4l80e and shift linkage

[pcmcobra]

Well,
got just about everything tied up on my swap. Almost ready to crank her up!
One problem I am having is column shift linkage. First I got sporty and ordered the lokar column shift kit they have. Well, the rod was not long enough and the rod was hitting firewall, I probably could have "bent" it a little to clear, but it still would not be long enough...
So now, I am back to stock linkage, wish I had a camera right now, but my wife and kids took it on a trip (without me!)...
Anyway, just wondered if anyone put a 4l80 in their swap(mine is an 86 that had a th350)
A couple guys on another forum swapped the 4l60 and used the lokar and they said it worked great, but not for me.
Any ideas would be great, if I don't have it figured out by the time I can take some pics, I'll post them up.

[454HO]

I used the stock linkage on my 4l80e conversion. I had to lengthen the linkage rod about 3 or 4 inches and I moved the bell-crank pivot that mounts to the frame back about 3 inches. It works good. I've got some pics at home I can post, but it will be a few weeks. I am in China right now.

[pcmcobra]

thx

[Captkaos]

I plan to mimic the linkage setup in my 91 1Ton that has the 4L80E in it from the factory.

[OJOE]

john. i used a 4l60e in my swap. i did have a 700. used the stock linkage without any mods and the 700 mount on the new trans. did not change anything. however will not pull down into first.

[Captkaos]

Joe, a 700R4 (4L60) is the same basic case as the 4L60E. Not sure why it won't go into 1 as the linkage should the same.

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Joe, a 700R4 (4L60) is the same basic case as the 4L60E. Not sure why it won't go into 1 as the linkage should the same.

truck came with P R N D 2 1 ,no over drive.

[454HO]

Originally Posted by pcmcobra

thx

No problem. I forgot to mention that the slotted U shaped shift linkage bracket from the TH350 trans will bolt onto the 4l80e in place of the cable operated bracket. And not sure if it matters, but my trans is a '99 and was originally behind a Vortec 7400.

[pcmcobra]

Originally Posted by 454HO

No problem. I forgot to mention that the slotted U shaped shift linkage bracket from the TH350 trans will bolt onto the 4l80e in place of the cable operated bracket. And not sure if it matters, but my trans is a '99 and was originally behind a Vortec 7400.

ya, that's what I have on t5here now trying to see what I needed to do.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by OJOE

truck came with P R N D 2 1 ,no over drive.

The indicator in the bezel is the only difference comparing TH350 to 700R4, so it should still go the full range.

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

The indicator in the bezel is the only difference comparing TH350 to 700R4, so it should still go the full range.

me dont know. i had thought about changing the column for one i have out of a overdrive truck. but i guess that would not work. i have seen other builds where you could not shift to first?????????

[454HO]

I finally got home from China. Here are the pics of how I did mine.





Basically just lengthen the rod by about 2-1/2" and move the pivot point toward the rear about the same amount. Works great with the original column. I just need to get a gear indicator that has the Overdrive position.

[pcmcobra]

I got the lokar working. Just had to bend the rod a little and cut to fit...
Put an OD indicator/cluster, just a little too much travel to get into low1...
I really wanted to go with the cable shift linkage, but either lokar or ididit said their cable shift would NOT work on 4l80e and stock gm column.
The indicator shift points line up close in prn, but d,od, it starts getting "off", but no big deal really.