OK:I'll give you that point on the 4L80E.They're being used a lot on Heavy-Duty Pulling,but severe use requires some aftermarket parts.There's one site on the trans build-up and they call it the "Quadzilla". So, maybe I was talking out the wrong oriface!

The Duramax is on "Ward's ten best engines list", has been since it's been available.Not bad.

I messed up when I said the Mini-van with the 3800 was a Pontiac.It was an Olds Silouette,and Chevy Astro. One of them had plastic body panels,a friend of mine has 3 of 'em....2 plastic, 1 metal! (Different years).

Here's a link to the 3800,a 90 degree engine that's powered a bunch of GM cars over the years, and had both turbocharged (Grand National), and Supercharged versions (Pontiac SSE?).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Silhouette

 

Ohhh OK then...but, let me completely clarify...the Chevy Astro/GMC Safari had the 4.3 (3/4 350) and came out in the mid 80's, 1985 I think. It only had cosmetic changes until it's last year, 2004 or 2005. It really was a great little van. The Chevy Lumina APV/Pontiac Trans Port/Oldsmobile Silhouette vans came out in the early 90's (1990 I think) and started with 3.1s and eventually got the 3800 as an option. They completely changed in 1997 with the Opel based Venture/Trans Port - Montana/Silhouette and got a 3.4 version of the 3.1. We have a 2000 Silhouette Premiere..nice van too.

The Supercharged 3800 came in Pontiacs' Bonneville SSEi and Grand Prix GTP, Buicks' Regal GS and Park Avenue Ultra, and Oldmobile's Eighty Eight LSS.

(I'm a walking Encyclopedia of GM facts...I used to sell GM cars and trucks in 1997 too, but knew most of the details before I started there, lol).

My Dad's cousin just bought a 2005 Chevy 2500HD reg cab long bed with the 8100 and standard 4L80. The Allison was optional on the 8100 and the only AT option for the Duramax, due to the Allison's gear spread.

 

But even when people really step up the Duramaxes with programming and stuff, they're recommended to upgrade the Allison too, with a new valve body, clutch packs and/or bands, and a new torque coverter.

 

OK:So we agree that the 3800 was at one time in the Astro Van,and Olds Silouette.Man,when I wrote that about the Transmissions,I was really tired....I have an Ext.Cab Chevy K2500HD with the 454 and 4L80E. Don't get me wrong:I love that transmission.I had a guy rebuild it (a few parts -Solenoids-and wiring connections were bad) partially.He said he loves them.

I did some research on that tranny, and it weighs close to 100 lbs. more than the 4L60E.

Here's the fun part: The 4L60E is 75% of a TH350,but with an overdrive gear, and locking converter.

The 4L80E is also approximately 75% of a TH 400 ,but with an overdrive gear!

Of course, these trannies are "Electronically shifted" now. The "PCM" powertrain control module,or 'computer',gets all types of info from sensors and adjusts shifting accordingly.

 

My TH350 in my '70 is upgraded the old fashion way, with extra clutch packs and a B&M shift improver kit...but I have a Hypertech Power Programmer for my Suburban, and I set the trans for firm shifts, and boy does it shift quick with that program. It hits even harder with the tow/haul buttton engaged too. It was a lot quicker and easier to install too.

BTW, the 3800 WAS NOT in the Astro, it was only the 4.3.

The 3800 was in the Silhouette, Trans Port, and Lumina APV though. Anyway it's a great engine, and should have be available in everything, even a Metro, lol.

 

I think they tried to put it in the Metro, but only had room for the 3. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] A company I worked for had one of the 3 cyl Metro's, got it up to 110 mph. Talk about a light front end, good thing it was in a straight line, 'cause I don't think it had enough weight over the tires to turn.

 

I was a salesman back in '97 at a Chevy dealership after I graduated college . My first demo car was a '97 Geo Metro with the 1.3 4 cyl and 3 spd AT. Talk about a slug. I can't imagine the 3 cyl with the AT. I used to drive it on the interstate for 15 miles at a time at 70-72 mph to and from work. It was screaming at around 3700 rpms at that speed. It also felt very unsafe being inside that driving beside big rigs. And whether driving easy or driving hard, the mileage never got better than 33 mpg. That sucks for such a small, compact car. My full size Buick at the time had gotten 30-31 mpg on a few trips we took, with Buick size and comfort. I hate small cars. Except for the original Mini Cooper though. I do like those. Especially if IT had the Buick 3800, or better yet, the supercharged version. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

for the transmission expert up ther
there is less then half a dozen parts from a THM350 that will fit in THM700R4

as for the 4L80E there might be a few more but not many

 

Just to let you know Duramax is a very very well built engine, if i recall correctly it is made my Isuzu which is a branch of Cat diesel... second i do own a chevy and i have to say the vortec has had many many problems for GM from piston slap to bearing noise... not good

 

Man;mistakes are being made on all sides of this conversation.

First of all,I'll possibly agree that the 3800 wasn't in an Astro van.BUT:it was in a chevy,and olds mini vans! I have a good friend who just retired from the Flint North Engine Plant, the manufacturing plant for the 3800,and the only plant to make that engine.He has 3 mini-vans,two of which have plastic body panels, the other one's metal.Was a lumina a mini-van? I don't know;but I do know that he has three GM mini-vans with the 3800 90 degree engine.

Whew! Next:GM owns a significant stake in Isuzu.My plant, the Flint GM Commercial and Heavy Duty Truck Assembly Plant >Makes Commercial,Medium Duty Isuzu Cab-over trucks.We also make an identical GMC,and Chevy Cab over.The ONLY difference is the nameplate(badge).

Medium Duty Commercial trucks have the 8.1 Liter (496 Cubic Inch), and the Caterpillar 260 HP engine.There may be other engines that they use, I do not work on that line.I work on the "GMT 800" line:The Heavy-Duty Crew cabs(non-commercial).We were the first (Crew cab) to offer the Duramax.It is now available in a number of trucks and vans(GM).There was trouble the first 3 or so years on getting enough Duramax engines...we work 3 shifts on that truck.

Now:Here's a link to the GM Powertrain/Isuzu joint venture assembly plant for the Duramax.It is in Moraine, Ohio.It's workers are GM workers....The engineering staff and maybe some managers are joint GM/Isuzu. The workers at that Duramax plant are UAW workers. GM owns a big chunk of Isuzu! here's the link: http://www.gmfleet.com/gmfleetjsp/si...ral/080105.jsp