making a stronger trans 4R70W

[polishpowersge]

antyhing you can do to make this trans stronger? its a 2002. are they pretty strong? is it easy swapping to a 4r100. just curious.

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[brahmus]

4wd? 5.4 or 4.6 more info needed! but for starters you will need a computer and wiring harness to agress with the 4r100. The 4r70w is ok it just depends on what you are doing or planning on doing with it. a easy upgrade is a ftvb (factory tech valve body) and then i'd say run it till it blows then get a race build. There are companies (Artcarr) that can build this tranny to handle 1000hp. so i'd say yes it COULD be tough but not in it's factory state. do more research before you make any decisions.

[Roadie]

Go to TCCOA.com tech articles. This is a Ford Thunderbird site. There is a very long article written by a former Ford transmission engineer. The Thunderbirds and Mark VIIIs also had the 4R70W and he goes into great detail about how to beef them up and make them shift faster. I don't know how much the trans has changed in the 2002 model, but you may learn a lot.

[adami67]

I have a 2001 5.4L 4x4 with a 4R70W and just put a Factorytech valve body in. I had a bit of bad luck at first and didn't know exactly what to expect. But, once dialed in with my preference of springs, this thing rocks!

Brahmus has the right idea; run it hard until it blows up! Maybe it will do so during the warranty period. Then, either replace it with a new/rebuilt from ford or go get a performance built unit. They're about $1.5K-2K. Installation will take a weekend and you will need somebody that knows transmission installs to help you out. If help is not available, plan on more than a weekend.

Inbox me if you need details about the FTVB. Gregg at Factorytech is a real stand up guy! Excellent service. Very customer satisfaction oriented.

BTW,,,if you do decided to get the FTVB, contact Mike at http://www.madenterprise.com/F150.htm

Best service ever!!

-a

[MedVader]

What difference is there between installing the FT valve body VS reprogramming the computer for firmer shifts with a Hypertech or Superchips?

[adami67]

I have no idea.

[brahmus]

the valve body is ported and springs are replaced, the chip bumps up pressure in the valve body, this can cause the selinoids (sp) to stress. The preffered method is a valve body, it is said, and i repeat, it is better for the life of the tranny.

[adami67]

I went with the new valve body, but used the stock springs since I didn't like the harsh shift from 1-2.
Gregg at Factorytech tells me this is ok.