feel perfect

 

Awesome. I'll try one thicker steel in the direct. I am doing the dual feed direct mods too. What about wave washers? Some people seem to remove them, I was planning on keeping all of mine.