4L80e Build for 550hp

[Bdsankey]

My father and I are finishing up a restoration on his 1979 Silverado K10 that we are going to be updating to fuel injection with trans control via a Holley Terminator system. My question is, what is the best or a proven method to build a 4L80e to handle ~550hp/600ft-lbs from a big block chevy? There is a 502ci GM crate motor in it that he definitely enjoys the power it makes quite often so I will need to determine the best solution including converter.

 

[OregonDMAX]

HD2 shift kit triple disk converter and leave it alone

 

[Bdsankey]

HD2 shift kit triple disk converter and leave it alone

We're going to be building off a scrapyard core. I was looking at going to say an Alto or Raybestos stage 1 rebuild kit with a shift kit and a TCI Street Fighter 3000-3400 stall converter (PN 242940, matches GM's recommendations for converter stall).

 

[LbzDMax07]

Dont piss with a TCI converter. They are garbage

 

[Bdsankey]

Dont piss with a TCI converter. They are garbage

Good to know! Any recommendations?

 

[LbzDMax07]

All I run is Fti. They are good people to work with

 

[RickDLance]

You could get a Duramax trans. I am told they are a lot beefier. Hardened shafts too IIRC.

 

[Burn Down]

Protorque, FTI, and Circle D are converters I’d run. Stay with a triple disk if your wanting full power lockup shifts.

 

[Bdsankey]

How about a rebuild kit? Essentially any rebuild kit will be good is what I’m gathering. Looking at either the Alto super kit or Raybestos stage 1.

 

[Mike L.]

Get the Sonax over run clutch apply kit.

 

[TheBac]

You could get a Duramax trans. I am told they are a lot beefier. Hardened shafts too IIRC.

From a van?

 

[Mike L.]

From a van?

Yes

 

[Bdsankey]

Yes

So if I buy a van core, what would you recommend I do to it to be reliable? It’s going in my dads truck and he drives that rig like a 16yr old kid who just got his license. He uses all of that big blocks rev range and torque.

 

[RickDLance]

I just happen to have a good one out of a 2008 van.

 

[Bdsankey]

I just happen to have a good one out of a 2008 van.

I’ll send you an email Rick.

 

[OregonDMAX]

If you get one that's known good I would just do a converter and shift kit. No sense in trying to rebuild a factory built trans.

 

[Bdsankey]

If you get one that's known good I would just do a converter and shift kit. No sense in trying to rebuild a factory built trans.

10-4, didn't know if the factory trans would take the power but it seems as it will. I'll probably pick that one up from Rick then (if he's willing to part with it) and slap in a good triple disk converter with a HD2 shift kit and run it.

 

[OregonDMAX]

A stock 4l80 will hold it just fine but it will be lame with a stock converter and the converter is the issue. If it was a 4l60e I'd have different things to say. Like ditch it for an 80e lol

 

[Bdsankey]

A stock 4l80 will hold it just fine but it will be lame with a stock converter and the converter is the issue. If it was a 4l60e I'd have different things to say. Like ditch it for an 80e lol

Sounds good, thanks for the insight! I don't want to over-complicate it but also don't want to skimp just to save a few bucks if that makes sense.


I'll source a dmax van trans, good converter (FTI/Circle D/ProTorque), good cooler, and a Transgo HD2 and run it for now until it gives us issues.

 

[OregonDMAX]

Just like the LS series motors, a factory build is going to be far more reliable if left alone. Obviously if the trans had a butt load of miles(200k+) it's a good idea to freshen it up but I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use a low miles trans as is with a shift kit and converter they are much stronger than trans from the 90s and older. When it comes to the 80e I wouldn't get anything older than an 04 as well. The older ones had some issues.