towing with a lightning
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: NOR CAL
Everybody has to remember that these lightnings are a beefed up F150's. Im prety sure they have 3.73 gears or lower. Don't ever put in a shift kit for firmer shifts when your going to tow. If you are towing and it shifts too hard and the wheels won't break lose all that will completly blow your U-joints to pieces. VERY EXPENSIVE. These trucks are very well built and if you want to tow alot more weight (10,000lbs.) put in some 4.10's, a larger differencial cover for better heat displacmet and more cappacity, a tranny cooler, and oil cooler. Your set for heavy duty towing.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Originally Posted by 1979FordF-250
Everybody has to remember that these lightnings are a beefed up F150's. Im prety sure they have 3.73 gears or lower. Don't ever put in a shift kit for firmer shifts when your going to tow. If you are towing and it shifts too hard and the wheels won't break lose all that will completly blow your U-joints to pieces. VERY EXPENSIVE.
The whole reason valve body's are used is for crisper shifting, which reduces wear on the clutches in the transmission. So putting in a valve body can only help the transmission by having better shifts. As long as they aren't done at WOT while towing, then the crisper shifting can do its job by reducing clutch wear in the tranny. That's why the diesel guys also use valve body's. And the diesel guys tow a lot more frequently than the Lightning guys.
I have a Factory Tech 2C valve body in my Lightning, and have a spare 4C FTVB I plan on putting in my 7.3L diesel Excursion.
A lot of the diesel guys have a VB from BTS, or a FTVB.
So, since a VB's purpose is to help reduce wear on the clutches in the transmission via crisper shifting, having a VB installed is actually better if you plan on towing.
Since I don't post regularly here, and don't have a solid reputation for giving proper info, if anyone doubts my post, please contact Gregg Evans at Factory Tech or Brian at Brians Transmission Shop to confirm this information.
Also, stock '99 and '00 Lightnings have 3.55's in the rear, the '01+ have 3.73's.
Stewart
Last edited by S_Harvey; Jul 23, 2006 at 11:49 PM.
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