Escalade 4l80e swap

[Fjs0001]

My 4l60e tool a dump a few weeks ago in my Escalade. I decided to upgrade after reading thread after thread of people constantly repairing their 4l60e transmissions. I pulled a 4l80e with a np243 transfer case out of a 2000 Chevy 2500 yesterday. Everything seems pretty straightforward installing it. My biggest concern is reflashing the ecm. Will the NP243 like running in 4wd high all the time?

 

[randeez]

no it wont wont like being in 4hi at all times, youre awd case isnt coupled like a regular transfer case. there are a few wires that need to be moved around going from 4l60>4l80 iirc also.
which transfer case do you have now? there is a user on silveradoss forum i think that machines the input shaft for np/nvg149 to install behind 4l80 - that transfer case uses a viscous coupler for transfering power between front rear. works a lot better than the open diff style (borg warner) tcases

 

[Fjs0001]

I've read all about the transmission wiring. I'm ready for that. It looks like it'll be a huge PITA to make the electric shift for the transfer case work. So I might try and find a NP241 because it has a manual shift lever. I though about sticking with the AWD transfercase, but it looks like I have the BW4481 which is apparently not very good. My Escalade is a 2005. I think they started using the BW in 2003. The adapter for the NVG149 is $400. I might as well try and get a NP241 to work for that price.

 

[randeez]

you should be able to just leave it in 2wd and keep it driveable, there really isnt anything that tells it that the front wheels are being driven.
i am swapping from a 6l80 to a 4l80, and the transfer case swaps right over bw4485, it is also an open diff style case but is mechanical

 

[Fjs0001]

Maybe I'll keep the NP243 in 2wd so I can get it back on the road while I figure out what I want to do long term.

Are you saying that if I found a BW4485, it'll bolt right up to my 4l80e and I won't need that $400 adapter?

 

[randeez]

yes, both have 32 spline inputs
the bw4485 will bolt up to a 4l80 4x4 transfer case adapter

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/randeez-2012-yukon-denali.97235/page-31#post-1338235

 

[Fjs0001]

That’s awesome. I can’t find any information of someone swapping a BW4481 for a BW4485. I’m wondering if anything needs to be done with the ecm?

I did find a guy that took BW4485 parts and put them in his BW4481 so that it would bolt up to a 4l80e.
https://www.performancetrucks.net/f...borg-warner-transfer-case-anyone-done-542658/

 

[randeez]

looks like he did that to get he correct input shaft spline count.
the input shaft for the 4485 borg warner goes into the planetaries - not a short adapter right at the case like the nvg149s. so youd have to completely disassemble the transfer case anyway, sounds like the way user on pt.net did it it could be done.

theres nothing electrical that connects to the 4485,

 

[SnowDrifter]

I have nothing to add here other than my curiosity about how you feel about the taller first gear

 

[randeez]

I have nothing to add here other than my curiosity about how you feel about the taller first gear

i cant wait

but coming from the 6l80/4.11s first gear was pretty much useless after boost