[PowStrokeYz]

I have a 01 7.3 that i need to rebuild the trans. Can i have some opinions on which kit has the best reviews? My buddy is capable of rebuilding it with all the necessary tools, however he is a dodge guy so i can not look to him for a recommendation. I have minor upgrades (exhaust/chip/intake) and i may look into injectors eventually. I do not normally tow and if i ever do it will not be an excessive amount of weight across country, possibly a trailer to a track. Thanks in advance

 

[PowStrokeYz]

No one has a recommendation? Are they all typically the same? What should i look for? XDP carries the ATS rebuild kit has anyone used it? Also i assume i should pick up a billet torque converter along with the 6.0 cooler. I called John Woods today but no one answered. I emailed him after asking if he has a rebuild kit i could purchase.

 

[MARCSPSD]

Suncoast Transmissions

Welcome to SunCoast Diesel -

Transmission rebuild kit and billet triple disk torque converters are top notch. I bought both and added the 6.0 cooler.

Only 50k on my rebuild so far. Perfect in all respects. 2001 Ford Excursion PSD

Note: Find out if you have the dreaded "mechanical diode" transmission that many of very early build 2001 Ford PSD had. If so make sure to replace the one way clutch or mechanical diode with the updgraded part. Make sure you don't end up with with bad mechanical diode part reinstalled in your new rebuild. Many threads on this issue over the years. I

 

[PowStrokeYz]

Thank You for your reply Marc i will look into them now. Are you using your stock valve body still?

 

[MARCSPSD]

Dear PowStrokeYz,

Yes, I reused the stock valve body since I like the way the motor and transmission work without a chip. If I ever wanted to change it, just unbolt the pan and install a new valve body. I had changed out the ATF so many times, over the years, that the valve body and all internal parts looked brand new at 181K. Even the clutches and steels looked almost new. (I don't tow much, and Florida is so flat it is easier on transmissions than a mountainous state.)

My Feb 2001 build Ford Excursion 7.3 had the infamous "mechanical diode" that cracked. I could have just replaced it and put the transmission back together, but went for an heavy duty rebuild instead.

I wish I remember all the parts that went into the rebuild, but I don't.

The rebuild kit and billet triple disk torque converter (low stall version) came from Suncoast Diesel. The 6.0 cooler from Ford. There were other parts as well, but I do not remember exactly what they were. Maybe somebody else can chime in with a list of parts to buy to rebuild the 4R100 . I went for everything except the billet input and output shafts.


As many others on this site have pointed out, you can get a Ford 4R100 HD installed by Ford. It comes with a warranty from any Ford dealer. Possibly a less expensive
choice as well.

 

[NYB]

I had changed out the ATF so many times, over the years, that the valve body and all internal parts looked brand new at 181K. Even the clutches and steels looked almost new.

So are you saying that when you tore down your transmission to rebuild it, you found that it really didn't need rebuilding at all, and you could have kept running it indefinitely, were it not for the mechanical diode failure?

My Feb 2001 build Ford Excursion 7.3 had the infamous "mechanical diode" that cracked. I could have just replaced it and put the transmission back together, but went for an heavy duty rebuild instead. I went for everything except the billet input and output shafts.

Since you said you prefer the stock shifting (no chip), were you at all worried about harsh shifts in your rebuilt transmission, with every upgrade thrown in it except billet shafts? You report that your rebuilt has had no issues for the last 50,000 miles... but has it performed differently than your stock transmission in terms of feel?

 

[MARCSPSD]

Dear NYB,

Yes. From the looks of the internals of the transmission, the broken "mechnical diode" (a 1 way clutch) could have been replaced. The transmission, was still good. But the transmission needed to be R & R'd to do this. So I went ahead with the total rebuild. Now keep in mind that this 2001 Excursion has had an easy life with very little towing and never chipped. Also Florida is very flat so the transmission never gets the kind of severe duty use that most others transmissions endure.

To answer your question, yes I stayed with the original valve body because I did not want the hard shifts I had experienced in a friends built motor, built transmission truck.


The transmission after the rebuild feels almost identical under moderate acceleration. But more connected. Feels like a manual, in each gear. With a heavy foot, it shifts more firmly than with the factory 4R100. It also short shifts 1st to 2nd gear with a heavy foot. Do not remember if the stock transmission did this. But I do like the short shift from 1st to 2nd. Instead of winding out 1st gear with no load on, it hooks up in second gear way before red line and pulls hard. (for a stock 7.3 PSD engine)

Yes, 50k on the rebuilt 4r100 and have drained the Mobil 1 AFT 2 times. Looked and smelled like it just came out of the bottle.

I have no way of knowing how much the new transmission affects the shifts compared to the low stall triple disk Suncoast converter. ( I did buy the low stall version)

Just a great combo it seems.

The converter was very expensive, I recall. Maybe about $1500 to $1600 dollars. A new Ford converter was I think about $400. but I may be wrong about pricing of the Ford converter.

Yes, I would do the exact thing again as far as the rebuild goes. Could not be happier. Ask me again in a few hundred thousand miles. Now I am at about 228 k. Truck runs much better than new in every respect. Also made other handling improvements like Michelin rubber, Bilstein shocks, Bilstein steering stabilizer and Hellwig big sway bar kit for the rear axle. I wish I had made these all of the above changes from the start when I bought the truck new in 2001.

Wishing a Great Day to all ! Cannot wait to get in my truck this morning! Still excited about this truck after all these years. Even prefer to drive it over my Z06 vette. (sold) When it came time to get rid of one of the vehicles, I did not even have to think about it. Vette gone and 2001 PSD Excursion in daily use. No regrets.

 

[NYB]

MARCSPSD... thank you for your detailed report. I'm sure future searchers will appreciate what you wrote also. Not everyone is looking to race. A lot of people are just looking for reliability, and it sounds like you found a balance for achieving just that.