Mike,

I plan on using my 4x4 Screw in competitve truck pulls. It's a hobby not a living, so I'm not going with a supercharger, but instead I may get a chip.

When pulling, you put the truck in 4lo, then put the truck in 1st gear and let'er rip. My concern is that a buddy of mine had his truck actually shift into 2nd gear as he went down the track. Turns out, that his ECU (his is a Chevy) was programmed to shift at a certain RPM range. As he went down the track, he hit that RPM range and it shifted. Needless to say, it slowed him down and eventually stopped him.

I'm curious to know if your chip changes the 1st gear shift point and also at what RPM will it shift out of first gear?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Wing

------------------
2001 Bright Red Supercrew
4X4
5.4 V8

Mods:
BFGoodrich TA KO 285/75/16
Airforce One intake kit
Exhaust: Hooker AeroChamber Muffler, SI/DO
Rhino Liner (Planned)
Catch-All Floor Mats (Planned)

Go Buckeyes!

 

I'm taking my F-150 and a 2000 Lightning to a dyno on this Sat and I will post results

------------------
1999 F-150 Lariat SC 2 WD, White/Silver, 5.4L, 3.55LS, K & N FIPK, Superchip, underdrive pulley set, Flowmaster dual chamber one in and duels out, six disc CD changer, towing package and captain chairs

 

Sorry, I posted under the wrong topic!!!

 

Well, I have a '99 and I can tell you that at least for the '99 it doesn't shift out of first if you have it in first. You'll probably hit the rev limiter, though. It ain't fun when you hit the limiter in first gear.

You may be able to get Mike to program a chip to raise the rev limiter. I *think* the engine can rev higher than what the factory has it set at.

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-12-2001).]

 

Hi WIngnut,

Well, the ECU first looks at MPH for it's upshift point @ WOT, then it will default to RPM's under certain conditions, such as when you are in 4Lo like that, a number of vehicles will do that.

Yes, we affect the shift points, rev limiters, etc., but we do not change anything that is specific to 4lo usage, such as the situation you described above, simply because it's never really been requested, and we'd probably need to R&D for that specific function with a vehicle of that same computer code on the dyno, I'm guessing, and of course I haven't asked one of the techs or engineers down at Superchips specifically about this, I'm talking off the top of my head here so to speak.

In general, in these V-8 F-150's, 4.6's & 5.4',s the WOT (wide-open throttle) upshift point is raised by about 150-200 rpm, whatever it takes to make the vehicle accelerate the quickest with the improved power & better transmission shifting routines of the Superchip.

If you'd like to go over this in greater detail to see just what we can do for your situation & needs, feel free to give us a call, we'll be happy to go over exactly what you need the truck to do.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Wingnut33,

I could emagine that if your stock truck shifted into 2nd gear at any rpm the results would be detrememtal to your pull. The stock shift is too slow. I have a 5 speed and I play in the dunes. With a stick you can not shift going up a dune unless you want to stop. So Superchips made a custom program that set the rev limit to 6500 rpm. I do not drive all day at that rpm but it is nice to have when you need it. When you pull do you start in 1st and manually shift or do you put it in D and just go? BTW how does one get into pulling?

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

PS I would not recommend spinning an automatic at 6500 rpm.

------------------
00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Headman Headers,
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
and air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips





[This message has been edited by JMC (edited 01-14-2001).]

 

Mike and JMC, I'm not sure if you guys got it wrong or if I did. To me, he was asking if you are in 4Lo and put the auto tranny in 1 (low), will the tranny upshift to 2 (second) anyway when the engine revs max out?

In my '99, I've hit the rev limiter while I had the tranny shift lever in 1. It has NEVER shifted into 2 on it's own when the tranny lever is in 1.

If the lever is in D, of course, it will upshift.

 

JMC,

Mike hit it on the head. I'm curious if it will autmatically shift to 2nd if I hit a certain RPM. I haven't tested it yet, I'm a little nervous to do so.

As for getting into pulling, I guess it depends on where you are from. Around here they have them at all the county fairs. Also every Saturday in the summer one of the neighboring Lion's Club's has one.

They are a lot of fun and you'll see all kinds of cool trucks and tractors. Especially deisel trucks and hi-performance tractors.

You should check one out. I'm in the middle of creating a web site for me and my buds, so I'll be sure to get you guys a link so that you can see our trucks goin' down the track.

The next pull is in March, hopefully everything is ready by then.

Check out this site and see if there is one coming to your area....www.fullpull.com

Wing

------------------
2001 Bright Red Supercrew
4X4
5.4 V8

Mods:
BFGoodrich TA KO 285/75/16
Airforce One intake kit
Exhaust: Hooker AeroChamber Muffler, SI/DO
SurePull Class III Hitch
Rhino Liner (Planned)
Catch-All Floor Mats (Planned)

Go Buckeyes!

 

Well, I hope his truck stays together when he hits the rev limiter, which he will. When the engine hits the limit in 4Lo in first gear, it's kind of violent. I won't ever do that again.

 

Dennis,

Did you just try that with your truck? If so, give me some details about what happened.

Thanks,

Wing

------------------
2001 Bright Red Supercrew
4X4
5.4 V8

Mods:
BFGoodrich TA KO 285/75/16
Airforce One intake kit
Exhaust: Hooker AeroChamber Muffler, SI/DO
SurePull Class III Hitch
Rhino Liner (Planned)
Catch-All Floor Mats (Planned)

Go Buckeyes!

 

I have a friend who also hit the rev limiter in 4 lo. The whole truck just started bouncing and shaking like crazy. 4 lo is like a granny gear.

 

Lightning is right. When you hit that limiter, the whole truck starts to buck and bounce real violently. Pretty much scared the ***** outta me. When it first happened, I started to panic. Thought I broke something. Finally realized it was the rev limiter. I won't do it again, figuring it puts a tremendous strain on the drivetrain.

BTW, I got a '99. I did this a few months back when I was playing around in the sand trying to figure out what's better. To be in Lo range or Hi. In sand, it's definitely better to be in Hi range.

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 01-15-2001).]

 

Hi Dennis,

Let's see if I can make this as clear as mud......

What "Wingnut" specifically wanted to know was whether or not his truck, and specifically when in 4WD Low Range, will go ahead and upshift into second gear if he holds in manually in 1st via transmission shift level, with his foot to the floor? Or will it just bounce off the rev limiter, like it does in 2WD.

He and I talked over the phone, and he is going to test and see first of all if it even does that. He's going to put it in 4WD Low Range, hold it manually in 1st gear, and put his foot to the floor to see if it will go ahead and upshift into second gear anyway, or will it still just bounce off the rev limiter like it does in 2WD. Then once he knows that answer, if it does go ahead and upshift into second despite being manually held in 1st by the shift level, can we then change that for his automatic when in 4WD Low Range?

I don't remember if that has ever actually been requested before, not that I can remember at any rate over the past 10 years, so off the top of my head I just don't know that answer. He's going to try it to see if it does it, and then we'll check to see if we can change that for him, without having access the vehicle to R&D that function.

JMC does sand dune racing, so he has always had use do a custom Superchip with a 6500 rpm rev limiter, as his trucks are always manual transmission models. That way, he can keep charging right up the hill and not have to do a manual upshift, which would instantly kill his forward velocity. So far he hasn't hurt anything doing that, and JMC subjects his F-150 to some rather severe uses, maybe Ford should use him for destructive testing! (just kidding, JMC!)

I hope that helps............

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer