Hi all, I have a 2001 F150 5.4 with 170 000 km (~106 000 miles), completely stock. I have had it since last October and love it! While I do miss my Ranger this truck is much more suited to my hunting/towing/people carrying needs. However as with all 5.4's mileage is not great... To gain an extra mpg or two I am considering the following:

1) A good used tuner. I have done lots of reading on different ones, and it seems the most common are XCAL 3, Diablospot Predator, Edge Evolution. From what I gather they all do pretty much the same thing. I have heard lots of mention of a gryphon tuner but that is too much money for me. I want one to help with mileage, with a few extra hp as just a bonus. I have read that they also change the shift patterns and firmness. So my question is, as far as just transmission goes, do they basically do the same thing as a shift kit? Or something different?

2) A shift kit. Either a B&M or Transgo. My reading shows pretty much equal comments about both, although the pictures of the B&M seem a lot simpler of a kit. Might just be the picture though? I am wondering, could a shift kit be combined with a tuner, or no? If it were to be combined, would it be adding anything extra that a tuner would not do for the transmission? My truck is a daily driver, really only towing during hunting season, so I would not go with the aggresive option in either shift kit, just the mild or stage 1 or whatever they call it.

I am also trying to find a used tonnea cover. This will only help a little if any, but I also like the look and think it will help give a cleaned up appearance. I would also take off the running boards except that I am a neat freak and hate a dirty truck (conflicts with hunting I know, especially super wet spring snow goose), and find the running boards a great place to kick my boots against and knock off as much mud as possible.

So thats my essay containing a few questions, thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any help!

 

Take your pic of Tuning units but do not use a shift kit and try to tune the trans for anything 'other' than shift points.
It's one or the other.
The shift kit being preferred.
For example if the pressure were raised by shift kit, you should not try to raise is more by electric control from the program.
Good luck.

 

What type of tonneau cover are you looking for????...I have an Used Extang cover that I had on my 2000 F150 Flareside that is still in good shape....

 

Pretty much anything other than a one piece one. However i am also in Canada.

 

Is yours a Flareside?????...The one that I have Is the Extang Platinum model for the Flareside(step-side bed),It will not fit a Styleside(regular bed)...

 

I might add,the framework has a lifetime warranty,but the tonneau material doesn't---they will sell you a replacement for $100.00 though...

 

I just found a good deal on a used Predator so I picked that up, should be here either tomorrow or monday. What I do like about the tuner over the shift kit is that I can also use it to read codes and check data, for example my 02 sensors, or whatever data logging if I want to do that. Also I don't have to open up my tranny to put the kit in.

When you say only tuning the shift points, do you mean that leave the pressure as it was stock, or do not increase it any more over what is done in the tune? I could probably just adjust the tune back to stock for shift pressure if I wanted to put a shift kit in later then correct?

 

With shift kits the pressure is altered to make the shiftS more firm by changes in the plate, springs and seperator plate holes etc.
With a tuner the pressure only is altered by changes to the EPC solenoid signalling.
What I meant was not to try to do both or the shifts become to harsh.
The shift kit is the better of the two ways for longevity of the transmission.
With 106k on the trans at this point in trans life, it make little difference.
Wear has already occurred on the bands and clutch paks.

 

I would go with a tuner.

I have been told that the 4r70w does not respond as well to a shift kit as the old C6/C4 transmissions did. I have no way to verify this.

The tuner i use does a great job of firming up the shifts. Plus you get the flexibilty to change shift rpm and vary the firmness to what you like. With a shift kit you get what you get basically. Plus the tuner can add a few more HP.

 

I'm new to the whole forum thing but I wanted to ask every one if they know of a tuner for a 2001 f150 4.6 tuner that'll allow me to delete my cats. And I have no emission laws where I live. The reason for getting rid of them is that they make an annoying rattling sound.