Hey guys,
I am looking at picking up an 08 2500 express van, short wheel base, 4.8 engine with a bad 4l80e transmission. When I look for replacement transmissions at junkyards it seems that the only direct swap is from an 08-09 model with either the 4.8 or 6.0. My question is are earlier model 4l80e transmissions compatible? For example can I use a 4l80e trans from an 05 van and swap over some sensors to make it work? Please let me know if anyone knows. Thanks.

 

Any 4L80e or 4L85e is compatible, except that the early ones (pre-1997) had different cooling line fitting locations. I run a 2002 in my 2006, and have a 2009 laying around, they are the same.
If your code is P0894 and it runs then you only need a new torque converter.

 

Hey Artie, thanks for the reply. I know that the 02 and 06 are listed as compatible, but the 08-09 is listed as the only compatible transmissions to fit the 08 van. Are you able to see anything different between the 09 trans you have and the 02/06 trans? Where are you located? Is the 09 trans you have good? Do you want to sell it?


I will know more soon. I am supposed to see/get the van in a few weeks but it is hours away. I am not sure what OBDII code/s it has. The only information I have is that the fluid looked good. It is not a problem that progressively got worse, but out of the blue (two days ago) it started slipping. The guy that was driving it said he was at highway speed and he let off the gas then got back on the gas and that's when he noticed it slipping. He took it to a local shop and they hooked a computer to it and drove it around and told him the trans is bad.

 

bump...does anyone else have information on why an 06 trans is not listed as fitting an 08 model?

 

I just got the van home last night. I drove it about 300 miles. It has very sluggish acceleration...seems that it revs higher than it needs to maintain cruising speed, and it makes a loud whirring noise on acceleration. Does this point toward a bad torque converter or an actual bad transmission?

 

Best thing is to have a tranny shop test it and hook it a scan tool.

 

4.8 liter van isn't a particularly fast vehicle. If P0894 did not pop up during those 300 miles then the torque converter is good.

 

So the clutch fan was stuck engaged, so that's what the loud whirring noise was coming from. I took it for a test dive and it seems to be fine. I still have a whining noise on a acceleration, but I am thinking that is either an accessory or idler/belt tensioner pulley. I'll try to figure it out this weekend.