I was going to do an Allison conversion on my bronco but the cost will be to great even if I find what I'm looking for. So I'm looking into the e4od with a Baumann stand alone controller instead. Anybody have any experience with the the Baumann on a 6.9? I don't want to have to switch over to much wiring from a 7.3 so I'm hoping the system doesn't use to much of the original wiring. They want $600 for the unit so I want to see what is involved in the install before jumping into things. I have the wiring that goes from the three connectors down to the transmission so far. Picked that up at the salvage yard but the rest was missing unfortunately.

 

David85 has an older version of the Baumann controller. I've been checking out the new controller as well as I have an E4OD to swap in some time (my C6 and NP205 are working flawlessly though so haven't had a huge urge to tear it apart yet!) From what I've read it sounds as though the Baumann is about as close to plug-and-go as you can get if you buy their wire harness. I've been looking at it because while I have an E4OD and an IDI E4OD computer, I don't have the plug for the computer and the local junkyards don't have 'em either. By the time I gather all the parts and get them shipped out here, then buy the wire, make the looms and wire it in, I figure I won't be *too* far off from the Baumann system, and with the Baumann I'll get more functionality and programmable shift points, basic onboard diagnostics etc. If I've modded everything else on the truck why not the trans controller too!

David85 loves his controller from what I can tell, and with the dual shift tables he can set it up for towing, economy or just playing around. I'm looking forward to swapping in the E4OD (I'm putting in 4.10's in place of my 3.55's so the OD will be nice at that point) however I'm not looking forward to going through yet another round of driveshaft length changes... My truck has been getting a lot of (drive)shaft lately What can I say.. she gets around hah.

YouTube - ‪6.9 IDI with 3.08 gears and E4OD‬‏

 

Thanks for the video. That's some smooth shifting!

I'm having the same problem finding the wiring at local wrecking yards and the system is complicated enough that I would rather get a stand alone unit rather than mess around with wiring. Didn't take me long to talk myself into it .

I know what you mean on shortening the drive line. For me it's mostly lack of room. I want my Gear Vendors over/under behind the e4od but my drive line is short as it is. I would have a 14" drive line with the GV. Drawback of having a bronco.

Maybe David85 will be around soon and can go through the install procedure.

 

Perhaps to save him some re-typing, here's what he sent me a while back on it:

Considering how complicated the stock E4OD setups are, I opted for a complete aftermarket controller made by baumannator TCS. Its the cheapest one on the market (though still $650 for computer and harness) but works fine for me and I've had no problems with it after several years. It also has some extra features that the stock setup won't have.

Your cross member will need to be moved back since the E4OD is much longer than the C6. If possible you can also find the correct E4OD style cross member and mount that instead. Either method will work but you will likely have to drill new holes in the frame to mount it in the new location. I bolted my transmission to the engine, lifted it up and used that to position the cross member for drilling the frame.

Rear drive shaft will have to be shortened but you might get away with only replacing the front half if you have a 2 piece drive shaft. Thats what I did and it worked fine but I did have to move the center support bearing rearward by about one inch.

The rear cooler line will be too short but you might be able to make up for this by using rubber hose at the front or simply buying a new steel line.

For the VSS issue, there will not be a VSS sensor on anywhere on the transmission or the transfer case out of the powerstroke as far as I know. After 1992, all speed related inputs for the speedometer, transmission, cruise control, and rear ABS are all taken from the rear differential VSS. And if your truck originally had a C6, you won't have one of these so I'm not sure how you can get your speedometer working again other than to swap to an older 1991 or older transfer case which will have provision for a speedometer cable drive. But since the computer will be expecting a rear VSS signal, you will have to swap your rear axle to one that came with one originally. The setup will not function at all unless the computer has some sort of vehicle speed input.

The donor truck I got my setup out of was 1991 so that wasn't a problem for me other than to get the correct drive gear for speedo calibration.

The Baumann controller doesn't come pre programmed since the application can vary so widely from one car/truck to the next but it does come with some default setups as a starting point. It's the only real drawback because it can take a little time and testing to get a program that you like. Having a laptop comes in really handy for roadside tweaking or troubleshooting.

But being able to change shift programs on the fly is a nice feature too. However if you want to have all gears in 4wd, then thats what the secondary table will be used for. I just manually shift into 2nd gear if needed and thats all the speed I need in low range. That keeps me secondary shift table open for anything I want to play with while on the highway

 

Sounds like the way to go. Anything to make the job easier. Hopefully I can do the programing without to much trouble and get that thing back on the road. Thanks for the info.

 

Howdy,


I know this thread is several months old. How is it coming?


I am putting an E4OD + Baumann controller in my 55 F-600.

I'll be using a Y-Block with a Bendtsen adapter and Ford 300 torque converter.

I also have a 2 speed axle which will be programmed as a (4x4) low range.

I am lucky here, since I'm also using the standard Super Duty tail-mounted E-brake. There's a hole for a standard VSS provided on the e-brake housing.

The video was GREAT!

I'll have a 5.83:1 axle ratio in high range and with 40" tires (9.00-20) and the 0.71:1 OD, I expect about 2100 RPM at 60 mph when running empty "on the flat".

There’s some pictures in my gallery.

Regards,


Rick

 

No post is to old my friend.

Things are going great. I dislike computer systems and avoid them at all costs, but the Baumann is as simple as the old control modules for engines, so I don't mind having a brain on it. The adaptability of the controller and and it's ability to be customized just makes my project that much more to my liking. I have it at the factory program right now because I'm in the act of a major power upgrade so more to play around with come spring.

I like what you're doing with the truck. I'll have to check out those pics.

 

Thanks!


I would like to talk to more people using the Baumann controller just to get more info on programming, problems etc.....

I think it's going to work pretty good!

I'll wire everything myself. I've also added a 90A alternator and I'll probably do either a Mallory or MSD distributor.

In 1985, I ordered an 86 F250 with a 6.9L engine and T-19 4-speed.

Knowing what I know now, I would have gotten it with a C-6 and then later swapped it with a correctly 'built" E4OD/4R100!

After I had it for about a year I installed an ATS turbocharger. It made a little difference but the pump was just about cranked up as far as it would go already (right from FORD) so I didn't get a LOT of additional HP out of it but it really cleaned up the acceleration smoke! (about 6-10 psi boost)

I thought about using a 6.9/7.3 engine in my F-600 but would have had problems with the left manifold running into the steering box.

My second choice (maybe future) engine is a Cummins 6BT


Thanks for the info!


Rick

 

I recently installed the Optishift in my '94 IDI turbo and I love it. It made a world of difference in how my transmission shifts and eliminated all of the electrial problems of the factory trans computer! It's the best money I've spent on the truck so far! I still need to hook up the wire to the reverse lights and to the OD light. I hooked up the Manutronics to the cruise buttons but I must have done something wrong there cause it's not working so I'll call Baumann and have them walk me trough that. Other than that little issue the install was simple and straight forward. Mine came pre loaded with their program for diesel trucks and the only thing I've changed on it so far is the light throttle shift firmness. It seemed a little too firm for me so I backed it off a little. Going from the factory trans computer to the Baumann, I can't imagine that anyone would be disappointed!

 

The guys at Baumann are great to work with. I had a bunch of questions while I was doing my conversion into the Chevy. Easy to program and loads of options if you feel like using them.

 

Is it to early yet to report any mpg differences.

 

The only time I did the numbers once before the Optishift and it was interstate driving and it was around 12. I made a 250 mile round trip this past weekend and was getting 14 pulling a trailer loaded with 4 wheelers and tree stands.

 

hey all, i have an 88 f25 7.3 with a c6, im doing an e4od 4x4 swap, i have a 91 donor truck and i want to use the baumann control for the trans but im not sure if i should purchase it because idk how to make it work with the speedometer or what ever i need. im looking for someone to tell me how or if this will work so my trans will shift. thanks in advance

 

Like Lightning says above, those guys at Baumann are very helpful. If you give them the proper info on the engine and transmission than they will get you the right wiring harness. Where the speedometer input is, TPS sensor, those are the most important to let them know about. If you get it, the instructions for hooking up the overdrive cancel switch are a little hard to find and not real clear, but they are there. Maybe it was only a flaw in my instructions. Pretty simple process to hook everything up including the OD cancel.

Good luck with the project.

 

i don't think it will work in the c6 b/c that trans is a mechanical trans. the e4od gets all its commands for electric sensors.