This is an FYI for everyone.

Just bought my truck back in November of 05. Guy had gotten the tranny (E40D) rebuilt 29k ago. He also used a Superchips power programmer on the truck. The tranny shop installed all the upgrades you can get including a shift kit. If you know this part skip to next part.... Shift kits boost line pressure in the tranny to increase shift firmness and logevity of the tranny.

Here is where the WARNING comes in. I just spent $2101.00 for another complete rebuilt on this E4OD due to the fact the previous owner used the Superchips programmer on top of the internal mods to the tranny by the previous shop. I believe this is called "Stacking".

So wanting to protect my investment I called Superchips and spoke with a tech there. Very knowledgeable and nice. Explained to them what was going on. The guy told me under no circumstances should their programmers be used on any physically modified engine / transmission. Their products are designed for bone stock applications. I'm sure this would apply to any other programmers on the market too. I inquired about removing the tranny portion of the tune on my programmer too. Since Superchips doesn't do custom tuning anymore he told me they couldn't do it. Superchips is owned by MSD now. I didn't know that.

So do your research and ask a lot of questions or it can bite you in the wallett. I'm glad I got a really good deal on this truck or I'd be really P.O'd

Guess I'm in the market for a custom chip now without the transmission tweaks included in it.

Disclaimer : this is NOT a dig on Superchips they make a great product.

Hope this helps someone else not waste a tranny.

 

So you are saying that the Superchips programmer already adds line pressure in the transmission? From what you learned would it be better to have internal mods in the trans. or have the programmer do it? Since you intoned that you would be looking for a different programmer I would think the mechanical mod is better?

Just wondering, my programmer stays on full power unless I am towing the big trailer...

 

My friend who did my tranny told me the mechanical mods he does are far better for the tranny than just boosting line pressure via a programmer.

I loved the power that the programmer gave me from the motor. Trust me I miss it already. Man this thing is a pig without the tune on it. But it's not work screwing up my fresh tranny for it.

I'm just going to get a multi-position chip done without the tranny tweaks in it.

 

i'm not an auto guy but i believe this is correct. or you can tell them about your shift kit and they can accomodate your burn for it.

 

Once you get a chip from say...Jody or Tony...you'll think about what a pig your truck was with that tuner!!

 

yes jody, tony, or johnwood can make you some burns to work with the modified tranny. how much line pressure increase the superchips will make and the physically modifications to the valve body that increase the line pressure its just too much. the valve body mods are much better than what you can do with programming. the good programmers can set you up with what you need.

 

ltfox, or barebackjake, (or anyone else who might know)

I've got Tony's extreme and tow burn on the chip in my 96. I also just picked up the sonnax/tricumlator kit. I'm curious if the combined higher line pressures, and the sonnax/tricum kit is going to give me problems down the road?

Well, i'm not that concerned, once the original tranny packs it in, i'll get one built for some stage 1 injectors, but i don't want to bring that about too soon.

Ken

 

If you are still prefer the handheld programmer over the chip, I believe the Diablo Predator gives you the option of not using the transmission tunes that are built into them.

 

OK, Just like everything in life, you never know what to believe. 30K ago I asked the same questions of Superchips and they said no problem, go ahead and install the sonnax/tricumlator kit. I have 111K on my PSD and in tow safe mode and some mods, the orginal trans is doing fine towing my 5er. With two coolers, a fan up front, mobile 1 and a BD deep dish pan it doesn't get hot.

 

SO you are saying no to SCTM with a sonnax??

 

hey old bird I have a 97 and need to add trany coolers I am bone stock now and know I need to change that. What did you go with and why. If you dont mind.

 

Thanks Cookie.... I might give Diablo a call.

Might give Jody or Tony a try also.

Do they have web sites?

 

dp-tuner.com

 

I don't believe they make a predator tuner for the OBS trucks. Personally, I'd go with a good chip (DP or Wildman) and keep the tuner as a code reader.
I think Dale Isley also sells these chips.

 

timmosazz, at first I added a hayden cooler from advance auto. That wasn't enough so I got a true cool (big one, don't remember the #) and put it up top and the hayden down below the bumper line. I had a dual fan laying around but had to cut the blades down a bit to get it to fit up under the bumper. Then I used that rubber flap down at the bottom of the bumper as a scoop. Instead of attaching it to the bottom of the bumper (stock) I used 3 1/2" spacers and a wood board to attach the rubber to, making it like a little scoop under the bumper. The fan I hot wired to a toggle switch under the dash. I hardly ever use it but it comes in handie when stuck in traffic or climbing that 'big' mountain. This is probably clear as mud!