4L80E?!

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Topic author
chemist
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:30 pm
Location: Pocono Mts, PA

4L80E?!

Post by chemist »

Questions for all you 4L80E guys. I'm curious, even I'll probably just get a rebuit 4L60E when the time comes. How did you do it? Was it a direct bolt on swap? What was involved? Does having AWD make it a whole different ball game--my dream is 2 speed 4WD though...

Previous Vans: 1998 Astro, AWD, 138K mi; traded on 2003 Chevy Astro, AWD, 125K mi; traded on
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT, 4x4, ext, long box
2007 Chevy Cobalt
1998 Maza MPV (180K mi and in need of PA inspection--only paid $500!)

Needed: a Gen 2 Astro project vehicle...

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

As far as I know, Peter is the only one with a 4L80E. Everyone else just runs the 4L60E. Have you done the maintenance on your current tranny? If so, you have a LOT more miles to go.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
chemist
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:30 pm
Location: Pocono Mts, PA

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by chemist »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Have you done the maintenance on your current tranny? If so, you have a LOT more miles to go...
I've done the fluid and filter changes/magnet cleaning. But I don't think I have a many more miles to go. [-o<
1-2 shift is good, and 3-4 shift is good. But if I floor it going up hills, it shifts to 2nd and stays there. After a little while, I'll even loose speed, while staying in 2nd. The name of the game has become keep it out of 2. If I can do that, I run good...

I don't think it's an engine issue. If it were, I think it'd affect 1-2 and 3-4 shifts. But just to be sure, I did the seafoam treatment, have new plugs and wires and a new ignition coil. It wasn't the fuel pump either.

Previous Vans: 1998 Astro, AWD, 138K mi; traded on 2003 Chevy Astro, AWD, 125K mi; traded on
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT, 4x4, ext, long box
2007 Chevy Cobalt
1998 Maza MPV (180K mi and in need of PA inspection--only paid $500!)

Needed: a Gen 2 Astro project vehicle...

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

When I put the Hypertech program in the SPB and raised the rev limiter, I got the same thing. It would tend to hold 2nd too long. I just kept the rpm's to 5k or less and it was good to go.

I also felt the trans was on it's way out around 120k but then I just kept driving it and doing the maintenance and it was still strong when I sold it to Bill at 155k+. I would think you have a LOT more miles to go. :supz:
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
chemist
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:30 pm
Location: Pocono Mts, PA

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by chemist »

You think flushing it will kill it? Might it help?

What about the sea foam tranny stuff?

Previous Vans: 1998 Astro, AWD, 138K mi; traded on 2003 Chevy Astro, AWD, 125K mi; traded on
2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 WT, 4x4, ext, long box
2007 Chevy Cobalt
1998 Maza MPV (180K mi and in need of PA inspection--only paid $500!)

Needed: a Gen 2 Astro project vehicle...

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Don't flush it. Drop the pan and change the filter and then re-fill with fluid. If the fluid that comes out is clean you can flush it out after replacing the filter. If the fluid has never been changed and it is very dirty and brown looking, I wouldn't do anything to it.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

tinytherhino
I am smitten with my van
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 11:36 am
Location: Ft. collins, colorado

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by tinytherhino »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote: If the fluid has never been changed and it is very dirty and brown looking, I wouldn't do anything to it.
I've heard this said several times and was wondering why? Is it just already shot and so a waist of money to flush it or does it cause damage some how? just curious....
'00 Astro AWD- 4" OLV lift, 31x10.5" tires, Yakima rack and a whole lot of fun!
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LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Trans fluid works as a pretty good cleaner. If you put all new fluid in a 100k mile tranny by way of a flush and the fluid had never been serviced before, you will wash all the built up sludge and metal and clutch particles up into the new fluid and proceed to run it through the servos which have very tiny orifices. These orifices will the plug and you won't get proper fluid flow to hold the clutches tight. The already worn clutches will then be toast in very few miles.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

lockdoc
I sleep in my van
Posts: 704
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:50 am
Location: Plymouth Township, PA

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by lockdoc »

In general there is no reason the fluid should be brown or have excessive particles in it. If it is brown it means it over heated badly for whatever reason. In that case damage is probably already done.
Current:
01 AWD - Stock
98 AWD - Stock
Past:
93 4WD - 305 V8 - 5" lift - 31" tires
98 4WD DHC - 10" lift - 33" tires - Onboard air and Hydraulics - Snowplow
92 RWD - 350 V8 - lowered - 97 front clip
92 RWD - 350 V8 - converted to AWD - V6
91 AWD - 350 V8 - conversion van
94 RWD - 350 V8 - sons van
92 RWD - stock - sons van
93 RWD Shorty - project
89 RWD Shorty - parts van

tinytherhino
I am smitten with my van
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 11:36 am
Location: Ft. collins, colorado

Re: 4L80E?!

Post by tinytherhino »

Makes sense.. Thanks for the info!
'00 Astro AWD- 4" OLV lift, 31x10.5" tires, Yakima rack and a whole lot of fun!
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