Hey guys,

My tranny has been without second gear for about a month and half now and after a lot of debate, I am ready to do a swap.

My truck is a 2wd RCSB with a 5.3l and a ProCharger D1-SC on 12 lbs. I would imagin it being somewhere around 425 rwhp or more? I have decided to do the 4L80e swap with a stock convertor and shift kit. I would prefer a better stall, but the funds just won't allow it right now.

I am just wondering if this thing is going to be complete dog in first gear. Before with the 60, it would just blow the tires (tire) off 1st through 2nd gear and then when it hit third, it was a complete dog. I am hoping with the 80 that 1st gear won't be as violent with wheel spin and that with the tighter gear ratios the drop in RPM won't be as bad in 2nd to 3rd which was really bad with my SC and the 60. I am just hoping with the 80 that 1st gear isn't going to be a complete disappointment with stock convertor....as I love doing those 30 mph roll on the throttle and blowing the tire off!! Yeah, I know... I also have to disperse some of the funds to a posi unit.

Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks in advance for the help.

 

If you are spinning the tires in second with a high-stall converter in the 4L60-E then you'll probably still be spinning the tire(s) in first with a 4L80-E and a stock converter.
Don't think you won't notice a huge difference though, a Procharger needs to be higher in RPM to start making power than a stock converter will let it be at launch. It's going to feel a little bit like lag. I think it will be fine really, especially if traction was as bad before as you describe.

 

Thanks for the response...I didn't have a high stall in my 60, just the stock convertor. Yeah, the second to third shift should be much better for the lag than the 60 was. There was no problem with lag in 1st and 2nd with the 60. I am really curious to see now different it would be?

 

Anyone else have any input?

 

At your current rwhp I can't see why a properly built 65 would not do the job for you. Keep in mind that the 80 conversion can be a costly one. Vince

 

Hi Vince,

I hope to do cam, headers, and a few other bolt ons in hopes of making 500 plus horsepower. From what I have read, it is still a gamble with that kind of power with the best of the best built 65's. I would also like to evetually do a built 6.0 or at least forged internals in a bored 5.3l so I can turn up the boost. I can get into a 4l80e for around $2200, this is including everything needed to do the switch. Granted it is not a built one, but it is rebuilt with a shift kit and comes with a convertor.

 

I have an 80e and traction is much better with it over the 60e with the same 2600 stall different converter of course at first it did seem slow from a dead stop but at the track my 60' time are the same and it really pulls hard up top due to the close ratio. Only down fall is the 80e is about 100 lbs heavier. Dont build a 65e you Will be doing it over again most of us have. The conversion isnt that bad.

 

Do the 80e. You can usually have the converter sent out and made into a little higher stall for not much money. If you want to PM me, I'll go into detail.

 

Breeze, u r saying u have the same get-up-&-go on a 80e as a 60e? How can a 2.48 1st = 3.06 1st? Or did u udgrade the 80e to a higher 1st gear? I guess if it's all equal @ 60', that's ok. 100# more - R U SHITTING ME???? Do u feel a FLT level 5 can deal w/ a Radix(if I go that route?) What's the worst thing about the conversion? Not tryin to threadjack, if needbe, feel free to PM.

 

I dont see what year your truck is...
but on my 2000 which has the 1999 cross member, only thing that i had to spend money on was the transmission from my buddy, a TH400 Long Yoke and new Converter bolts..
I came out wayyy cheaper than a "level 5 60E"
and just the thought of having a stout trans is nice. especially after having to pull the 60E out 15 times... no joke... i couldnt get a break on Torque converters then when i finally got a good one, the trans broke.
Got fed up with that crap and got the 80E..

i got the yoke for $25 from a local driveshaft shop
Modified my factory Crossmember
Moved 2 wires on my factory harness ( no need in wasting your money on the stupid conversion harness)
Added a connector on the front speed sensor and ran the wires to the PCM
bolt it up and go.

Saved alot goin with the 80E..
and also compared to the 3000stalled 60E i get about 1.5mpg better in town and right at the same mileage on the interstate.

First gear does make things interesting.. but i had traction issues too, with the higher first gear and stock converter with the 80E.. no more problems and when boost hits.. the speedo burries quick. i looked at one of my logs and i was shifting 1-2 at 55mph and 5500 rpms and 2-3 at 88mph at 5000rpms.. so once it starts moving.. its gone.

You can PM me if you need some help with the swap.. its easy.