Write-Up: 4T80e Transmission Install

Im going to document my 4t80e transmission swap/install. I will post some pics up. Im doing this because the only other install like this has instructions that aren't very specific, or at least not documented as much.

So far, the 4t60 is out, so most pics will be from here on out. Pulling the trans is fairly straight forward. We had to drop the subframe completely though. Surprisingly, the 4t60 looks great, as do the axles.

Our first problem we ran into was that the stock flywheel is a 3 bolt pattern. The torque converter that came with the 4t80 is a 4 bolt pattern. From my research, it appears that the 4t65 has the same 3 bolt pattern. The Aurora flywheel wont bolt up to the Riv's crank...so we don't have a working flywheel. So we have to drill new holes into the stock flywheel. We are probably going to have a machine shop or a friends drill the new holes since they have to be perfect. The same flywheel should save us from getting another starter too.

BTW, this 4t80 is an beast.

(click images to enlarge)

dreww wrote:

Im going to document my 4t80e transmission swap/install. I will post some pics up. Im doing this because the only other install like this has instructions that aren't very specific, or at least not documented as much.

So far, the 4t60 is out, so most pics will be from here on out. Pulling the trans is fairly straight forward. We had to drop the subframe completely though. Surprisingly, the 4t60 looks great, as do the axles.

Our first problem we ran into was that the stock flywheel is a 3 bolt pattern. The torque converter that came with the 4t80 is a 4 bolt pattern. From my research, it appears that the 4t65 has the same 3 bolt pattern. The Aurora flywheel wont bolt up to the Riv's crank...so we don't have a working flywheel. So we have to drill new holes into the stock flywheel. We are probably going to have a machine shop or a friends drill the new holes since they have to be perfect. The same flywheel should save us from getting another starter too.

BTW, this 4t80 is an beast.

pm tubrbo400sbc... they run a 4t80 in their riv

yea but he's hardly ever posting now. cant be waiting weeks for a reply. he has a long post over at the dhp board with more helpful info. im just documenting my install cause its different. it a 60e to 80e swap and were doing it from the bottom. his is a 65e swap from the top.

dreww wrote:

BTW, this 4t80 is an beast.

Holy cow! I guess!
Hardly looks like it would fit.

Interesting.

well it fits! We got it "stabbed" into the motor today. It was a little bit of a bitch, and its one heavy heavy trans. We got the holes drilled for the flywheel (pics below).

We had to remove the rear knock sensor and put a plug in place (pics below), and have to move that knock sensor up into the side of block. Little drilling and some thread taps and its in. (pics below). Also cut a notch of the off so the trans would fit. (pics below).

We still gotta get some replacement trans mounts for front and back...and we need the brackets off 65e trans cause the 60's mount brackets are a no go on the 4t80.

Nice.. quite the conversion sir! BTW no pics yet

flywheel holes drilled



notch we cut out of edge of block housing



cutting

slightly trimming counterweight so we could fit the torque converter bolts

Didn't you like all that coolant that came out with the knock sensor? lol

Nice work! How much more weight would you say the 4T80e is compared to the 60e?

plug for stock knock sensor location....it was a water jacket so plug was required.


drilling out new hole for sensor relocation...hole was already in block, we just made it a little wider.

AA wrote:

Nice work! How much more weight would you say the 4T80e is compared to the 60e?

supposed to be 60lbs...but lifting either from a lying position is very uncomfortable at best. Lucky we were both bigger guys. A third set of hands would have been nice.

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

knock sensor relocated...you can see plug in this pic too.


bottom view of first attempt to stab in trans


IN!!!



even better, it doesnt look like the headers are going to be in the way.

98riviera98 wrote:

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

no...its not. Turbo had a long discussion over this topic either in this thread on this board or the post he had on the DHP board. Either way, the theory is that knock would travel even better/faster through iron (block) that water.

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

no...its not. Turbo had a long discussion over this topic either in this thread on this board or the post he had on the DHP board. Either way, the theory is that knock would travel even better/faster through iron (block) that water.

sounds like you would get more false KR from that IMO.. thats just my theory though..

98riviera98 wrote:

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

no...its not. Turbo had a long discussion over this topic either in this thread on this board or the post he had on the DHP board. Either way, the theory is that knock would travel even better/faster through iron (block) that water.

sounds like you would get more false KR from that IMO.. thats just my theory though..

we'll know soon enough.

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

no...its not. Turbo had a long discussion over this topic either in this thread on this board or the post he had on the DHP board. Either way, the theory is that knock would travel even better/faster through iron (block) that water.

sounds like you would get more false KR from that IMO.. thats just my theory though..

we'll know soon enough.

GOOD i'm VERY impressed with this build sir

98riviera98 wrote:

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

dreww wrote:

98riviera98 wrote:

That knock sensor is going into a coolant passage correct?

no...its not. Turbo had a long discussion over this topic either in this thread on this board or the post he had on the DHP board. Either way, the theory is that knock would travel even better/faster through iron (block) that water.

sounds like you would get more false KR from that IMO.. thats just my theory though..

we'll know soon enough.

GOOD i'm VERY impressed with this build sir

thanks. yea, but my mechanic brought something to my attention today....once Im getting 100% of my power to the ground...Im gonna realize that its not enough and that means more modding.

Update?

gonna be a while. im not off to work on it until next weekend. but might be going out of town so may not finish til following weekend.

dreww wrote:

thanks. yea, but my mechanic brought something to my attention today....once Im getting 100% of my power to the ground...Im gonna realize that its not enough and that means more modding.

So then..... a Northstar?

hell with that...there is alot more potential in this motor. still got new heads and cam combo, stage 3 or 4. possibly nitrous too. muhahaha! or maybe one day, whipple????

I'll definatly be looking at this install info if/when my trans dies. either that or a full L32+4T65+PCM swap.