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All the old threads I found on here point to websites that apparently don't have the part available anymore. Does anyone know if there is a ready made tail shaft adapter or a mount for a standard 4l80e to connect it to the C beam (manual trans/Dana 44 C beam), or does this all have to be a complete DIY fab job now? The one in the below picture looks like the perfect solution, but there isn't anything current that I can find on where that part came from (clearly there should be some CAD stuff for a CNC machine to make one or something). I'm not anywhere near the point of doing the swap yet, but know the 700R4 is the weakest part of the C4 drivetrain, followed by the Dana 36, and know that when I do get around to start working on putting more power down in the Corvette that eventually I'm going to be looking at either going to a built 700R4/4L60e that will still be a ticking time bomb, or go to a 4L80 or maybe a 3 pedal swap, and just want to see if there is a ready made option if I want to go 4L80e route. My current project car is a 78 Firebird getting a 408LS and I put a 4L80e behind it easily because of available cross members for the second Gen F body platform from Hooker, but I haven't been able to find anything current to swap the 4L80e into a C4. Posted a link to a sped up 1:30 second video showing the install of the LS/4L80e into the Firebird (car isn't done yet unfortunately).
All the old threads I found on here point to websites that apparently don't have the part available anymore. Does anyone know if there is a ready made tail shaft adapter or a mount for a standard 4l80e to connect it to the C beam (manual trans/Dana 44 C beam), or does this all have to be a complete DIY fab job now? The one in the below picture looks like the perfect solution, but there isn't anything current that I can find on where that part came from (clearly there should be some CAD stuff for a CNC machine to make one or something). I'm not anywhere near the point of doing the swap yet, but know the 700R4 is the weakest part of the C4 drivetrain, followed by the Dana 36, and know that when I do get around to start working on putting more power down in the Corvette that eventually I'm going to be looking at either going to a built 700R4/4L60e that will still be a ticking time bomb, or go to a 4L80 or maybe a 3 pedal swap, and just want to see if there is a ready made option if I want to go 4L80e route. My current project car is a 78 Firebird getting a 408LS and I put a 4L80e behind it easily because of available cross members for the second Gen F body platform from Hooker, but I haven't been able to find anything current to swap the 4L80e into a C4. Posted a link to a sped up 1:30 second video showing the install of the LS/4L80e into the Firebird (car isn't done yet unfortunately).
It has been several years since these were available. Last place I know of was PATC. There were other places but I strongly believe they all bought from the same source. Lack of sales was the obvious reason for its discontinuation. You might try reaching out to these companies to see if they might share where they sourced them from. However, that is highly unlikely and if you get a reply, rush out and buy a lottery ticket too. Phobos84 on this forum has built his own adapter and may be willing to share the method/measurements.
It has been several years since these were available. Last place I know of was PATC. There were other places but I strongly believe they all bought from the same source. Lack of sales was the obvious reason for its discontinuation. You might try reaching out to these companies to see if they might share where they sourced them from. However, that is highly unlikely and if you get a reply, rush out and buy a lottery ticket too. Phobos84 on this forum has built his own adapter and may be willing to share the method/measurements.
I was figuring that would be the case, but wanted to make sure. I see there are T56 and TKX conversions, and in the Hooker trans mount world for other cars the same cross member is used for LS swaps and to go from a T56 to a 4l80e you would use the following adapter. So maybe a T56 adapter, plus this, but I would have to look more at the T56 adapters and noodle it out to get a better idea. https://www.holley.com/products/engi...ts/71223004HKR
I was figuring that would be the case, but wanted to make sure. I see there are T56 and TKX conversions, and in the Hooker trans mount world for other cars the same cross member is used for LS swaps and to go from a T56 to a 4l80e you would use the following adapter. So maybe a T56 adapter, plus this, but I would have to look more at the T56 adapters and noodle it out to get a better idea. https://www.holley.com/products/engi...ts/71223004HKR
I just had a random thought that may bring some results. There is a machinist on Youtube that I follow. He has just acquired a few CNC machines and does his own programming. He likes challenges and does top notch work. He often features custom requests and might find this challenge interesting. Reaching out to him would only cost you a bit of time.
A fabricated crossmember/mount will be required for rear case support. Most customers utilize the bolt pattern on the adapter to work off of.
It might be easier to find a 4WD 4L80E and this short adapter should leave more room to fabricate a C-Beam bracket.
IMS stated that they do custom machining, so they could problably machine an "add on" bracket for the C-Beam if they get all the measurements.
It might even be a future product for them so you might be able to make a better deal than just a "one off".
With measurements from a th700r4 with C-beam tail and the length of a 4L80E case it should be possible to figure out the adapter dimensions.
It might be easier to find a 4WD 4L80E and this short adapter should leave more room to fabricate a C-Beam bracket.
IMS stated that they do custom machining, so they could probably machine an "add on" bracket for the C-Beam if they get all the measurements. It might even be a future product for them so you might be able to make a better deal than just a "one off".
With measurements from a th700r4 with C-beam tail and the length of a 4L80E case it should be possible to figure out the adapter dimensions.
^^^^^^^^^^ While anything is possible and "never say never" can be applied here, I don't think that would be in the cards for them. Why you ask? Because it has been already tried and demand was so low they quit making them. Very few companies stop marketing a product if it is giving a good ROI. If the cost for the relatively simple CNC produced flange noted in your link is 330.00, I don't even want to guess what they would charge to incorporate a mounting boss.(if memory serves me, the original adapter was ~650 and that was years ago) They certainly are not going to offer the original requester any sort of "deal" not knowing what any future returns would be. As with most new ventures, the R&D has to be paid for off the top. No, the OP would be paying "full meal deal". Design and CAD time, setup, CNC time etc. If I were to throw out a number, 1500 - 2000 would be in the ballpark.
4L80e extension has been done for the C4 and very likely might still be available from an LT5/ZR1 fabricator. User AAFC could probably put a person in touch with the fellow or know if he still offers them. There're many others that might also if they see this thread offer up a contact. I haven't had contact with him for maybe 10+ years.
^^^^^^^^^^ While anything is possible and "never say never" can be applied here, I don't think that would be in the cards for them. Why you ask? Because it has been already tried and demand was so low they quit making them. Very few companies stop marketing a product if it is giving a good ROI. If the cost for the relatively simple CNC produced flange noted in your link is 330.00, I don't even want to guess what they would charge to incorporate a mounting boss.(if memory serves me, the original adapter was ~650 and that was years ago) They certainly are not going to offer the original requester any sort of "deal" not knowing what any future returns would be. As with most new ventures, the R&D has to be paid for off the top. No, the OP would be paying "full meal deal". Design and CAD time, setup, CNC time etc. If I were to throw out a number, 1500 - 2000 would be in the ballpark.
I agree that a CND machined piece is probably expensive, both initial cad and for each the material and machine time.
Another option is cutting plat pieces and welding them together. This can be done cheap.
I made halfshaft loops for the rear. I made the pieces so they lock together using tabs and holes. A lot of companies would be able to cut the pieces from a cad file.
You could try contacting
pete's preformance parts or e-mail at zr1pete.wordpress.com and phone 847-778-4507
This information is from ZR-1 site
John
one of a few 4l80e auto eq ZR-1
You could try contacting
pete's preformance parts or e-mail at zr1pete.wordpress.com and phone 847-778-4507
This information is from ZR-1 site
John
one of a few 4l80e auto eq ZR-1
Thank you! Looks like he makes the part in the original picture I saw and it is $795 (assuming he still makes it).
Building your own tail housing adapter isn't hard. It will cost you around $100 in steel. That and you will need a shorter driveshaft. But it's a good idea anyway because if you need a 4l80e because of more power than you don't want to use the factory driveshaft anyway. So that's another $300 or so.
I made a thread about how I made mine years ago. 5 years of abuse and it's still holding up
One of these days I should start fabbing these and selling them. The only problem is I would have to make them pretty lol. I'm a maintenance welder not a fabrication guy.
Hey, 7th gear
I iust pulled my 4l8OE tail housung made by Pete as i'am installing a solid rear into my 1990 ZR-1, This was installed back in 2009.
I saw your post and if you want it you have first choice. Asking $525.00 shipping is included.
John
one of a few 4l8OE eq ZR-1's
Hey, 7th gear
I iust pulled my 4l8OE tail housung made by Pete as i'am installing a solid rear into my 1990 ZR-1, This was installed back in 2009.
I saw your post and if you want it you have first choice. Asking $525.00 shipping is included.
John
one of a few 4l8OE eq ZR-1's
The way I figure it is I can use this as a starting point and cut and chop as needed.
I don't know if that would be any easier than starting with a 4.5" chunk of cold rolled box steel or not. Honestly starting with the right size box tubing was pretty easy. I had to cut one edge off and then weld on some tabs. Then I welded on a shim on the top just to fill the space in the C beam. https://www.metalsdepot.com is were I got the 4.5" box steel for mine. It's a little under $70 for 2 feet of it.
I'm not saying that one you found wouldn't work. It might be easier. I'm just saying the box steel made it pretty easy.
4l80e Tailshaft Adapter?
