I am doing a lightning blower swap on my f150 2wd with the 4r70w. I am totally lost when it comes to automatic transmissions. What are the weak links in this tranny I need to replace/upgrade? I don't plan on ever making more than 420 rwhp, Im sure my stock tranny wont hold this power without some improvement. The truck will be used as a daily driver so I'm not concerned with getting every single pony onto the pavement.
Mike Dunn recomends at least a shift kit (factory tech or transgo)
I did the factory tech C-plate and I am considering the factory tech valve body as well
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After seeing the used and replaced parts from my recent tranny rebuild and upgrade, I dunno. If everything works fine, shifts fine, hell, leave well enough alone. I would as many have suggested before, get a Factory Tech valve body. This should help, I don't know what else would short of a good rebuild.
My transmission has 185K miles and counting so I'm going to do a complete rebuild. Any suggestions on what type of clutches to use? Should I upgrade any of the gear sets?
You will most definitely have to do something. Personaly, I decided to go the 4r100 route when I did my Lighning swap. The 4r70w is weak. period. You can get 'race built' 4r70w's, but they are still not as beefy as a 4r100.
I did a full engine swap, and Im running 14psi. Because of that I though it worth the extra $ to swap over to a 4r100.
If you are swapping a lightning blower onto an NA motor, 420bhp is a little optomistic. Keep in mind that a stock lighning would usualy dyno out to arround 308bhp from the factory. With the pistons in the NA block, you cant run much highter PSI than stock without burning holes in pistons.
I guess what Im saying is, if you are just puting a blower on it, a built 4r70w may do you ok. If you plan to do anything more to it, I would seriously consider swapping in a 4r100. for a 2x4 truck, this is what you would need for the swap:
2x4 4r100
shorten driveline
tranny crossmember
flexplate (depends if the tranny you get is 4 or 6 bolt)
shift cable
shift cable bracket
neutral safety switch
dipstick
dipstick tube
different tranny lines (only if you have a tranny cooler)
PCM for a truck that came with a 5.4l and a 4r100 ('99-'01 trucks with a 7700lb tow package had this)
tranny wiring harness
Thats should be everything. Just something to consider. I relise it is expensive and not everyone has the cash to do it, but pretty much everyone I have talked to who has done a conversion has said they would have swapped to a 4r100 if they could have afforded it.
My transmission has 185K miles and counting so I'm going to do a complete rebuild. Any suggestions on what type of clutches to use? Should I upgrade any of the gear sets?
Thanks
Eric
late OEM frictions are the best. The black dynax frictions used in the direct and intermediate are tougher than anything I have ever seen. Your gearset will probably be ok, but the sun gear may need to be replaced. You'll need a spiral retainer ring for the intermediate and likely want to use the late stub shaft if you don't already have it.
Alan
You will most definitely have to do something. Personaly, I decided to go the 4r100 route when I did my Lighning swap. The 4r70w is weak. period. You can get 'race built' 4r70w's, but they are still not as beefy as a 4r100.
I did a full engine swap, and Im running 14psi. Because of that I though it worth the extra $ to swap over to a 4r100.
If you are swapping a lightning blower onto an NA motor, 420bhp is a little optomistic. Keep in mind that a stock lighning would usualy dyno out to arround 308bhp from the factory. With the pistons in the NA block, you cant run much highter PSI than stock without burning holes in pistons.
I guess what Im saying is, if you are just puting a blower on it, a built 4r70w may do you ok. If you plan to do anything more to it, I would seriously consider swapping in a 4r100. for a 2x4 truck, this is what you would need for the swap:
2x4 4r100
shorten driveline
tranny crossmember
flexplate (depends if the tranny you get is 4 or 6 bolt)
shift cable
shift cable bracket
neutral safety switch
dipstick
dipstick tube
different tranny lines (only if you have a tranny cooler)
PCM for a truck that came with a 5.4l and a 4r100 ('99-'01 trucks with a 7700lb tow package had this)
tranny wiring harness
Thats should be everything. Just something to consider. I relise it is expensive and not everyone has the cash to do it, but pretty much everyone I have talked to who has done a conversion has said they would have swapped to a 4r100 if they could have afforded it.
Im not swapping a stock lightning motor in my F150. I have a complete forged bottom end with stock lightning heads ( haven't decided on the cams yet), ported eaton with 14 psi, accufab throttle body, C&L plenum, 90mm mass air, and a CAI. I know 420 hp is a little optimistic but that will be the absolute max power I'll make, I don't plan on bolting on a kenne bell or whipple in the future. I know the 4r100 is ALOT stronger than a 4r70w but it is a little out of my budget. I have all the parts listed above, all I need now is just a few brackets and a tune. I agree that the swap would be well worth the money and I have considered this. But, it seems that 4r100s and the all the parts associated with the swap are hard to come by. I have called around to junkyards in my area an no one has the parts. I appreciate the help.
Dirtydog- Do you have any of the part number for the parts you mentioned?
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