Best Tranny? ATS, BTS, John Wood, SunCoast OR Monster Box?

[Mike OB]

Roadkill: I would look for another problem before I spent another dime! You have something else wrong or the guys who did your tranny overlooked something. Here is somethings to look at. (1) - Did you change the radiator when you replaced the first or even the second tranny? The metal from the first failure would be in the cooler! the higher oil pressure will push that ground up metal right into your new unit? (2) - Check the alignment of the drive line? It sounds like you have a lift kit? too much angle will double the side torque inside the tranny and over load the bearings. (3) - install a temp gague and watch the change of temp. / on left side infront of shift linkage is a 1/4 pipe plug that a temp sending unit will screw right into. JC WHITNEY has a didgital unit that I put in mine. Good luck Mike OB

[Mike OB]

Lem: Where did you find that the pressure droped on shifts? I would like to read what you have seen on that. Mike OB

---

Last edited by Mike OB : 11-21-2005 at 09:42 PM.

[99Smokin73Stroker]

Hey guys, I found this article doing some research on ATS. This guy took his truck to ATS and had them do everything in house. It's a dodge 48re behind a cummins, but it'll pretty much be the same result for our psd trannies. It explains how it works, and has step by step pictures and info on the removal and reinstall. Then at the end he says how it performs. I'm pretty impressed just with what I read, now I want one!!! Here's the link.... http://www.pirate4x4.com/productreviews/ats/tranny/

[Mike OB]

Hi Guys: Thank you for making me look up some information. Your conversations and questions have made me take a new interest in my own trade. I tried to look up in Mitchell’s and Alldata today to find the correct oil pressure of a 4R100 trans. NOT LISTED – so I called the transmission shop that rebuilds all of our transmissions and asked what the oil pressure should be? After going through two technicians, no one new. I did learn that Hayden Corp has a list of trans. temps on there coolers which states that 175 degrees will get you 100,000 miles – 195 / 50,000 – 220 / 20,000 - 240 / 10,000 and any hotter is death to your trans. I also found TFT (trans. fluid temp sensor) chart by Ford, it list from 40 below to 267-302, the high reading has no spec. last spec listed is 231-266 that reads .8 to 1.5 ohm’s middle of the chart is 105-158 and the spec for that is 5-16 ohm’s. My belief is that about 150 degrees is about what will give you the best life of your transmission. The Mobil salesman was in today and I ask him for the spec. sheet on Delvac and trans. Fluid, keep watching and I will get you the right oil pressure at every condition and temp. By the way, I found out that our transmission has a CBV – that stands for cooler bypass valve and is mounted on the side of the trans. It also has a second line that hooks the outlet to the inlet incase the cooler plugs up. And there is only one outlet to test pressure at and it is called line pressure which is controlled by the PCM and even the A/C can change that pressure. As I get more info. I will give it to you. Happy bird day Mike OB

[BlackSmoke00]

I've got a 2000 7.3 and the stock tranny was going in it so i went with a ATS level5 tranny and all i have to say is that if want a good tranny go with ats

[99Smokin73Stroker]

Hey black smoke I have just in the past week began to do research a bunch of different trannies. I have a 99 7.3 and since our trucks are pretty much the same, can you give me an idea of just how good the level 5 is? I'm not sure about getting that level, maybe 3 or 4. Right now my stock tranny waits forever between shifts with the chip i'm using. It's just too much power for it to handle. And I know it won't be too long before I start having real problems with it, say as early as next spring when my work gets the busiests and i'm driving the most! How much did you spend in total on yours so I know what to expect? Any help is appreciated, and thank you!

Also, welcome and thank you for joining the PSD forum, it's good to have you!

[dulliesmoke]

well before i go out and spend a bunch of money on a new trans. when mine starts to go, im thinking about installing some of sonax's parts. they make a few diffrent things to improve shifts and line press. the only concern i have is can i have to much line press.? i havent had the truck to long and im going to get gages soon and then a chip, really looking at ts 6 pos., and im afraid that the sonax valve and the chip will boost trans press. to much and cause problems. anyone know if this is true or is all the line press you can get better?

[99Smokin73Stroker]

I haven't ever heard of having too much line pressure being bad. But it could very well be possible. If you don't find the answer that you're looking for on here, just call up some local tranny specialists and see what they say, or just call ats or suncoast.

[pwf100200]

I have a question. I have a 97 F-350 Dually with the 7.3 Powerstroke W/ automatic transmission. I too pull a 32 ft trailer. A 32 ft Teton 5th wheel. I've never had a problem with my transmission to speak of, except two or three times while trying to stop (no trailer being towed) the trans acted like it wouldn't disengage and the engine stalled out. Except for that "no problems" it now has 119000 miles on it. No problems I should say until last week.
I now have a low growl that feels harmonic in the brake pedal and steering wheel. I have noticed if I throw it in neutral or park it's fine but in gear it growls. I keep looking for something else to be the culprit because it shifts and drives fine. Fluid level indicates full and doesn't look or smell burnt. Any suggestions?

---

Last edited by pwf100200 : 01-06-2006 at 03:43 PM.

[Mike OB]

PWF & dullie: Know that Christmass a wedding and new years and my oldest daughter haveing surgury, its been quiet- well line pressure is all that can be read on your tranny and I guess you could get too much line pressure if the PCM believed you had very low line pressure and you could restricked the control solanoid with an after market valve. Go read my post 4R100 AND IT WILL TELL YOU HOW THE THING WORKS. I understand that some of it might be a bit over a lot of heads, but the PCM controls the line pressure of the tranny. The only way to up the pressure is to either make the PCM believe that the pressure is lower or lie to the pressure sensor. They both do the same thing. Sonex valves lie to the sensor and Banks lies to the PCM, Both do the same but in different ways. The reason that your engine is dieing is one of two reasons, one the lockup torque converter bearing is bad and locking the flywheel to the imput shaft of the tranny, or two the solanoid that locks up the converter is not unlocking the converter. A scanner will tell you if the PCM is keeping it locked, a test light can see if the PCM is supplying a ground to the solanoid, and if it stops doing it warm? it will more then likely be a bad converter. Hope this helps, Mike OB