B&M 4L80e quality???

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transman

Apprentice
May 17, 2015
50
38
18
Western Canada
So, you are getting a used piece for "slightly" below new? Now for me to buy used, and this is used without any history known by you other than what the seller tells you, I need a good deal.. I'm not putting too much into believing what a seller is telling you. And anything over 50% of new better be some hard to find stuff. And it better be in the box and not all greasy.

I think you are way better off to pass on that if the seller cant be negotiated with. And bringing cash, letting his wife see the cash, and pointing out he wants it gone and his wife happy work well in my experience.

It isn't like 2wd 4L80e cant be found. You just haven't stumbled up on one you can use yet.
I could not agree more. Buying something almost new to me is the same as buying used. You never know what you are getting. It may be the deal of a lifetime or a big hunk of junk.
To me, and all the customers I dealt with in the past, any used converter or any used transmission was just a core. Sometimes on transmissions when they got opened, yes they were good and needed minimum parts, other times upon inspection, lots of parts and labour to get it right. On ALL used converters, even the warranty ones we got from dealers that were not returned to the factory, were always taken apart and rebuilt.
I have said on other boards, when it comes to any used converter, stock or high stall, they make great door stops. At a swap meet once, I saw a guy trying to sell what he called a 3500 stall converter, for an extremely good price for that stall rating.. It was one that our company manufactured, and had our part number on it. I asked him if he was sure about the stall. Oh yes he said, had it in his car and got 3500+ out of it, and best of all, it was less than a year old. We stenciled our part number and serial numbered all of our high stalls. A quick look at the serial number and I knew that it was at least 3-4 years old, and the part number was for our typical 300-400 rpm over stock stall TH350 converter and they stall around 1800-1900 rpm. The stock TH350 from the factory stalls around 1400-1500.
Texas t is right on the price also in my opinion. Sellers have been known to stretch the truth.
 
Oct 14, 2008
8,806
7,746
113
Melville,Saskatchewan
I could not agree more. Buying something almost new to me is the same as buying used. You never know what you are getting. It may be the deal of a lifetime or a big hunk of junk.
To me, and all the customers I dealt with in the past, any used converter or any used transmission was just a core. Sometimes on transmissions when they got opened, yes they were good and needed minimum parts, other times upon inspection, lots of parts and labour to get it right. On ALL used converters, even the warranty ones we got from dealers that were not returned to the factory, were always taken apart and rebuilt.
I have said on other boards, when it comes to any used converter, stock or high stall, they make great door stops. At a swap meet once, I saw a guy trying to sell what he called a 3500 stall converter, for an extremely good price for that stall rating.. It was one that our company manufactured, and had our part number on it. I asked him if he was sure about the stall. Oh yes he said, had it in his car and got 3500+ out of it, and best of all, it was less than a year old. We stenciled our part number and serial numbered all of our high stalls. A quick look at the serial number and I knew that it was at least 3-4 years old, and the part number was for our typical 300-400 rpm over stock stall TH350 converter and they stall around 1800-1900 rpm. The stock TH350 from the factory stalls around 1400-1500.
Texas t is right on the price also in my opinion. Sellers have been known to stretch the truth.
So my stock TH350C converter stalling at 1600 rpm is the high side. I know my D9 low stall 2004R converter flash stalled at 1900 rpm. Unless it is strapped in the crate and looks spotless, all bets are off.
 

transman

Apprentice
May 17, 2015
50
38
18
Western Canada
So my stock TH350C converter stalling at 1600 rpm is the high side. I know my D9 low stall 2004R converter flash stalled at 1900 rpm. Unless it is strapped in the crate and looks spotless, all bets are off.
Another thing to keep in mind, new converters are only available at a dealership, and are only available for current production transmissions. I know that with GM in particular should you order a converter for say a 2004R, the part number will either begin or end with the letter R, the R standing for Rebuilt. For any of the automotive manufacteurs it makes no sense to build new parts for older cars. You and I may not like that idea, but with little demand for older parts in the larger picture, there is no reason for them to make them. You and I may note like their thinking, but from a business point of view it makes financial sense.
In the aftermarket, some of the high stall builders and some of the HD diesel converter builders are using some specialty new parts. The converter company I worked for has a fully equipped CNC machine shop and manufacture a bilet steel mounting cover(bolts to the flywheel), a bilet steel sprag race and a bilet steel stator. These components are used in high stalls, and in heavy duty diesel applications. They manufacture these components for themselves and for many of the well known performance/diesel converter builders. These parts are not inexpensive to make, thus the high price we see for a quality converter. The front pump (hub side of the converter) and the turbine are typically used original parts strengthened and modified per application.
 
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Northernregal

Sloppy McRodbender
Oct 24, 2017
3,359
12,826
113
Red Deer, Northern Montana territory
You guys have some excellent points. Thank you for chiming in. Really appreciate your insight.

I ended up passing on the 4L80 and found a very low mile rebuilt TH400 for $400. With the money I saved it’ll be twice the trans plus I got a few other really choice goodies for the car. Can’t wait to post on my build thread!
 
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Oct 14, 2008
8,806
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Melville,Saskatchewan
The cheapest I have seen the 4L80E go for is $600, $800 to $1000 for the newer ones. It was a 93 diesel, so new wiring harness, drive shaft cut and either a controller or manual control with line pressure boosted. Easily $1000 to put it in. Still left with a used trans and very lame torque converter, add $600 minimum for a converter. People have figured out the T-56 thing as well, $1000+ for them, if you can find them. A 4th gen V6 T-5 swap sounds better if I keep my power level where it is.
 

motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan
Just bought one a few months ago for $250. They tend to be cheaper from non-LS 2wd trucks and vans.

Mine came out of a '99 3/4 tonne Savana w/ ~25K kms on it (very clean inside) and I paid $800 CDN for it. I then spent $2500+ CDN on upgrades, conversion parts, and a converter to swap it.

Ain't no free lunch here.
 
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Turbolq4

Royal Smart Person
Sep 25, 2017
1,732
4,207
113
Nampa Idaho
$900 for the first one from a guy that dismantles 99+ GM trucks exclusively. Got the first 5.3 from him too.

Put a transgo2 kit and a converter a little while later.

Second 80e was $100 bucks. Pulled it from a 2002 3/4ton Chevy van. Swapped the valve body and converter over to it. Works great!
 
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87National

G-Body Guru
Apr 15, 2009
661
679
93
eastern SD
Mine came out of a '99 3/4 tonne Savana w/ ~25K kms on it (very clean inside) and I paid $800 CDN for it. I then spent $2500+ CDN on upgrades, conversion parts, and a converter to swap it.

Ain't no free lunch here.

I'm looking at $250 for the trans, $100 for the HD2 kit, and $500 for the torque converter.
 
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