Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

modding an automatic?

Old Jun 22, 2004 | 07:55 PM
  #1  
Mustangfreak's Avatar
Mustangfreak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Dyess AFB Abilene TX
modding an automatic?

Alright, Ive heard good and bad things about the auto's in the powerstrokes, and mine is an auto and Im worried if I mod this truck too much itll break. Should I be worried? the truck has 173K miles and the previous owner said it was recently serviced, but he didnt go into details about it.

and all the guy use the truck for was to do stuff on his farm. Should I? I was just planning on getting a air intake, chip/tuner, and exhaust and gauges. should I do just these or go further and not worry about the tranny?
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 08:04 PM
  #2  
CAT_man_963's Avatar
CAT_man_963
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Elverson, PA
One of the most popular tranny mods is the Sonnax valve and Tricumulator springs. They work together to make the tranny shift firmer and quicker with less slippage. It takes away the mushy, soft, can't hardly feel it shift, stock shifts and makes it shift real nice. I have the valve and springs in my tranny and am pleased with how they make it shift.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 08:48 PM
  #3  
psdpower's Avatar
psdpower
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Forest Hill, MD
Freak, the torque converters in the earlier PSDs are pretty weak. See if the previous owner had it replaced or not, with that many miles the original converter is probably on borrowed time.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 10:58 PM
  #4  
Mustangfreak's Avatar
Mustangfreak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Dyess AFB Abilene TX
I was thinking that the TC was slipping a bit when Id put my foot in it, other then that it does ok. would a chip/tuner help any?

how much are those valves and springs and how hard of an install are they?
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 11:11 PM
  #5  
psdpower's Avatar
psdpower
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Forest Hill, MD
A chip will only make your converter worse, might as well bite the bullet and get an aftermarket converter, especially if you plan on many mods. Never done the Sonnax valve and spring but I hear it's a fairly simple mod. Dieselinnovations.com sells the kit and has the instructions on the site.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 11:19 PM
  #6  
wlihntr's Avatar
wlihntr
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
Likes: 7
From: colorado
valve and springs are $50.00 about 2 hours to install(per the instuctions) and if i ever get the time i will put mine in(they have been sitting on my desk for a week and a half)
you can get them at www.dieselinovations.com
that is where catman963 directed me to get mine...thanks
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2004 | 11:54 PM
  #7  
farmb0y's Avatar
farmb0y
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
Club FTE Silver Member

The valve and springs are a simple install. Noticable difference in shifts, worth the money and time invested. They give great instructions, easy to follow and well detailed.
Just might want to let the transmission fluid cool a little bit before you try and change it. I was driving it for a while, pulled it in the shop, drained it and went to work on it. It makes it a little more difficult when the oil is burning you as it drips off the transmission.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2004 | 12:07 AM
  #8  
wlihntr's Avatar
wlihntr
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
Likes: 7
From: colorado
Originally Posted by farmb0y
The valve and springs are a simple install. Noticable difference in shifts, worth the money and time invested. They give great instructions, easy to follow and well detailed.
Just might want to let the transmission fluid cool a little bit before you try and change it. I was driving it for a while, pulled it in the shop, drained it and went to work on it. It makes it a little more difficult when the oil is burning you as it drips off the transmission.
good advise, i will remember that
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Jun 23, 2004 | 07:34 AM
  #9  
Mustangfreak's Avatar
Mustangfreak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Dyess AFB Abilene TX
Originally Posted by farmb0y
The valve and springs are a simple install. Noticable difference in shifts, worth the money and time invested. They give great instructions, easy to follow and well detailed.
Just might want to let the transmission fluid cool a little bit before you try and change it. I was driving it for a while, pulled it in the shop, drained it and went to work on it. It makes it a little more difficult when the oil is burning you as it drips off the transmission.
haha, I hate doing stuff like that on hot cars. Once I pulled my GT into the base hobby shop to swap radiators. I didnt give it any cool down time, just went right to work on it. Well when I loosened the radiator hose clamp, it was under so much pressure the hose shot off the radiator and fluid went EVERYWHERE
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2004 | 08:06 AM
  #10  
Mustangfreak's Avatar
Mustangfreak
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Dyess AFB Abilene TX
Also, would mods like exhaust and air intake hurt the truck? stupid question I know, but this is my DD and my mustang was my DD and I modded it and now it sits on the street not running! lol I need this truck to run every time I start it, but at the same time the mod bug is bitting me in the *** and I want to mod it a little
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2004 | 11:14 PM
  #11  
farmb0y's Avatar
farmb0y
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
Club FTE Silver Member

I wouldn't think exhaust and an air intake would hurt the daily performance of the truck in anyway, it should help it, it'll breath a lot better, both air in and kicking exhaust out.
 
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2004 | 12:51 PM
  #12  
merlin1gsd's Avatar
merlin1gsd
New User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
You should be fine with an intake and exhaust. I'd want to be real careful going with a big chip on your rig though. The trans. is the weak link in these trucks and if you think your converter is already slipping....well what more can I say.
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE