Hello all! Quick question...how much horsepower will my factory tranny hold? I own a 2001 Ford Lightning..and have just started performace upgrades. So far all I have done is a 6lb. lower pulley, predator street tune, NGK-6 plugs, and it has been dyno tuned. I have 394.9rwhp and 521.7ft.lbs. of torque. I am getting ready to add a blower pulley, cold air intake, throttle body, and intake plenium. But I don't think my tranny will support the hp increase. Anyone know for sure if it'll be ok or not? If not what can I do to prevent my tranny for blowing up? Or where can I purchase a built tranny at a reasonable price?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
01_White_Lightning

 

you will be around 420hp with the extra mods you plan to put on. there are guys running close to 500hp on a stock tranny. it can be done and with the power level you'll be at, you should be fine.

things people do to help the life of their tranny is to add an aftermarket valve body (ex. Factory Tech VB) and change fluid regularly.

Best tranny on the market is BTS. Don't know how much they are.

hope this helps
kurt

 

Thanks, for the help! I was just curious, because I have heard nasty stories of factory tranny's blowing up when you start performance upgrades.

Thanks,
01_White_Light

P.S. for any of you guys located in North Alabama hit me and we can get together and make a few passes. Just wanna see how my truck stacks up to the competition!

 

There have been stock trannys in the 10s.

 

I agree. Most people seem to go with a PI Converter before they need a new tranny...and most of them are at or over 500RWHP.

For a built transmission of the quality BTS puts out, you will be in the neighborhood of $3500-$4000. I spoke with Brian at BTS yesterday about one...The guy REALLY knows his stuff, and is more than helpful! Heard nothing but good things about those that have dealt with him too...

Steve

 

Your tranny should be fine. Mine made 460hp for a long time, and is now at 500+ on the stock tranny. I really woundn't throw any more pulley at it though. Your engine is what is going to go boom. Or atleast do some headers to relieve the pressure.

 

thats me

 

Thanks everyone for the much needed info! And Whip thanks for the suggestion! I will try headers...i just hope I don't lose any power. I've already cut the cat's and the resignators, but it's still on the stock muffler.


Thanks,
01_White_Light

 

By the numbers, it's the torque (twisting force), not HP (twisting force times time), that you need to be concerned with - although the two are mathematically linked. According to resident 4R100 guru Gregg Evans, the 4R100 is spec'ed by Ford for 1,000 lbs. ft. The stock engine is rated at 450 lbs. ft. The converter is a 2:1 multiplier, meaning that the tranny sees 900 lbs. ft.

So the tranny specs are 90% used up with a stock engine. Adding 11% more torque will exceed the Ford specs. Whether that causes the tranny to fail is a matter of chance.

 

Tim, you hit the nail on the head. I have wondered about my tranny as well with the torque I putting down on it. I tlalked to Ford about it and they said essentially the same thing as you. I have a PI 2600 convertor and FTVB (r) though...and think that does help.

Just a side note....if you decide to upgrade the convertor....consider an aftermarket cooler as the tempartures DO increase. And tranny+heat=failure.

 

+1 on this one guys...

 

My truck dynoed about the same as yours,I have similar mods on my 01 but I have the ftvb. My trans was junk at about 7000 miles.I was fortunate enough to find a good low mileage trans (about1500 miles)for 500 bucks.I put it in just before storage last year but I was able to put about 200 miles on it,and it seems fine as I recall.Im hoping to get it back in a couple months so I can maybe get a few runs in this year.