Here is what i'm thinking. Tell me if i'm way off base. I need some more towing power. I don't do any hard throttle acceleration(racing) with my truck just need more power pulling the big trailers I pull.
I have an auto that is stock w/147000 miles on it. I plan on just running this stock tranny until something goes out. I can tell it's getting a little weak but still works real well. The only reason i say i can tell its a little weak is when i have a big trailer on if I get after it too much from a dead stop it tries to slip(only did this once). The best way I found to pull is to take off easy from a stop and basically floor it after I get rolling. The tranny seems to shift better then. I do have an old(9yrs) hypermax tuner in and that does help the shifting stiffen up.

OK, anyway I was wondering if I got the PHP chip and jims diy stage ones am I asking for trouble in my tranny? Like I said no horseplay driving, just need more pulling power. My thought is if I drive normal, with more power I wouldn't be straining things that much more. I am already doing a bunch of mods this winter and was going to do o-rings on injectors for sure. Means they are coming out I'd like to do the one's.

I have a 4737 trucool to put in, also idm mod, have all intercooler parts, turbo re-build, hpx crossover, guages, turbo pedestal o-rings. These things are getting done for sure and I was wondering about the chip and stage ones. Thanks for the advice, and sorry for the long post.

 

The automatic transmissions are the weak link with these trucks. 147,000 miles is pretty good on a stock tranny especially if you do some heavy towing. A tranny cooler will help as heat buildup is the single biggest killer of a transmission. With all the mods you're planning, why not install a transgo tugger kit? Or go with a John Woods valve body? Not that much more money.

As for a chip shortening the life, yes and no. More power increases the strain on the tranny, but most chips adjust line pressure in the tranny to compensate for that, and they change the shifting programs. A PHP is a very good chip. I would not let the fear of a chip destroying my tranny keep me from getting one. I would say based off your post that you are looking for some towing tunes, and not some hot rod tunes. I would get it.

 

I looked up that transgo tugger and it looks like a good idea for under 150 bucks. Looks like I can install it myself too which is a benefit. I'm not real tranny smart but if I have instructions it shouldn't be a big deal. Thanks

 

you will end up flooring it every noww and then you wont be able to stay out of it lol with a chip,and stage ones your looking at a solid 150+ horse power, 300~lbs of torque, you will shorten the life of your tranny, but you may get anoter 50,k out of it if you baby it, a heavy tow setting works great, i have a heavy tow in my chip and it really lays off the throttle when taking off and shifts are much higher and wont dog the truck, but when you need the throttle its right there after the delay, motor sounds a little different from the high timing advance but its cool. DO NOT get injectors and a chip with oout an EGT guage, you could be chugging up a hill no problem thinking your truck can take it with the new found glory of power and you didnt know that extra little throttle you gave it just bumped up your EGTS to 1300°f and you are now in danger of melting this pistons if that temperature is sustained for anything more than a mile about.

 

I'm getting an egt guage along with boost and trans temp. The 6.0 intercooler I have to put on should help on the egt's too. I'm afraid I've been running higher egt's in the past with the heavy towing I do without a guage.

 

most likley yeah you have, hopfully you didnt have it to the boards for mroe than a mile uphill, but the intercooler should deffinetly help you and egts, youll have a happy running truck wih your php tunes, jims sticks and an intercooler, i love my php tune.

 

In any case your going to need a bigger / better tranny cooler. When the tranny does die do yourself a favor. Bite the bullet and go BTS or John Wood. I wish I had. Of course you may have a tranny guy you can trust!

 

I have the trucool sitting in the shop waiting to be installed.
I also have a tranny guy I trust with anything. He does all my race car trannys and will do anything to the tranny I request at a reasonable charge. I have already thought about this for if/when it happens. More than likely when.

 

Good deal Darin. I was pretty sure you the situation in hand.

 

Darin, I've been stranded twice because I was trying to get that last little bit out of my trans. If it slipped already and you add the chip and injectors its just a matter of time before it's toast.

 

FWIW, if he doesn't specialize in E4OD high horsepower builds, then he does not have access to the same parts as Racer X, John Wood, or BTS, and it will not be the same to any degree. You get what you pay for with these guys.

Regardless, I bet a even a Ford HD reman with a good TC will last a long, long time. Not everone needs a BTS, JW, or RX trans.

Probably the best thing I like about the PHP tunes is that the truck drives like stock, till you really get on the throttle. No smoke, real smooth power. This will undoubtedly help the turbo and trans last longer.
Other tuners bring lots of fuel up sooner and this just creates lots of heat and smoke and the extra power when it's not really needed will take it's toll on those parts. Also more soot in the oil with the others which shortens the oil life, more frequent changes, more money thrown out, etc...
At least they were a year or 2 ago when I tried them all out.

I think you'll be really happy with Stage-1's and a chip. And until you get the 'cooler hooked up, you'll be limiting your hp a bit anyway.

 

Thanks a bunch for responding Jim. I was hoping to hear from you.
My tranny guy doesn't "specialize" in E40D tranny's but my thought was just like yours. I feel a good heavy duty rebuild with a good torque convertor would be adequate. Like I said I don't do any racing or even hotrodding with my truck. I'm old enough now to realize what damage can be done by a stupid driver. As you can tell by my sig I have a toy to let me "feel" the power. I just need a truck w/ more power to pull.
Many reasons to not get a newer truck with more power, like I much prefer the obs, love the 7.3, and my wallet doesn't like 40000+.
Again, thanks Jim. I'll be in contact with you in the next couple weeks to place an order.
Thanks everyone for your input.