I just got a '97 F-250 XLT 4x4 ECab LBed with the 351 to use as a tow rig (14' trailer with B2 = about 6000lbs).
So far I have ordered a K/N intake system for it. Rancho RS9000s and a Rancho RS5000 steering stabilizer. I am having duals with Flowmaster 40 series installed this weekend and a Prodigy brake controller this week.
It came with the tow package and 4.10s with the L/S. I am only running 285/16s on it and don't plan on going bigger. It has the stock tranny cooler, but I plan on replacing it with the biggest B/M I can fit.
Anyone got any more suggestions/advise?

 

We purchased a used '95 F250 4X4 Extcab. with a 460 auto about four years ago. We haul a 8' camper and a 12' Interstate trailer with motorcycles and gear.

We put in a K&N filter and a power chip. We were told to have the Catalitic Coverter pulled and put in dual exhaust with glass paks. This was a very big mistake. We lost major power and found out that the computer will not run properly due to the air/fuel ratio and without having some back pressure. We then had the Cat's put back in and had the original exhaust design returned to the truck.

Wow, that is a big improvement. We believe the original Cat's were bad before we started this whole change over and that is why we didn't have much power. The chip is still worth doing! Helps it down shift faster so it won't lug on engine or the tranny.

The only improvement we forgot to look at was the running gears. We had 3/50 gears and we lost our tranny pulling a pass before we even showed 60 thousand miles on the truck. This was when we were told that it already had a rebuilt tranny and not the original. That means the previous owner had blown a tranny before we bought the truck and it only showed 41 thousand on the truck when we bought it.

We had the tranny rebuilt with a shift kit and a large tranny cooler. Before pulling again, we had the gears changed to 4/10's and we have well over 40 thousand more miles on it with no problems.

We are thinking about putting on a different fan cooling system for the engine, some of the mountain passes here in Washington are very steep and long and our engine still gets a little too warm for comfort. We also seem to keep getting exhaust leaks at the manifold due to the overwhelming heat of the engine while pulling.

Thought I'd share some of this with you all, maybe it may help someone else from making any of our mistakes.

Just for more info., we don't seem to see any fuel mileage difference if we are hauling or not. I guess that is something we can count on.

 

Pig Pen jr,

It all looks good. Only other consideration may be synthetic oil in the trans, transfer case and differentials, for the increased temperature stability that synthetics have.

Just my $.02

 

Yea, synthetics are a definite. It just had all the fluids changed at the dealer, so i am going to hold off on the synthetics till it is time to change the fluids. By the end of the year I will have completely switched over.

 

One more thing, a trans temperature gauge.

 

I went to jegs.com and summitracing.com and honestly got totally confused. There are so many sizes and kinds of coolers and gages that I don't know which to get... Anyone got any part numbers for me? I want the biggest cooler to replace my stock tranny one and a digital gage would be nice, with a "A" pillar mount.
I was considering going ahead and getting a oil pressure and water temp gage while I was at it. So I guess a 3 pod "A" pillar mount would be best.

 

I've got the same truck, but in 2wd. I think there are cat-back exhaust systems if you don't mind more noise (I kind of like the subdued tone on my 5.8), and probably a lower-temp thermostat and a revised computer chip would gain you some more power.

But you might try towing with the engine in stock form and see how it serves you. The bigger tranny-cooler couldn't hurt.

 

Pig Pen Jr.,

Here are some suggestions. As far as oil cooler size goes, get the largest physical size that will fit in your vehicle between the grill and the front of the radiator. You can cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the oil cooler you are considering and see if it will fit. All of the cooler manufacture list there physical sizes. Bigger is better if it will fit.

As for brand recommendations I like the "Perma-Cool six pass Maxi-cool" and the "B&M stacked plate SuperCooler". The Perma-Cool are probably the most expensive, I do like them the best however. Just my personal choice.

As for mounting the cooler, fabricate some metal brackets and bolt it to the metal radiator core support, Do Not, repeat Do Not use those mickey mouse plastic push tabs that come with alot of the coolers. The type that you push through your radiator fins. The vibration and weight of the transmission cooler will cause these push tabs to create holes in your radiator.

For gauges, pick what you like, Autometer and Isspro have been making good gauges for many years. i like both, i have probably used more Autometer but both are good. I tend to use electric gauges instead of mechanical in most applications. In some severe high performance applications i will use mechanical, but generally stick with electrical in daily drives because of easy install.

If you like digital gauges go with Nordskog, they have been making these for a long time and have a good reputation. Only thing i don't like about the digital gauges is that they can be hard to read if the sun shines directly on them.

Hope this helps.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by blackhat620
[B]Pig Pen Jr.,


"As for mounting the cooler, fabricate some metal brackets and bolt it to the metal radiator core support, Do Not, repeat Do Not use those mickey mouse plastic push tabs that come with alot of the coolers. The type that you push through your radiator fins. The vibration and weight of the transmission cooler will cause these push tabs to create holes in your radiator. "

RIGHT ON!!!! I made the foolish mistake of using those plastic jokes, and cost me a four core radiator on an old Camaro A piece of advice for the mount fabrication, go to the hardware store and get some of the metal mounts for conduit or wiring with the rubber on them, they hold well and won't rub through.

 

I just installed a Nordskog digital tansmission gauge on my 99 expedition. It was a very easy install and the gauge works perfectly....very stable, no flutter.

Philip

 

Did you put it in a pillar pod or on that goes on the dash, just curious.

 

I was lazy. I used velcro to stick it under the dash just to the right of the steering wheel. It's right next to my brake controller, so they make a nice pair.

Philip