Tranny Swapping
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 80
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From: NW Illinois on 40 Acres
Tranny Swapping
Can you replace the automatic with a 6 speed on a 99 SD, SC, PSD, 4X4, LB, F-250? I beleive that the major parts (Flywheel, cluch, trany, bellhousing) well most likely bolt right on, BUT how about the pedel assembly, the computer-chips things (I have a Banks Stinger Plus in it now), trany cooler (I am told that 6-speed's have them also), and stuff like that. The 4X4 is a dash switch and I can live with that, but I still like to pull that leaver to PUT it gear for both the trany and 4X4.
I have 169K miles on it with a torq converter replacement before I bought at 80K miles. I am just not to sure that this trans is going to hold together over the long haul. Even with extra cooling, trans temp gauge, two flushes this summer, trans temps run high (210 to 220) while pulling a 30 ft RV 5er. Any time temps get into the 235 area I pull off to let her cool down. usually I keep the engine running to keep the all the fluids flowing.
Beside I like to PUT the truck in the gear I think is best and not have some *#@* computer think it knows what to do! I can see the road ahead, the computer only knows what we just went thru.
Thanks for you insights.
I have 169K miles on it with a torq converter replacement before I bought at 80K miles. I am just not to sure that this trans is going to hold together over the long haul. Even with extra cooling, trans temp gauge, two flushes this summer, trans temps run high (210 to 220) while pulling a 30 ft RV 5er. Any time temps get into the 235 area I pull off to let her cool down. usually I keep the engine running to keep the all the fluids flowing.
Beside I like to PUT the truck in the gear I think is best and not have some *#@* computer think it knows what to do! I can see the road ahead, the computer only knows what we just went thru.
Thanks for you insights.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,475
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From: Calgary Canada
Where is the tranny cooler mounted on this truck? Maybe an additonal fan would help you keep your temps down. That's pretty simple compared to swapping out the tranny. Of course, you wouldn't get the joy of grinding gears.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Yep, BTS does alot of these swaps. It is doable, the PCM might need to be reprogrammed, but thats something DP Tuner could easily do. As far as the towing is concerned, I thought the ZF was rated just as high as the auto in all the F250 and F350s. The 550 is a different story, but only by 4k gvw.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
I think the '99 had some inadequate cooling for the tranny.
Check whether it has a real tranny cooler, and if it does, get one a LOT larger. And if it doesn't already have an external (not inside the radiator) cooler, get a large one, and install it.
My '01 V10 with the trailer package has a pretty big cooler on it - never towed "heavy" with it, but it is around the size of what's called a "15K GCWR" cooler I've seen in auto-parts stores.
art k.
Check whether it has a real tranny cooler, and if it does, get one a LOT larger. And if it doesn't already have an external (not inside the radiator) cooler, get a large one, and install it.
My '01 V10 with the trailer package has a pretty big cooler on it - never towed "heavy" with it, but it is around the size of what's called a "15K GCWR" cooler I've seen in auto-parts stores.
art k.
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The '99 did have inadequate trans cooling. The problem was that they didn't have a cooler inside the radiator, just one out front. At slow speeds, and especially backing, there wasn't enough airflow to keep the trans cool. Adding a cooler in the radiator fixed the problem.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: NW Illinois on 40 Acres
Thanks Guys,
I have added a Larger Cooler in series (in line) that is mounted on the lower right corner of the radiator in front of everything but the bumper and it still runs warm.
I added it before we went to Colorado this summer. I did have the trans flushed before we left and the tec said the exit fuild use so black that he could not see thru it in his sight glass. He said to run it about 8 to 10K and re-flush it. So thats what I did. The fuild again was dark but not black.
From working on other cars and trucks with auto trans I remember that most had the fuild running thru somewhere on the radiator.
My question now is, "If the radiator on this truck DOES NOT have trans cooling lines built into it (IT DOS NOT), what is my next step? A better radiator with extra cooling built into it? Or have a radiator shop rebuild this one?
By the way, I use to be a "Certified Shade Tree Mechanic" but two years ago the wind blow down my shade tree and the new trees we planted may not have made it thru the dry summer we had up here in NW Illinois this summer. So my certification is still in question.
Just a little humor to lighten you day.
Thanks,
Ron
I have added a Larger Cooler in series (in line) that is mounted on the lower right corner of the radiator in front of everything but the bumper and it still runs warm.
I added it before we went to Colorado this summer. I did have the trans flushed before we left and the tec said the exit fuild use so black that he could not see thru it in his sight glass. He said to run it about 8 to 10K and re-flush it. So thats what I did. The fuild again was dark but not black.
From working on other cars and trucks with auto trans I remember that most had the fuild running thru somewhere on the radiator.
My question now is, "If the radiator on this truck DOES NOT have trans cooling lines built into it (IT DOS NOT), what is my next step? A better radiator with extra cooling built into it? Or have a radiator shop rebuild this one?
By the way, I use to be a "Certified Shade Tree Mechanic" but two years ago the wind blow down my shade tree and the new trees we planted may not have made it thru the dry summer we had up here in NW Illinois this summer. So my certification is still in question.
Just a little humor to lighten you day.
Thanks,
Ron
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
The cooler inside the radiator doesn't do much more than the huge one you already put in it.
Sounds like you have something slipping and it's only a matter of time before it blows.
For extreme circumstances, they make coolers with an electric fan mounted to it so it doesn't heat up so much when crawling around.
Did you check all the lines to make sure they weren't crimped somewhere? If the TC was replaced, they had to drop the tranny, so it's possible they buggered up a line.
Sounds like you have something slipping and it's only a matter of time before it blows.
For extreme circumstances, they make coolers with an electric fan mounted to it so it doesn't heat up so much when crawling around.
Did you check all the lines to make sure they weren't crimped somewhere? If the TC was replaced, they had to drop the tranny, so it's possible they buggered up a line.
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