2001 F-150 Supercab, 5.4L V-8, ORP 4X4, 3.55 LS Gears.

Thanks for your quick shipment of my 1715 programmer! I have installed the Performance program (no tow for now) and I'm running 93 Citco/Conoco gas. I have noticed improved throttle response and especially the much better shifing program!!
Have a couple of questions:
1. My part throttle 1-2 shift is improved (it stays in 1st a little longer), however when I towed last summer (3500# Boat, stock truck) the 1-2 shift happens way too quick and I'm afraid it will still happen too quick with the programmer. I used the Superchips setting for all the shifts, can I manually adjust it, to raise this shift(s) a little bit? Does it hurt anything to manually shift from 1-2, 2-3 with the column shifter (hard on tranny?)
2. On the tire/gear selection menu, I used the stock setting because it is still stock. Does my computer tell the programmer the tire and gear size automatically, or should I have measured my tire and told it what tire size/gears my truck has?

I had to change lanes to make a turn coming up last night, (someone was kind enough to let me over) and I gave it about 1/2 throttle going about 15mph and it thru me back in the seat! The truck would have not done that before Superchips! I was a grinning idiot!!

 

Hi 2redfords,

Well, first I would try towing on the "tow-perf" program and see how those 1-2 shift points are, as you cannot compare to your previous experience on the stock factory program.

We generally do not advise shifting stock 4R70 automatic transmissions manually, whether it's a 4R70 or a 4R70W, *especially* at heavy throttle - and *NEVER* do manual pullbacks into 1st gear after it has already shifted up into 2nd - it won't take that for very long.

If you need to hold it manually in 1st gear, you can certainly do that from a standstill, and then when you snick the lever up into "2" or "D," do that with less throttle - however, I would not do that a whole lot, that is not a viable long-term solution.

You can bump up the 1-2 upshift manually using the Micro Tuner if need be - bump it up not more than 2 "notches" - and I also advise bumping the 2-3 upshift up by 2 "notches" for towing heavy loads, too - this seems to reduce the amount of time it takes the transmission to upshift into 4th gear (overdrive) after going up a grade, for example.

But first, try towing on the tow-perf program just taking all the defaults, without altering the shift points manually, and see how that works for you - if you still need some help, *then* go in and manually bump up the 1-02 by 3 notches, and the 2-3 by 2 notches, and that should give you a pretty nice solution for towing heavy loads.

And no, you do *NOT* need to do anything to your speedometer's calibration with the Micro Tuner as you have not changed tire size or gear ratios - your PCM already has the correct information in it's VID block from the factory. That should be changed with the Micro Tuner ONLY if you use a different size tire from stock, or if you have the gear ratio(s) changed in the differential(s).

Good luck!