BUILD THREAD 4LxxE tans controller possible project

rfpowerdude

G-Body Guru
Jul 15, 2013
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Palm Bay, Fla
Looks like the Megasquirt crowd has already done this and can be just bought off the shelf ($450). There is also a guy on LS1tech forum that did this from scratch, but is not producing anything for the market, however, when asked, he seems to share a lot including code examples.
If I were to do this also, do you think there will be any interest?
This would be a good retirement project...
 
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Depending on price and what types of carb it could be adapted to I would have possible interest. I've got a great '94 4l80e sitting around, but, nothing really to do with it. Nothing I'm playing with at the moment needs the strength enough to be worth dropping $1000 to swap it in between member and controller, but, at a lower total price point? Very possible.
 
I take it you have some circuit design/pcb experience?
Yes. Been an EE for 36 years. This is what I do everyday for a living.
The only negative to do this project is they already exist.
Yes. That is basically what I am saying. However, the reason I would venture to reinvent the wheel is so it could be a stripped down version (and hella cheaper) of what is commercially available or what is available from the project types.
The pros? Could you make something that is lower cost, maybe sub $350? I assume you would target this for OBD1 or carb applications? Have a phone app based shift point adjustment method?
Essentially, this^^. The phone app thing, not sure about that yet. Not sure about anything yet except it would be standalone, but take in certain minimal inputs to decide on shifting e.g. VSS, RPM, load (MAP) and gear selector position. Output would be gear solenoid control (FETs) and PWM for the line pressure "force motor"/"solenoid".

More research needed...
 
Depending on price and what types of carb it could be adapted to I would have possible interest. I've got a great '94 4l80e sitting around, but, nothing really to do with it. Nothing I'm playing with at the moment needs the strength enough to be worth dropping $1000 to swap it in between member and controller, but, at a lower total price point? Very possible.
THIS



My case....I really love driving my coupe. In fact, drove it to work all week. What I don't love is the fuel usage. It's got a mild 350, turbo 350, and 4.10 gears. The 4.10s were in it when I bought it, I would not have gone that ratio when I put it together. About half my daily 75-80 mile commute is interstate. Really would like to go to an overdrive...don't need first gear to be any lower, it's already pretty useless...so a 700R4 makes no sense. Obvious choice is a 200-4R, but seem to be unobtanium through local sources, and really not looking to spend $5K on a trans swap for a driver. Makes the 4L80 look good, and used units with a (short) warranty are $1500 or so locally. Not so bad, but then aftermearket controller adds to that, along with the other mods.

Other choice is rear axle gearing. I have a 2.73 axle (very close to final drive ratio with 4.10 and OD) under a donor car and it's pretty tempting, but don't want to turn the car into a turd to drive, because that snappy response of the 4.10s to merge is pretty nice.

Yes I want my cake and to eat it, too.
 
I'll have to acquire a 4L80E as a test mule. Get it installed into the '70 and get to work. That may take a while haha. I have a 455 in the machine shop to go back into the '88 H/O. That will be done right before Christmas. Then I have to get it back into the car. Then finish up some other things on it. THEN, I can start on the trans controller thing. Over Christmas, I am also finishing the TCC lockup controller with the H/O 455 reinstall as it will need it with the 200-4R that's in it.
 
If you do design something, I'd recommend you make it work with this-

It's basically a 3l80e conversion for th400's. LOTS of carbureted or older EFI system's that don't have the I/O for trans control drag or street cars with a th400. I always thought it was dumb that people will spend over $1000 on a trans brake valve body and shifter and then possibly spend more on an air shifter. Possibly a board with a high current solid state relay that is built on so you could hook up your high current feed wire and signal wires from the trans brake and it just plugs into that valve body?

I agree, you could de-feature the edelbrock/holley controller easily.

https://www.atiracing.com/instructi...eaEt3Q1AMnISlBmICdqW61haWLK5Q7YCoukxZv4tLmKQn
 
I don't want to be a negative Nancy, but.... if you're looking to sell these, then the price point needs to be less than $250. If that's not possible, then I think you'll be spinning your wheels (wasting your time). I say this because there are $400-500 solutions out there that work and they have support - both online and via a phone call. Lastly, the system has to be simple and most importantly, idiot proof. I use the term 'idiot proof' with no sarcasm - take a look at the FB groups dedicated to Holley Terminator - it is shocking of the number of people that can't manage to install a Holley Term with 17 pages of big color photos that contains less than 2 pages of text. Generally, the uninformed believe that following directions is unnecessary because they did their 'research' via a 5 minute YT video, and now they consider themselves an expert.
 
I don't want to be a negative Nancy, but.... if you're looking to sell these, then the price point needs to be less than $250...
I wasn't looking to make it a project that was a money maker. It would just be for people who want a DIY way to do it without breaking the bank, like you said. Maybe it will be just for me. I don't know...
 

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