6L80 to 10L90 swap? Seeking insight on a 10 speed transmission upgrade

[swathdiver]

Looking forwards to the results.

A dude sweet on one of my daughters had a Ram with an 8-speed and the 5.7 Hemi. That truck would jump out in front of my 6.2 with 3.73 gears because of the steep gearing in the 8-speed. I would have had to put in 4.30 or steeper gears to compete.

I love the 6-speed but boy those 10-speeds allow the motors to get moving quick. This is probably why they are still running the same basic engine for 10 years now.

 

[Pilot]

I'm interested in the total cost of this when you get it done.

The turnkey swap, all inclusive, is $7500. I was supposed to drop it at the shop in TX this Monday, the 12th, but the shop it's currently in in Delaware dropped the ball and set me back a week. So my new date with Powertrain Swap Solutions is 08/19.

 

[buckwild27]

The turnkey swap, all inclusive, is $7500. I was supposed to drop it at the shop in TX this Monday, the 12th, but the shop it's currently in in Delaware dropped the ball and set me back a week. So my new date with Powertrain Swap Solutions is 08/19.

That's not a bad price. Definitely let us know how you like it when you get it done. I'm looking at doing a L8T with the 10 speed swap on my truck.

 

[Geotrash]

The turnkey swap, all inclusive, is $7500. I was supposed to drop it at the shop in TX this Monday, the 12th, but the shop it's currently in in Delaware dropped the ball and set me back a week. So my new date with Powertrain Swap Solutions is 08/19.

Thanks for taking us on this journey with you. I will consider this for my 2012 XL Denali, based on your experiences.

 

[West 1]

If I was going to spend $7500 on a 10 speed swap I would find a much younger truck to put it in. I think you said your rig has 253,000 miles already? I would start with one young enough so I could enjoy the entire truck for many years with that new 10 speed installed. I installed a fully rebuilt 6L80 with rebuilt Techm for under $3500 but I did the installation. In my experience the entire truck wears out with high miles, not that most of those worn parts can't be replaced but it all adds up. I will take my lumps for stating this but I have gone the other way in the past and the high mile rigs never met my full expectations.

 

[Pilot]

If I was going to spend $7500 on a 10 speed swap I would find a much younger truck to put it in. I think you said your rig has 253,000 miles already? I would start with one young enough so I could enjoy the entire truck for many years with that new 10 speed installed. I installed a fully rebuilt 6L80 with rebuilt Techm for under $3500 but I did the installation. In my experience the entire truck wears out with high miles, not that most of those worn parts can't be replaced but it all adds up. I will take my lumps for stating this but I have gone the other way in the past and the high mile rigs never met my full expectations.

Totally fair. There have been some moments where I regretted going this route, but c’est la vie. I'm past the point of no return lol.

I'm actually in Texas now. I dropped off my Tahoe with Sean, the owner of Powertrain Swap Solutions, and got some video with him explaining his system. The swap should be finished by Tuesday afternoon and I'll be hitting the road back to NJ right away.

Now I'm looking for a shop to install long tube headers and maybe even a cam.

 

[West 1]

Wow, that is very fast service. I hope it gives you everything you are looking for. Keep us posted on the new tranny and your driving impressions.

 

[buckwild27]

That is some fast turn around. Can't wait for the thoughts on the swap and your drive back to NJ.

 

[mikeyss]

How did your swap go?

 

[Doubeleive]

If I was going to spend $7500 on a 10 speed swap I would find a much younger truck to put it in. I think you said your rig has 253,000 miles already? I would start with one young enough so I could enjoy the entire truck for many years with that new 10 speed installed. I installed a fully rebuilt 6L80 with rebuilt Techm for under $3500 but I did the installation. In my experience the entire truck wears out with high miles, not that most of those worn parts can't be replaced but it all adds up. I will take my lumps for stating this but I have gone the other way in the past and the high mile rigs never met my full expectations.

ya once you get up in the high numbers it can take a toll, but there are a number of these out there with 300k+ and still going

 

[mikez71]

The 10l80 conversion sounds like a significant upgrade, costing ~50% more than a good 6l80 rebuild.
If it performs.. I'm foregoing maintenance on my 210k 6L80 and saving for a 10L80!

Only additional modification (for 07-14) is having to shorten the transfer case input shaft (4WD).

 

[Pilot]

So everything went great with the 6 > 10 transmission swap. I really love it–it shifts quickly, stays in the useful power band; definitely happy with it. I got about 15 MPG on the 1500 mile trip from Delaware to Texas, and i got 17+. mpg on the way home. I got some video with Shawn at Powertrain Swap Solutions and I'll edit that and post it when I get some time. I flew out to Missouri yesterday on a whim and bought another car so that's keeping me distracted at the moment lol

 

[Tonyrodz]

So everything went great with the 6 > 10 transmission swap. I really love it–it shifts quickly, stays in the useful power band; definitely happy with it. I got about 15 MPG on the 1500 mile trip from Delaware to Texas, and i got 17+. mpg on the way home. I got some with Shawn at Powertrain Swap Solutions and I'll edit that and post it when I get some time. I flew out to Missouri yesterday on a whim and bought another car so that's keeping me distracted at the moment lol

What did you get?

 

[CMoore711]

So you the transmission you have now is an stock OEM GM 10l90 with an OEM GM torque converter? Did you go with a lightly used transmission and torque converter or a brand new one? Then Powertrain Swap Solutions offered and installed the conversion kit, installation, and tune for everything to work. Right?

 

[Pilot]

What did you get?

I bought a 1971 MG Midget

 

[Pilot]

So you the transmission you have now is an stock OEM GM 10l90 with an OEM GM torque converter? Did you go with a lightly used transmission and torque converter or a brand new one? Then Powertrain Swap Solutions offered and installed the conversion kit, installation, and tune for everything to work. Right?

Yep, we did not change the torque converter. Used the stock one in my Tahoe. Took a low mileage 2021 10 speed trans and installed it with the Powertrain Swap Solutions electronics kit. No tune was needed. All turnkey work took about a day and a half and cost $7,500 out the door for everything.

 

[Pilot]

I took some video of Shawn with Powertrain Swap Solutions explaining his platform and process. I'll post that ASAP.

 

[Thrust]

Where's the video? Interested in seeing what he says about your swap.

 

[JMH1980]

Where's the video? Interested in seeing what he says about your swap.

2nd this !!

 

[JMH1980]

Yep, we did not change the torque converter. Used the stock one in my Tahoe. Took a low mileage 2021 10 speed trans and installed it with the Powertrain Swap Solutions electronics kit. No tune was needed. All turnkey work took about a day and a half and cost $7,500 out the door for everything.

For $7,500 I might just bite the bullet on that instead of having my 8L90E rebuilt, when the time comes.