Finally getting around to posting some updates to the RCSB.

Back in April I ended up blowing a head gasket due to a cracked coolant reservoir and decided to swap in a pair of heads that I ported and polished at school.













After getting the truck back up and running a few days later, The 4L65e decided it didn't want to ball and I lost 3rd and 4th gears... So out it came.



At this point I was undecided weather or not to rebuild or upgrade. But I finally decided to go the 4L80e route. Sold the Circle D Converter and Picked up a core 80e a few days later. Then it was time to tear into it






Luckily there wasn't much damage in the trans besides a lot of clutch material. Ordered up a full rebuild kit and manual.


Somewhere along the line I decided to change the suspension set up. So the Hotchkis Springs were sold and I ordered up a McGaughys flip kit and c notch for the rear and a set of DJM lower control arms for the front and new shocks all around.





Painted up the factory leaf springs and coils



Flip and notch installed and painted up.



Front suspension and brakes finished up.

 

Continued:

Began fabbing up the trans crossmember with the bare trans case to make it easier:



Extended the center section with 3/16" plate.



Welded it up and gave it a coat of paint.



Rebuild kit and misc pics of the trans rebuild.



Had to clearance the bellhousing for header clearance.









Trans all finished up and ready to go back in.

 

Cleanup on Aisle 3

Wow, so you flow bench tested them as well. Nice!

In for the results when she's running again.

 

very nice work so far!! your building a whole new creation....funny how the snowball effect hits...lol

my 80e needs rebuilt in my 454ss truck and id love to try my hand at it but all those parts scare me!! haha

 

Nice build! Can't wait to see how she runs

 

Nice project. How did the heads flow?

 

Lookin good!

 

Yeah I flowed them at school. I was actually the first person to use that flow bench, it was just set up when I was finishing up porting.

Tell me about it. haha Started with a blown head gasket and now I'm pretty much going through everything.

I was a little hesitant to build the trans myself but I look at it this way:

It's all about time and money. If you have more money than time pay someone else to do it. If you have more time than money do it yourself. my pockets aren't very deep so that was one of my deciding factors haha.

There are a few complete rebuild manuals on the web as well as three or four good videos on youtube with a full step by step rebuild on the 4L80e. I'd check those out. Plus if you have all of the tools to do it, that makes it easier too.


Thanks man. Me too. Starting to get impatient.

I flowed those heads almost a year ago. Been searching for the flow numbers. When I find them I'll post the before and after numbers.

Thanks.

 

looking good steve.. Subscribe!!

 

Nice work. How much do the diy rebuild on the trans cost you?