I'm getting ready to order a PSD and I feel that the automatic in whatever rearend ratio is much less potent than the 6 speed. Am I imagining things or does having the six speed really make the PSD tighter and more peppy feeling?

Help? thanx

 

The "flashing" of the computer gives you an extra 25 horse power in the manual equipped vehicles. The Automatics are rated at 250 HP and the manuals are rated at 275 HP. Your seat-of-the-pants dyno is correct.

 

Joe-
My rig is too old to have this really pertain to me, but for my understanding, why are they different?

 

>I'm getting ready to order a PSD and I feel that the
>automatic in whatever rearend ratio is much less potent than
>the 6 speed. Am I imagining things or does having the six
>speed really make the PSD tighter and more peppy feeling?
>
>Help? thanx

joecamper, I just purchased a new PSD and love it. In all of the years before buying this new truck, I always said that "my next truck would have an automatic in it". I test drove several trucks and they all had automatics. Well one day, my wife and I went to test drive one and the salesperson said "you have already driven the automatics, why dont you try a six-speed"? So I did, and guess what I bought? Right,the six-speed! I liked both the response and the control of the PSD with the six-speed.

Bud
2002 F250 XLT SC PSD 4X4 and a 6spd

 

Quadzilla: My assumption is they would like to be able to advertise as much power as possible in order to remain compettive with GM while minimizing their warranty costs on their automatic transmissions.

 

Joe, I'm kinda new to Powerstrokes, so please indulge me while I catch up on a little history... When Ford first came out with the 'Stroke in '94, didn't they find it to be too much for the E4OD, so they began reflashing the PCM on the '94's and '95's to reduce the power output to reduce warranty claims then? If so, what did they do next, just "detune" the engine for newer models?
I am just trying to get my information straight so things can make more sense in the big picture.
Thanks.

 

In 1994 if you wanted a manual trans, you got a Power Stroke. If you wanted an automatic you got a 7.3 IDI engine rated at 185 HP. The early Power Strokes were rated at 215 HP. Then they went to 235, then 250. Now, the autos are 250 and manuals are 275. The engine's capability to produce horse power has pretty much always been there, but Ford is only going to give the customer enough to get his (or her) business (hence the booming chip market). The problem with the automatic transmissions is not the inherent weakness of the transmission (their transmissions are no worse than anybody elses, in my view) but the RPM range at which the engine makes its torque. The engine at wide open throttle at 1000 RPM is already making 250 ft. lb. of torque. The torque curve flattens out at 1400 or 1500 RPM and peaks somewhere between 1600 and 2200 RPM at about 525 ft. lb. That is a lot of low RPM grunt! And that, in my view, is the problem with the transmissions -- their inability to sustain that much torque at that low RPM. This is part of the reason for the development of the 6.0L Power Stroke. It will make its power in a more "car like" manner -- higher up the RPM band.

 

All I know is when I drove both, I opted for the 6 speed and can't be happier with it. It just seems to correspond with the PSD better than the auto. If you want a drag racer then you better get that auto, if you want to tow, get the 6 speed.

Les

 

The six speeds have a cat and the auto's do not. The higher re-sale leans towards the automatic. Most of the trucks are automatic. I have an automatic and I use the SCMT so I run the same hp as the hand shaker. I have more room in the cab, I paid more for the Automatic. I also paid for the Lariat package. If I was going to go purist, I would get a six speed. I do not believe my truck is any less of a truck because I have an automatic. It is awesome, and it flat get's it when I press the go pedal. If I really want to go fast, fast.....
I drive the VETTE.

 

OK.... So if the auto has 250 horses and the 6 speed has 275, will I have the same corresponding HP increase in both with a SCMT? Or will it pretty much equal them out after chipping? I cut my teeth on a standard shift and I avoided autos like the plague until I bought a 96 F-350 CC SWD 4X4. I must say I liked being able to eat a Big Mac, drink coffee, play with the radio and lean over the seat and yell at my kid all at the same time. I don't have to worry 'bout that now my kid has a truck of his own now :-) I also plan to do some exhaust stuff probably a Banks system. Should I use the Ottomind or is the SCMT compatible with opening up the exhaust with a Banks.

Thanx for all the great comments!