Updating, and installing a shift kit on a 93 4L80E

[bowtiebutler956]

I've been having a few minor problems with the trans in my 93 K2500. The TCC clutch has been unlocking for no apparent reason, and sometimes it shifts strangely, but no slipping. I decided to see if I couldn't get it fixed before it caused more serious problems. I bought a complete solenoid kit that is for 91-03 4l80's, but to use it on pre 94 models also requires replacing both the internal, and external wiring harness. I purchased the updated wiring harness, and decided to install a Superior Shift Correction kit as well. This kit came with some options for HD, and towing as well, that I used. I can't believe how much better this trans shifts! The TCC works perfectly every time, and the shifts are much firmer, and more consistent. They're not harsh at all, just firm. I have no doubt that I've added many more miles of life to this trans, and would recommend this to anyone looking for a better performing 4L80E.
Here are a bunch of pictures of the install as well as a couple videos. I apologize for the poor audio in the vids, as once the truck is moving you can't even tell what I'm saying. The first video is pre shift kit, and the first run is just average throttle, and you can see the TCC unlock for no reason. The second run is harder throttle.
The second video is after the shift kit, and it really doesn't do justice to how much crisper, and consistent the trans is shifting. The first run is light throttle, and the second run is heavy throttle. Thanks

Matt

Video One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RVrsrh5R6g&list=UU3UhD4f8Vgbfm5QthyqHXvQ

Video Two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB40CsU9Wn0&list=UU3UhD4f8Vgbfm5QthyqHXvQ

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Here is a pic of the old parts that were replaced/

Matt

 

[ak diesel driver]

I could see the tach move quicker when it upshifted.

 

[Will L.]

Nice results. Now time to play 20 questions.
How much did that cost?
How long did it take?
Is this doable by an amateur?
I'll leave the other 17 to someone else...

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Nice results. Now time to play 20 questions.
How much did that cost?
How long did it take?
Is this doable by an amateur?
I'll leave the other 17 to someone else...

1. How much did it cost. Here are the prices, and links to the parts.
Superior Shift Correction Kit. $60 http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERIOR-SH...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3a91d4c9&vxp=mtr
Solenoid Kit. $85 http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-SOLEN...Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a82e8ad2&vxp=mtr
Internal/External wiring harness. $68 http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-4L80E-Tr...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a8184f74b&vxp=mtr
Valve body gaskets. I sourced mine at a local tranny shop, but here is a listing for them. $16 http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-GM-TR...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c81ebecc9&vxp=mtr
2. How long did it take? I took my time, as I wanted to make sure not to screw up. About 8 hours from start to finish.
3. Is it doable by an amateur? Yes, absolutely, but I recommend taking pictures, and watching a YouTube video, as there are some very good ones on the 4l80e valve body. I did have to grind down, and customize a pair of my needle nose pliers for reaching down one of the valve body holes to remove a roll pin that held the TCC valve. I'll take a picture of my pliers later today.

Matt

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Here are a couple pics of the pliers I modified. I just used a cheap junk pair to grind down, and they worked perfectly, as the roll pins aren't a press fit, they just slide in.
I'm sure some of you noticed the filter in the pics above. Its a Magnefine brand magnetic inline filter. You'll see the one I have has a Ford part #, but the are made by Magnefine. I like the way they force all the fluid to pass by a magnet, as well as adding an additional filter. They are meant to be changed out every time you service your trans. 30-50k. I didn't get a chance to install it yesterday, but I'll do it Monday. Here is a link to one.http://www.ebay.com/itm/261385396200?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Matt

 

[bison]

I rebuild a 93 4L80 for a friend 4 years ago and installed a shift kit at the same time. It was my first AT rebuild attempt and i was surprised at how simple these trannys actually are
Total cost was 300 ish.
I did it all with standard tools but I had to fabricate a couple sleeves to protect the seals when installing the pistons in the clutch bores.
The guy put over 50 k on it since,..no issues.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I rebuild a 93 4L80 for a friend 4 years ago and installed a shift kit at the same time. It was my first AT rebuild attempt and i was surprised at how simple these trannys actually are
Total cost was 300 ish.
I did it all with standard tools but I had to fabricate a couple sleeves to protect the seals when installing the pistons in the clutch bores.
The guy put over 50 k on it since,..no issues.

I've never rebuilt a 4L80, but I have done two E40D's, and a couple 700r4's, all of which turned out well, but the I tried rebuilding the tranny out of a 99 Dodge Caravan, and failed miserably! I had the trans out of that van 3 times, and couldn't figure out what I did wrong. Every time it tried to shift from 1st to 2nd it was like it just went back to neutral. I finally took it to a trans shop, where they found I had installed a piston incorrectly in one of the forward drums. The bill from that shop was double of what I had spent on the parts. So, if I can avoid rebuilding them, I do, but the problem is, I'm a diehard do it yourselfer kind of guy, so I guess if the need arouse I would do it again, but no Dodge's!!! :hihi:

Matt

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I sure hope he stands behind it when one of the solenoids fail. 91-93 used a different EPC than 94+ did. It will work, but chances are line pressure will be off because of the different solenoid.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I sure hope he stands behind it when one of the solenoids fail. 91-93 used a different EPC than 94+ did. It will work, but chances are line pressure will be off because of the different solenoid.

I surely can't argue with you, as I don't know any better, but I do own a transmission pressure tool that I can hook to the trans, and take a drive with. I can even do a video, but I need you to tell me what pressure I'm looking for. Many of the trans parts houses sell this same kit listed as being for 91-03. You wouldn't think they would if it was causing them problems. Here are just a few examples.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-Chevy-4L...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c64bb5e8b&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-Trans...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecce32f17&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-Trans...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cef009d37&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-NEW-O...Parts_Accessories&hash=item517dd5b219&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-So...Parts_Accessories&hash=item48422ca9b6&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-SOLEN...Parts_Accessories&hash=item519e9fe997&vxp=mtr

I also have to add that this trans has never shifted so well, but you do have me concerned. I will certainly put the gauge on it, and take it for a drive while recording. Thanks

Matt

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I found a site that has the pressures specs. Here is a link https://stagerighttransmissions.com/assets/pdf/gm4L80Reference.pdf

I'll get back with my findings tomorrow. Thanks

Matt

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I surely can't argue with you, as I don't know any better, but I do own a transmission pressure tool that I can hook to the trans, and take a drive with. I can even do a video, but I need you to tell me what pressure I'm looking for. Many of the trans parts houses sell this same kit listed as being for 91-03. You wouldn't think they would if it was causing them problems. Here are just a few examples.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-Chevy-4L...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c64bb5e8b&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-Trans...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecce32f17&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-Trans...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cef009d37&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-NEW-O...Parts_Accessories&hash=item517dd5b219&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-So...Parts_Accessories&hash=item48422ca9b6&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4L80E-SOLEN...Parts_Accessories&hash=item519e9fe997&vxp=mtr

I also have to add that this trans has never shifted so well, but you do have me concerned. I will certainly put the gauge on it, and take it for a drive while recording. Thanks

Matt

The new solenoid may in fact work, but I can ASSURE you there is in fact a different EPC for 91-93 VS 94-03. I don't see your old one in your pics, but if it was silver, you put a different one back in it. Heres a site that lists the 91-93 style, and as you can see it is ALOT more money than the 94-03 style. http://cobratransmission.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_11_19_41_155

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I just did some more searching and it is REALLY muddy as to wether or not the newer style black one will work in place of a silver one. If you already had a black EPC, then chances are somebody already changed it. One site says the PROM needs to be upgraded, and then 2 or 3 others say it doesn't. So who knows, I haven't ever tried it so I don't know if it will work or not.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

I just did some more searching and it is REALLY muddy as to wether or not the newer style black one will work in place of a silver one. If you already had a black EPC, then chances are somebody already changed it. One site says the PROM needs to be upgraded, and then 2 or 3 others say it doesn't. So who knows, I haven't ever tried it so I don't know if it will work or not.

Yes Ferm, the old EPC was silver (I included a pic below), and the one that replaced it was black.
Here is a short vid of my trans pressures. I took a longer one while driving, but I didn't realize until watching the vid that there was a glare on the gauge, and you couldn't see it at all. So I took a short video holding the gauge in the right position with one hand, and holding the camera with the other hand, which didn't leave me with any extra hands for driving much. :hihi:

The pressure specs that I found online said the pressure at idle in drive should be 40-70, and full throttle in drive should be 160-180. Mine read 45 idling in drive, and 160-5 with a quick mash of the throttle. These are on the low end, but the trans has 160k on it, and these pressures are within spec. However, occasionally the needle jumps up about 20psi while idling. I'm unsure what to think about this, even though the pressure still remains in spec.
Judging from the way the transmission shifts, I can say that the new EPC most certainly does work in the older transmissions, but will it last? There is only one way to find out, and I'll be Guinea Pig. Anyway, here is the video. Thanks

Matt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8xVesA-SHw&feature=youtu.be

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

Your pressure spike is due to the EPC cleaning cycle that the older 91-93 style solenoid required. The newer black ones do not require it. There is an extra passage in the valve body seperator plate that goes to a damper for the line pressure control to help control that spike. Without the damper it would peg the gauge out when it did it instead of just a small spike. This is what happens if you put a new style trans into an older truck. The newer valve body doesn't have the extra accumulator and you get a nasty pressure spike every 10 seconds or so. Looks like the newer EPC seems to be controlling line pressure for you. Hopefully it lasts. I know years back I was warned not to do it unless the PROM was updated as well. Maybe they did something to the new replacements to make them work with both.

 

[bowtiebutler956]

Your pressure spike is due to the EPC cleaning cycle that the older 91-93 style solenoid required. The newer black ones do not require it. There is an extra passage in the valve body seperator plate that goes to a damper for the line pressure control to help control that spike. Without the damper it would peg the gauge out when it did it instead of just a small spike. This is what happens if you put a new style trans into an older truck. The newer valve body doesn't have the extra accumulator and you get a nasty pressure spike every 10 seconds or so. Looks like the newer EPC seems to be controlling line pressure for you. Hopefully it lasts. I know years back I was warned not to do it unless the PROM was updated as well. Maybe they did something to the new replacements to make them work with both.

Thank you for that information. I was thinking that pressure spike was a result of using a different EPC in my trans. I'm glad to hear its just part of the programming for this year model trans. I sure hope it lasts, as I'm really enjoying the way this trans is shifting with the Superior shift kit in it. I never have enjoyed the slow mushy shifts that they have from the factory.

Matt

 

[bowtiebutler956]

My cheap camera takes really crumby video, and I notice the trans gauge is hard to read, so here is a close up of the gauge just as a point of reference for the video. There is also a pic of the port it hooks to on the side of the trans.

Matt