I have been researching what would be the best route to take to solve the sluggish shifting trans in my 97 f150 4.6L. I am not sure if the way to go is a tuner (SC 1715) and also get some tuning abilities or go with something more specific for the trans like the Factory Tech Valve Body. What would be the better solution for that sluggish shifting? Is the tuner just a "band aid" for the trans or would the valve body be a more permanent fix. Any input or suggestions are deeply appreciated.

Thanks

 

Hi Chasman!

In the search feature, you will likely get more info than you can handle on this. Mike T and I discussed this very subject quite a bit a while back.
Try a search for one of my threads titled:
Hey Mike
it's from March of this year.

IMHO?
The 1715 fixed my problems 100%!
The FTVB would be over the top for me and my needs.
I prefer the flexability to tailor the truck to do what I want and when.
Now if I could just super tune the wife like that
Good luck!

 

I just followed my own advice and there are a LOT to choose from under that heading. Try this link!
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...sox+and+martin

Jeff

 

I wasn't happy with how my tranny was shifting either. '02 F150 5.4. I got a tuner and it helped a bunch, but the tranny was still not responsive enough. From a cruising speed, if I lightly pushed the gas then nothing happened and if I pressed harder then it downshifted twice and revved up a bunch before I ever got any accelleration. Like I said, the tuner helped a bunch- 75% better at least. Then I started getting in the habit of locking out the overdrive and now my truck drives like a normal truck. It shifts firmly and normally without constantly locking into overdrive and jumping out every time I want to press the gas pedal.

These trucks are geared waaaaay too high as it is and the overdrive engaging every time you take your foot off the pedal above 30 mph is irritating and it certainly can't be doing the tranny any good. I like my truck a lot more now and only engage the overdrive when I'm on the interstate above 60mph.

 

Thanks justusinfla, RockyJSquirrel

I appreciate your repiles. I did do a search before posting, I guess I did not search for the right thing? I read and saved that link you posted (justusinfla), just what I needed. I think I will start with the 1715 tuner, seems like it does a good job for what I am looking for.

Justusinfla, where did you end up setting your shift/ pressures settings for the different shift choices. If I am correct you bumped them up a bit from one of the tuner programs? Is this right?

Thanks for your help

 

She'd probably run too fast for ya!

 

Hi Chasman97,

That's an excellent question, and one we've discussed here a lot over the years.

The ultimate combination is our custom tuning *and* the FTVB - the two combined not only make the transmission shift much more quickly, firmly and with reduced slippage and faster response, but also significantly improves the raw power and overall performance & responsiveness of the vehicle.

Now in terms of what most people actually decide to do? Overall, most people tend to go with our tuning - those who also go on to do the FTVB in addition are a smaller percentage - not because the FTVB isn't good, it's a *great* part, and one that we love dearly - but simply because the improvements we get via calibration changes (tuning) are already very noticeable, and for most people that's all they want or need - and it's always the first place to start due to the excellent bang-for-the-buck value & results.

In our personal trucks, we generally use both the FTVB *and* our custom tuning, as that gives us the ultimate setup - go figure.

We advise going the tuning route first, as there are all kinds of delays, retards and slippage-inducing aspects that can be vastly improved upon, so you'll not only get vastly improved transmission shift characteristics, but you'll also get significant power & performance gains, too. This is why we recommend going the tuning route first, and then if you want still *harder* shifting after you've had the tuning installed for a while, then yo can always add the FTVB.

Now sometimes we'll tell people to do both at the same time - for example, if someone wants their tranny to shift hard enough and quickly enough to "chirp" the tires on every full-throttle 1-2 upshift, then the safest & smartest way to accomplish that is with the combination of our custom tuning and the FTVB working together.

But if the vehicle owner simply wants to get rid of the sluggish response and sloppy shifting (as virtually every F-150 owner wants, they all hate the shifting!), then we can take care of all of that in the tuning, no problem.

Personally, I would *never* leave the stock tuning in place and just install a FTVB to address the shifting characteristics, because that does nothing for power, and cannot eliminate or even reduce the drastic torque reductions, retards, and other aspects imposed by the PCM's calibration in many of these vehicles - so the first place to start is with the tuning IMHO. And rather than go with the 1715 Micro Tuner, you'd be *much* better off going with our *custom* tuning - you'll get about 50% higher power gains than what the 1715 will deliver, as well as a much more thorough tune & better driveability and overall vehicle response.

Bottom line? We suggest doing the tuning first (and go with our custom tuning), and then if you want still more shift firmness, opt for the FTVB. The only time we don't recommend doing them in that order is if you want to be able to consistently "chirp" the tires on the WOT (wide-open throttle) 1-2 upshift - if you want to accomplish that, then you should do *both* our custom tuning and the FTVB.

I hope that info helps, & feel free to give us a call to go over any of this in more detail, etc.

 

Mike,

Thanks for your input and suggestions. The knowledge found around here is fantastic. I will take your input and offer into consideration. I will definately be starting out with a "tune" of some sort, then if needed go with the the FTVB.

Thanks again

 

hey chasman97
If you get the 1715, you get the ability to fine tune the shift pressure between Min (minimum) and Max (maximum). The tuner is set from the factory in the middle. This is the Stock (ST) setting but it is NOT to be confused with Stock as in a Ford Factory stock. It is "stock" for the Micro tuner which by itself helps a bunch. The extra bump up is what brought everything together for my truck.

There are 9 line marks to chose from in the middle and when you add the min and max settings, you have a total of 11. Mike says no more than 2 up over the tuner settings and that put me at 8 including the Min setting.
Then with shift point for the 2-3 shift point, same thing, 2 up over the middle.
It will be much more clear when the tuner and the book is in hand.

So, you're in Idaho? Where at? I was born in Mtn. Home and lived in Boise for a while too. I loved living in the desert and being able to be in the mountains in 30 minutes!

Jeff

 

Justusinfla,

Thanks for the added info,

I thought that is what you meant. I was just wondering where your reference point was..

We live 80mi NW of Boise (Weiser) on a small farm along the Snake River. Great place to live. Raised 2 kids (now away at college) could not of found a better place to bring them up in.
Plenty of outdoor activities to do here. We do alot of motorcycling during spring and summer. Too cold now, the bike is already starting hybernation..

Charlie

 

Damm....did you just make ME homesick!
So....Weiser have any job openings....doing ummmm anything?

 

Justusinfla,

Sorry thats the bad thing about a city of about 5000, not too many employment opportunities. I was lucky to land a job with the state (dept. of ag) years ago. The best thing about it is we work form aug to april with the summers off. That is where the farm helps out. Still plenty to do in the summer.

I'll keep you in mind though next spring when the ditches need shoveling and the weeds need spraying.....