More Auto Tranny Questions

[Buff4loCJ7]

I am in need of some Auto Tranny help. I own a 2000 Super Duty PSD with 106K miles on it. It is a short box, crew cab 4x4 running stock tires. I do have a chip in it that allows me to run a max 90HP increase. I did put a plate in the valve body of the tranny (pulled the bottom pan and filter) at the same time I installed the chip - I think from BTS?

The truck won’t hold a low gear when going downgrade – no engine braking – in the D1 or D2. I haven’t noticed the problem at highway OD speeds. Tranny temps seem normal, fluid does need to be changed. Now when I back up even the slightest grade the truck chatters – like a clutch slipping. I can reverse up a grade, or when backing a trailer using low range - which I generally do anyway.

I am a good backyard mechanic but don’t think I can attack a tranny on my daily driver and I know nothing aboiut the Auto's.

Any ideas what is wrong and what needs to be repaired?

If it comes to needing to rebuild the tranny I would like one that can last the life of the truck with the chip in it, and I would like to remove the old one and install a new one to at least save me some cash. Because I don’t know anything about auto trans I don’t even know what can be done, or should be done to ensure it matches the ability of the truck.

I live in Colorado and certainly it would seem that getting it done local would be best, does anyone have a good shop in Colorado?

What should I expect to pay for a good rebuilt?

Thank you for your time and input.

[69mach1377]

I'm sure you have checked the fluid level...so I'm going to go with a torque converter issue on this one.

[Mark Kovalsky]

There is NO WAY this is a torque converter issue. How did you come to that conclusion?

The coast clutch isn't applying. Most likely the snap ring that holds the clutch together has come out of it's groove. The trans has to come out and at least a partial teardown to fix it.

[Buff4loCJ7]

Thanks Mark! I promise 'not to kill the messenger' so to speak!

Is there any point to tearing it down and repairing one thing without doing a total rebuild? I've owned the truck for only 40K of the 106K miles so I don't know how the tranny was treated before me.

What is the expected life of these tranny's?

What do I order in a rebuilt one to make sure it can pull trailers and work like a diesel truck is supposed to and last more than 100K miles?

thanks, thanks, thanks

[Mark Kovalsky]

I'd rebuild it if it were that far apart. The stock trans in a stock truck should last over 200k miles.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

The stock trans in a stock truck should last over 200k miles.

Well, yeah, provided you have a good tranny temp gauge and never allow it to get over 225° F. And if you ever see over about 205°, then you should be running synthetic ATF.

You can get a Ford factory rebuilt tranny with a 3-year warranty for around $2,300 net from
4R100 tranny - PowerStrokeShop
The warranty requires you to also replace the oil-to-air tranny cooler and install a Magnefine in-line tranny filter.

I don't know if that price includes a new torque converter, but you definitely want to replace the torque converter as part of your overhaul. PowerStrokeShop price for a new stock torque converter is about $200, and the Magnefine filter is around $20.

Ford also now has a "heavy duty" rebuilt 4R100 that's supposed to compete with the big names such as BTS in 4R100 tranny rebuilding. It costs a few hundred bucks more than the standard rebuild, so ask the folks at PowerStrokeShop if you're interested. I don't see it on their website, but any Ford dealer can order it.

[69mach1377]

Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky

There is NO WAY this is a torque converter issue. How did you come to that conclusion?

I bow to your experience on this, but my experience with another vehicle led me to this guess.
On my 40 year old mustang fmx, which leaks a bit, I get chatter from my converter when the fluid gets low and hot. Adding a few ounces always fixes it. It has a 2500 rpm stall BTW.

[Buff4loCJ7]

How do I know which tranny I have in my truck? 4R100 or the E40d?

Are there beefier torque converters as well or do I get a std. torque converter and a beefier tranny?

If I can want to removereplace the tranny myself - is this very hard to do? It seems it should be easier than a std. trans/clutch replacement but I hear the auto's are heavy. I've done plenty of clutches on a variety of vehicles but this is the first vehicle I've ever owned with the Auto trans.

I would like more information on better coolers and filters if that will help the tranny last longer!

Thnaks

[tattoocharlie]

i dont believe ford used the e4od in the new body style superdutys,you have a 4r100

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Buff4loCJ7

How do I know which tranny I have in my truck? 4R100 or the E40d?

E40D was used in '97 and earlier diesel pickups. 4R100 was used in '99-'03 7.3L Superduty diesel pickups.

Are there beefier torque converters as well or do I get a std. torque converter and a beefier tranny?

There are high performance torque converters available. BTS includes a Precision Industries 13" Stallion torque converter with every BTS tranny. It costs over $1,000 street price for a 4R100 tranny. But BTS warns that you should not install a high performance torque converter in a stock tranny, especially if the tranny has miles on it.
Precision Industries - Stallion Power

If I can want to removereplace the tranny myself - is this very hard to do?

Not particularly hard if you're handy, and have a good heavy-duty tranny jack.

On option is to order a BTS tranny and have it shipped to you. You install it and ship the core back to BTS. That would probably cost you a net of about $4500, but then you'd know the tranny would outlast the rest of the truck.

I would like more information on better coolers and filters if that will help the tranny last longer!

What will keep the tranny happy in to never allow it to get hotter than 225°. One way is to install a good tranny temp gauge and drive by that gauge. If it's too easy for your tranny to get over about 210° when working hard, then you need more tranny cooling capacity. To do that you need to replace the stock oil-to-air (OTA) cooler with one from a 6.0L SuperDuty truck.

Also if you ever see over about 210°, then you should be running synthetic ATF. I use Mobil 1 and change it every 30k miles.

Brian Thompson (BTS) doesn't think you need more than the stock tranny filter, provided you replace the OTA cooler when you replace the tranny and torque converter. So I don't have one. He threw away my Magnefine inline filter when he rebuilt the tranny. But Ford insists on a Magnefine in-line filter any time you replace a busted tranny. Your decision.

[OlBrown]

I removed and replaced the transmission in my truck when it failed so know it can be done as long as you use some common sense. Having said that, I believe that either John Wood (Holtville Ca) or BTS (Leadville Ar) would have removed, rebuilt and re installed the transmission for the same price they charge to ship you a rebuilt unit. Think about it before you make the decision to do the work yourself..........same cost to you for having them do all the hard work.

Two biggest problems with the removal and installation was getting the truck far enough off the ground to clear the bell housing and controling the transmission while taking it out and putting it in. Having the transfer case attached to the transmission makes it lopsided and a little difficult to control. You definitely don't want it getting away from you while it's under the truck. Top bolt on the passenger side is best accessed by reaching over the transmission from the drivers side. The other bolts on the passenger side can be a little tough to get at to torque. I bought a set of cheap wobble extensions from Harbor Freight that give you some added length and allow you to reach around obstacles to the bolts. One of the regulars recently posted a section from an on line shop manual detailing the transmission removal and installation. Not that great but it does give you a feeling for the procedures and lists the torque values you need when putting things back together.

Good luck

OB

[Buff4loCJ7]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

There are high performance torque converters available. BTS includes a Precision Industries 13" Stallion torque converter with every BTS tranny. It costs over $1,000 street price for a 4R100 tranny. But BTS warns that you should not install a high performance torque converter in a stock tranny, especially if the tranny has miles on it.
Precision Industries - Stallion Power

Has anyone actually realized the improved power and mileage gains from the PI Stallion converter that they claim you'll get?

My truck tranny runs 90deg over ambient air temp up to about 190 deg. If it starts going over 190deg I keep a close eye on it and keep my foot out of it, limit shifts, etc.

Where's the best source for the 6.0L cooler and is it essentially a 'bolt on' modification? I'm not agains modifying the truck to help it last longer. Also can't see the harm in another filter unless it restricts flow.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Buff4loCJ7

Has anyone actually realized the improved power and mileage gains from the PI Stallion converter that they claim you'll get?

I had the full BTS treatment done to mine, including the PI Stallion. I couldn't really notice much difference in the feel of power or performance. But that wasn't why I paid the big bucks for the BTS. I wanted reliability and longivity while having a good-shifting tranny. I got what I paid for. That was over 5 years ago, and it's still runing strong.

Where's the best source for the 6.0L cooler and is it essentially a 'bolt on' modification?

Caveat! Do not buy a used tranny cooler from anyone. Be certain it is brand new and never before installed. Given that, then E-Bay has proven to be a good source for some. But lots of unsavory characters sell used tranny coolers on there, so stay awake.

The normal source for a new one is a Ford dealer. One of them with excellent prices is Wabash Ford Trucks, a sponsor of TheDieselStop. $287.67 plus postage. Tranny coolers

Note there are different tranny coolers for different engines. You want the one for the 6.0L. It's not exactly a bolt-on job, but close to it. Most of the folks that have done it say it's easy.

I had BTS include the upgraded tranny cooler as part of the BTS overhaul package, so Brian did all the work. I hate grease under my fingernails.

...BTS (Leadville Ar) would have removed, rebuilt and re installed the transmission for the same price they charge to ship you a rebuilt unit.

True, provided you don't count the cost of driving or hauling your truck to Lead Hill and back. If you wait until your tranny is busted before you have it rebuilt, then it gets a mite expensive to have your truck hauled to the Orzarks.

If your truck is still driveable, and you can drive it to BTS, then the R&R is free. That's what I did. Saved the freight bill both ways, saved the cost of the R&R. But it cost me some diesel and an overnight stay in a campground to make that savings.

[caryt]

200k on a stock trans in a stock truck..maybe 10% of them will but I'll bet majority die long before that!

[aklim]

Originally Posted by SmokeyWren

Ford also now has a "heavy duty" rebuilt 4R100 that's supposed to compete with the big names such as BTS in 4R100 tranny rebuilding. It costs a few hundred bucks more than the standard rebuild, so ask the folks at PowerStrokeShop if you're interested. I don't see it on their website, but any Ford dealer can order it.

I thought that they frown on any modifications? If so, how can it compete with anything?