OK, guys, Ive got some questions. First of all, I understand that its like comparing apples to watermelons here, but when I drive the buses at work that have an International 530E with Allison B400 auto trans. they drive and shift WAY different and better than my PSD.
Let me explain. In the buses, it feels like once you hit the end of the power band, the trans shifts, shifts firm, and loads the turbo, and it runs like a scalded dog. With a stock PSD, it seems like its not making any power and just making noise beyond a certain rpm, and doesnt shift when I think it should. The trans DOES shift fairly well imo. The only way I can get it to shift when I want is to let off the throttle. Doing it that way, I loose boost, and have to "get back in it" to get the power back up. I know that with a turbo diesel, its better to load it up and lean on the turbo than to run it at higher rpms like a gasser.
My first question is that with a tuner, will the trans shift point change, and do what I am kind of expecting?
Next: I know you guys on this site highly recommend DP Tuners, and highly recommend AGAINST Edge products. I would like to know WHY you guys dont like the Edge products??? I like the fact that you can adjust the trans in addition to the engine. I have read on here that some guys recommend changing the valve body. That seems that it would be less cost effective instead of just changing the program, but I am ignorant to what the difference is between a stock valve body and the upgrade. I also like the fact that you can get the display instead of the gauges. I really dont like the pillar pod mounts with gauges as they block out even more of the field of view. That A-pillar can block out quite a bit as it is already. Just my opinion. Maybe you can recommend something else to monitor the engine with?? Thanks guys.

Aaron

 

DP tuner is not an off the shelf tuner like Edge. It is specific to each version of PCM programming that Ford designed. There have been many here that have had both and the difference is night and day.

 

When I talk about trans shifting, maybe I should use the phrase "hanging up" in a gear before it shifts. Does that help??
Thanks,
Aaron

 

Aaron -The valve body will make for much tighter shifts if that is what u are after. I dont have the dp tuner so I cant speak to that but it was a nite & day diff. with the trans shifts after I installed the vb.

 

Aaron, I have a BTS VB with DP Tuning. It greatly films up the shifts. Really changes the feel of the truck. Another nice thing is that when exiting the highway the VB tells the tranny to downshift at about 45mph and allows engine drag to slow the vehicle. Much better on your brakes!

I was warping rotors every 5-8k miles and this set has lasted 45k with no signs of warping..

 

Changing the valve body modifies the fluid passages, some spring rates, and other things. A JWVB will make it shift shafter, last longer and is cheap insurance. The DP Tuner will change shift points and the way it shifts. And each of his tunes has different values on trans shifting depending on if you're in an economy tune, a hot tune, or a tow tune. All things you don't like about the stock transmission shifting are things I didn't like either. The DP Tuner and JWVB totally changed all that and I love the way my truck shifts. He nailed it perfectly. Jody spends a lot of time in the transmission area as well as the engine performance. Hands down he's going to be 10x better than what you can get from an off the shelf 'canned tune.' Any chip can just add line pressure, that's not necessarily always a good thing. A combination of all of it is a good thing.