2005 Escalade 4L80E Swap?

joshh16 said:

Hey guys, new to the forum and looking for some advice on an idea I had recently. So I have a 2005 AWD Escalade so it came with the 4l65e from the factory. The SUV is in great shape and I want my son to drive it as his first car so even though the trans just went out on it and it's an older vehicle I think it's worth a solid replacement tranny. I found the remanufactured 4l65 here, https://reman-transmission.com/transmission-codes/?code=4L65E, which is a direct replacement for what is in it. However, their 4l80 is about the same price and I read they are much stronger I guess? I know it wouldn't be worth it if it were a lot of work but if the transmissions are nearly interchangeable that would be something I would definitely like to do.

Does anyone know the answer to if that swap is doable, hard, or not worth it?

Thanks in advance!

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OSMike said:

Suggest you visit the TahoeYukon forum for threads on this topic. There are many. The swap you suggest is not straightforward. The 4l80 trans is physically larger than a 4l65 trans. It also uses a different TCM. Making the swap is possible but requires modifications to your drive shaft and I believe to the front transaxel as well. If you are concerned that a stock rebuilt 4l65 may not be strong enough to withstan your son's driving habits, I believe an easier solution would be to get one that has received a stage 2 or 3 rebuild. These have many upgrades such as, addition of Corvette servos, wider bands, and a stronger the sun shell. They are built to handle more horsepower and torque. All things considered, I believe a stage 2 built 4L65 is a simpler and less costly option than paying for the parts and labor needed to modify your Escalade to receive a 4l80 trans.

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