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4r100 build

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Old Mar 30, 2023 | 04:13 PM
  #1  
octaneforce's Avatar
octaneforce
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From: long island
4r100 build

I have a 1999 e350 7.3 van with some mild upgrades.
4 inch turbo back exhaust
Billet turbo wheel
epbv delete with outlet and pedestal
hydra tuner

The truck is an absolute beast of a van and runs awesome, but the transmission is slowly robbing more and more power. It slips too much from one gear to the next and overall never seems to be “locked in”.

im sure its due for a rebuild, but i dont wanna build it to stock specs and then deal with this again in the near future. Im not really sure where to begin. I guess i would need to send the transmission out somewhere for a rebuild and assemble it with some sort of aftermarket torque converter. Im assuming these are the same trannys the pickups have.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2023 | 04:19 PM
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BTS transmissions are the gold standard in 4R100s.
https://www.brianstruckshop.com/
 
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Old Mar 30, 2023 | 04:20 PM
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Call up Brian at BTS, and tell him your problems.

he will build it to your needs, not a 1,000 hp drag wagon.


https://www.brianstruckshop.com/about
 
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Old Mar 30, 2023 | 04:22 PM
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Sam Wyse is a great option as well. His turn around time these days is pretty decent as well.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2023 | 01:01 PM
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FYI
Stock converter from my freshly rebuilded 4r100 started slipping after putting Hydra on it.

I changed it to 3disc billet TC with extra low stall.
Holds good with 205/80 injectors.

Also,have you compared different tunes/ tuners?
Shift pressures and TC PWM varies.
 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 06:10 AM
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Originally Posted by FinnishStroker
FYI
Stock converter from my freshly rebuilded 4r100 started slipping after putting Hydra on it.

I changed it to 3disc billet TC with extra low stall.
Holds good with 205/80 injectors.

Also,have you compared different tunes/ tuners?
Shift pressures and TC PWM varies.
what is the benefit of a low stall?

There doesnt seem to be many hydra tunes for the vans. I just have the tunes they sent me it with.
 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 06:27 AM
  #7  
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From: Kinnula,Finland
Who's tunes you are running?

Lower stall makes the TC "slip" less so power moves earlier to the rear wheels = more efficient.

Simplified examples:

After selecting D in flat,vehicle will move easier with no throttle or with very little pedal input.

When accelerating TC unlocked,lower stall converter will have lower RPMs and more torque to the rear wheels.

Resident transmission expert @Mark Kovalsky things ,that 7.3 engine has come with too high stall speed from the factory.
 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 08:25 AM
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Ideally, the stall speed should be just below the RPM where the engine produces peak torque. I forget the numbers on the 7.3L stall and peak torque, but they are out of whack. The stall speed is above peak torque.

If stall is just below peak torque on a hard launch you get the engine producing peak torque and the torque converter at its maximum multiplication at the same time. This gets the most possible torque to the rear axle. When stall is above peak torque you get something less than max engine torque multiplied by max torque converter.
 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 11:34 AM
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Methinks it's Ford's way of giving the E4OD/4R100 any hope of surviving behind the 7.3L.

 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
Methinks it's Ford's way of giving the E4OD/4R100 any hope of surviving behind the 7.3L.
is the torque converter lockup mod worth it or as cool as you think the AIH relay delete and GPR relocate mod are lol

 
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Old Apr 8, 2023 | 01:43 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by RigCity
is the torque converter lockup mod worth it or as cool as you think the AIH relay delete and GPR relocate mod are lol
If it's worth it to the end user. It can be super useful when employed during low-speed hauling up and down winding roads that don't allow 35+ MPH or 60%+ APP in 2nd that would cause the PCM to apply it automatically. 2nd gear with TCC applied between 20-40 MPH is handy sometimes!
 
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Old Apr 13, 2023 | 07:52 AM
  #12  
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I spoke to brian at bts. Amazing dude and was happy to explain everything.
He now builds trannys only 1 way. Its a triple disc converter with a special coupling and all the best guts. It costs 5500$ and handles over 600 horsepower.

now, sure id love to do this. But i dont think i can warrant that sort of tranny in my very mildly modified daily driver. Also hes in arksanas and im in new york, so id have to freight the new tranny here or drive out there. He does swap them in for free which is cool, but the time and money to drive there might not pay.

ive seen some other “upgraded” 4r100 transmissions for around 2500$. They all use a billet torque converter which is probably the only thing i need. I dont think my tranny is slipping, im pretty sure im just blowing thru the converter
 
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Old Apr 13, 2023 | 08:17 AM
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Years back I had an OBS with the E4OD....and the convertor was slipping during lock-up. I ordered a convertor from BD Diesel. I dropped the trans, swapped in the new convertor and life was good until I sold it.
 
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