4L80 Swap
 

I'm new to this forum and i had a couple questions. This past weekend i blew up the tranny in my 2001 silverado 5.3. The truck is used strictly for offroad use, so keeping it street legal or performing "nicer" on the street does not matter to me. I have a built 4L80 lined up to buy that has a stall on it set to about 3,600 which i think is a bit to high. It is also a manual valve body so the wiring harness will not be needed. I wanted to know a few things:

1. What stall would work best for my application?
2. What am i going to need to be prepared for when swapping the tranny out?
3. Will the 4L80 bolt right up to my bell housing?
4. Are there any other surprises i should be ready for?

This is my first transmission swap so any and all help would be appreciated.

Here is a picture of my truck.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../truckback.jpg

is the 5.3 bone stock?

won't you need the wiring for the lockup torque converter?

I think a 2800-3000 would be better.

is your truck 2wd or 4wd?

The only work i have done motor related is:

Gears 4.88, intake, exhaust, chip

The truck is 2wd

Honestly with the abuse it looks like you put that truck through, I would go with the stock 80e torque converter. The swap appears to be extremely straight forward in a 2wd extended cab. The crossmember is moved back 6 1/4 inches (this is what I've read, I'm goign to physically measure it myself when i get a chance) and Speed Engineering can sell you a custom yolk that will just bolt right up to the 80e and your driveshaft. Speartech also has a custom wiring harness, but there is a sticky in the tranny section by nonniesman that shows you how to modify your current 60e main harness to adapt the 80e for free. You also need 1 front VSS sensor that has 2 wires that you run to the PCM. So other than modifying the x-member, the 4l80e pretty much bolts right in.

So it sounds like i will have to be doing some rewiring even with it being a manual valve body. Is that correct? And yes it does get put through a lot of constant high rpm usage and the stock tranny just couldn't take it. Do you have any recommendations for trans coolers?

the best tranny cooler to get is the tru cool max 40k btu unit. It runs about $130

Awesome truck! I agree, the stock converter for offroad apps.

Thanks. Why is the stock converter best? And do you mean i should use the stock converter from a 4L80?

Why would you want to increase your stall speed for off-road use...maybe I'm not clear on your application but for crawling a low stall would be preffered I'd think....:confused:

A high stall will create a ton of heat and would lead to premature transmission failure. Also, I agree with Bill above.....I'd think you'd want a low stall when did climbing/offroading.