This is a question for Mike with Troyer Perf. Should I buy a 1714 for my '04 FX4 5.4L, or wait for the release of the CAN Flasher from SuperChips? Does the CAN Flasher have any additional features or capabilities? Thanks for your expertise in the message boards. I will be purchasing from you based on your excellent customer service.

Thanks,

KD4CRS

 

Hi kd,

The custom CAN flasher does not have ANY other features like the 1714 does - no built-in code scanner, no LCD screen, no end-user shifting adjustments, etc. And none of that is needed for custom tuning, of course - you just need to be aware that it's *strictly* a tuning device.

Though the new CAN flashers will work on ALL OBD-II FoMoCo vehicles (which means all 1996 & newer FoMoCo vehicles), I'd only use it for those vehicles that cannot be custom tuned any other way (like the 2004 & newer F-150, the 6.0 PSD's, newer Tbirds, Lincoln LS, etc.).

For vehicles with traditional EEC-V PCM's (in the F-150, that would be all 1996-2003's, and the 2004 "Heritage" old body style trucks, for example), I'd use the 9100 for custom tuning simply because as it has the code scanner built in.

For right now, in the 2004 3-valve 5.4 F-150's I'd probably use the 1714 Micro Tuner unless you're either planning on installing a supercharger or other major engine modifications in the near future that would actually *require* custom tuning - or if you're like me, and just have to have the absolute highest power & performance gains above all else.

That's about the best I can tell you right now, I hope that helps in your decision-making process. If you want to get into the new custom CAN flasher, you need to call us ASAP and get on the list, as a LOT of people want it for their 2004 & 2005 F-150's - as you can probably imagine.

 

Mike,

Thanks for the reply. My engine mod plans are pretty mild, I will put on a high flow intake, Magnaflow SIDO cat back exhaust, and a Superchips tuner. Based on your information it sounds like the 1714 is the best way for me to go. I tow a 7000 pound, 26 foot travel trailer 3 to 5 times a month. Do you have any other recommendations I should consider for my '04 F150? Thanks again for your great customer service!!!

KD4CRS

 

Hi kd,

Sounds like a good plan - but be *very* careful on which specific intake kit you put on, as only TWO (2) of the current units on the market will NOT cause problems leaning out the A/F ratios - and only ONE of them actually gains any real power! I recommend giving us a call so we can go over that with you in proper detail - you might want to also think about having us do a package deal for you.

Now being the power-hungry motor-mad person I am, if that were *my* vehicle and were towing those loads, I would also opt for converting to our electric fan kit & underdrive pulleys, as those 2 mods give nice additional power gains at the rear wheels (well over 20+ more HP), AND will help fuel mileage, too. I would also go with a custom tune to raise the idle speed in gear, which is way too low at only 525 rpm in the 3-valve 5.4's - and with underdrive pulleys, it's a good idea to have some more idle speed so you have full alternator output even idling in gear at night, in summer, which you have *everything* in the vehicle running full blast - and for better initial throttle response from a stationary position. That's what we've done on our 2004 3-valve 5.4 SuperCrew Lariat F-150, and it makes a very nice difference. In stock trim, our 6200 lb SuperCrew couldn't even think about getting out of anyone's way, and now it will fry the tires coming off the line - not bad for a 3-ton+ truck with some mild bolt-on mods and a good custom tune.

Don't get me wrong - I don't mean to change your mind, as you've got a very good plan of mods there - I'm just telling you my personal preferences being an admitted power-meister, and not everyone feels the way I do. I want every bit of power I can get all the time!

Feel free to give us a call to go over the intake choice, or any other details, etc., & best of luck whatever you decide!

 

Mike,

Thanks for the additional suggestions. I will mull them over and give you a call to discuss the specifics soon. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out. You are the tune-meister!

KD4CRS

 

You're too kind.

Have fun & talk to you soon!

 

Pulling those kind of loads you might consider a Factory Tech Valve Body or some other shift kit to help out your transmission.

 

Hi Bob,

While normally I would emphatically agree with you, I can't on the 2004 & newer F-150's which use the new 4R75-E transmission - but only because nobody has a valve body or shift kit that works well just yet for that new transmission.

Greg had us try his standard FTVB 4R70W valve body in the new 4R75-E, and while it won't hurt anything, it's ineffective. It basically does nothing other than give a little bit quicker engagement (when stationary) from drive to reverse, and vice-versa, and primarily when the vehicle is cold - we're still running it in our 2004 - otherwise, it's just not doing anything like his FTVB's normally do.

So more R&D will have to be done before we will recommend making mechanical modifications to the new 4R75-E automatic transmission found in the new 2004 & up F-150's. Most companies either haven't' done anything at all for this transmission, or just looked at the valve body and it seemed to look the same as the 4R70W, and so most said to use their existing products. Well, that doesn't work, the electronic controls & some other things are different for that new tranny, so everyone needs to just wait on that until some companies get some real R&D done and can supply us with an effective and safe product.

This is just FYI ...................

 

Hi Mike

Thanks for the info. Is there any help for the 250 SD or is it the same deal?

 

Hi Bob,

What I said in my last post applies *only* to the new 4R75-E automatic transmission - such as found in the 2004 & up 3-valve 5.4 F-150's, for example.

The Super Duty trucks with automatics will have either the 4R100 or the new 5-speed automatic, depending on model year - the FTVB for the 4R100 models works fine, but there is no FTVB for the new 5-spd automatics found behind the newer 6.0 Powerstroke diesels, for example (and they are actually 6-speed automatics that skip 1 gear up and 1 gear down).

So it's the individual transmission model that determines if there is a product for it or not.

Hope that info helps,

 

Thanks again Mike.

Pick up the 250 tomorrow. Gues I'll find out what we have after we get it home.

 

Hi Bob,

Well, if you're buying a new 2004 or 2005 F-250 SuperDuty with the 6.0 PSD and automatic tranny, then it will have the new 5-speed automatic (the one that's actually a 6-speed, but skips a gear up and a gear down) I was talking about above. All the 6.0 PSD automatics get that tranny, perhaps I should have been more clear - sorry 'bout that.

As of now, we haven't seen a *mechanical* upgrade we like - the tranny is pretty new and it takes time for the aftermarket to R&D good upgrades - and longer with the newer, more complex stuff like this tranny. But we are working on that - what I'll do is to add your name to our list for those trannies, to let you know as soon as we're happy with a mod for them.

In the meantime, it's a pretty stout automatic transmission - Ford puts the heaviest-duty automatics behind the Powerstroke diesels due to their incredible torque numbers, and this one was designed specifically for the 6.0 PSD, so feel free to use it however you want & need to.