OD options 85 c30...

[ponjohn]

What is a legitimate OD option for a one ton dually, without longevity issues.

I still want to be able to haul and tow with it without worry. Has anybody done this?

Thanks-

[86 GMG]

im a little confused do you mean can you put a 700r4 overdrive in your 1 ton without issues. if this is what you mean, i say yes you can but it will cost you a pretty penny and a good tranny guy to do so.

[ponjohn]

700r4 or 4l80, right? Thing is, my concern if a 700r4 will stand up to hauling a 7000lbs worth of trailer?

[N2TRUX]

Your better off trying to put a 4L80 in it. The 700r4 was never meant to withstand daily abuse from towing. Yes they can be built to endure, but it starts getting pricey. Put a 4L80 in there and you won't have to worry....

[live85]

From what I understand, the computer to run the 4L80E cost as much as the transmission itself. My buddy bought one (4L80E) for his '78 and then realized he couldn't use it without the computer. Upon pricing computers, he became very disappointed.

[86 GMG]

that was my consern also thats why i didnt mention the 4L80 i have never had one rebuilt but asssumed it would be almost twice as much $ as the 700r due to rebuild and then computer and harness instalation

[apstguy]

A 4L60 has no computer - a 4L60E has a computer. Go with a 4L60 and you will have no problems but make sure it is built up. It is esentually the same exact tranny as a 700r4 but with reliability upgrades. I have a bowtieoverdrives.com 700r4 and it could easily stand up to towing but it is a significantly modified tranny. They have a completly different valve body. I bought the tranny for about $1000 bucks but figure you also need a torque converter, cooler, cooler lines, and tranny temp kit. I also bought a TCI deep pan to keep it cooler (which is an excelent for towing) and a TCI thick flexplate (which is another upgrade worth the money - my original flexplate cracked with a 305!). All and all I probably spent closer to $2000 all said and done. I would do it again though.

A 4L80E is stronger and is a new version of the TH-400 with overdrive. The computer cost some bucks and you usually need to have a fuel injected engine of that era for it but I have heard of a stand-alone aftermarket computer just for the tranny itself.

Edited because I was stupid and was taking about the 4L60 instad of the 4L80. There is no 4l80 - just a 4L80E!!!

[SSC's76]

I dident know they made a non electronic 4L80, never heard of it. Is shifting a problem? If not TransGo makes a full manual kit for the 4L80 (E), I guess if you were to get a floor shift setup this wouldent be too bad.

[apstguy]

Shifting is the same with any other tranny.

[apstguy]

I'm sorry I'm an idiot. I should have been refering to the 4L60 the whole time. I wasn't paying attention. I'm sorry. There is no 4L80 (non-electronic). The 4L80E basically replaced the Th-400, it just added an overdrive gear. Here is a page desribing the differences: http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm

[ponjohn]

The 4l80e controller is about a 1000 dollars and comes with TPS for q-jet or holley.

The way the trans xmember is configured I wonder how difficult it would to move the mount accordingly? Might be better off using aunversal mount and bolt it to the frame?

[FLAGG]

If money isn't a problem, you could always sneak one of these things in.

[Russell]

There are FAR cheaper ways of running the tranny. Install a small cap electronic HEI, TPS, knock sensor, coolant temp sensor, MAP sensor, along with a few other things, and you can have the newer PCM run the tranny. Basically, the idea is to make the PCM think it is running an engine, which is actually carburated, and shift the transmission accordingly. Sounds a bit re-neck, but it is being done by many different people in daily driven rigs. Not only that, but you also get the power added by an ECM constantly keeping your timing at it's maximum amount for any given time, and knock retard capablities etc.

I saw an article on it the other day, so if I can find it, I'll let you know where to find it.

The other option is to get a diesel TCU, and have it's prom re-done to shift the tranny for a gasoline engine. It needs the same sensors as the PCM would though, and doesn't have the spark control abilities etc.

While very little of this probally made any sense to you, the basic jist of it is that you can use pretty much any TBI computer from a truck with a 4l80e, provide it with a few sensor inputs, and it'll shift your transmission for you, or you can get a diesel transmission controller from some of the early trucks to shift it for you.

Doing so could save you hundreds of dollars on some fancy aftermarket controller that'll do the exact same thing.

[bloertcher]

The megasquirt ECM will also handle shifting duties,and an affordable route to take.