So I have a appointment set for Troyer to install a Stage 4 kit, Dynatech Headers and E-fans. I was reading the Project F150 build on Ford-trucks.com and they suggested a trans rebuild by the Level 10 guys in NJ. They said the trans was slipping after 6K miles! My truck has less than 2K so it's fairly new obviously and has no mods but if I need to rebuild the trans after that short of time what the hell is the point, not to mention the wife will be pissed! I understand a SC is adding a ton more power but Troyer makes it sound like these F150's can take an extra 100hp with no problem on the motor but does that not go hand in hand with the transmission? Any of you SC guys had tranny problems yet? Only thing I could think of is maybe the article on Ford-Trucks.com wasn't a brand new truck and already had some miles on the trans. Anything that has to do with the trans really annoys me so if I need to rebuild it for another $5K hell I could have bought a used GT for the price of everything mentioned above and a trans build.

 

That project truck doesn't have a Level 10 in it anymore. Ken had a replacement installed at Troyer's place.

Incidentally, I just took that transmission apart and it was smoked front to back because of the clutch material that they used. The hard parts were absolutely beautiful, but the transmission just couldn't hold up to that power. The torque converter they used was WAY not up to the task either.

Troyer can set you up with a transmission like is in that truck now and it WILL hold up.

Darrin

 

JEEZ, a transmission now! Why can't I just drive my brand new truck like normal but with an extra 100hp? Is that too much to ask? How much more are we talking when the tranny gets rebuilt?

 

There is always the option to go ahead and get parts you want installed and run it until yours bites the dust. You can save up for a properly built transmisison in the mean time. It isn't required that you get a transmission immediately, it's just that the stock transmission will only take so much. Some live longer than others. Maybe you will get lucky and save up the money first to be able to do a pre-emptive strike by choice and at your convenience.

Ford did put an entirely different transmission in the supercharged trucks for a reason. Asking a stock transmission to handle an extra hundred horsepower without doing anything to it is honestly just too much to ask because it wasn't designed for that load unfortunately. That is often true even for the guys that have the factory supercharged trucks. It's all just another unfortunate part of the 'pay to play' game. The stock parts are only capable of so much and when you choose to take one part to a level that is more than another can handle, you have to do what it takes to make it work if you really want it.

It all comes down to what you want and only you can decide if you really want it or not. Nobody else can make that decision for you. All we can do is guide you to the best of our abilities to tell you what it takes to get where you want to be once you decide that part.

Darrin

 

Well I talked to Mike@Troyer for around an hour or so and he explained an insane amount of info to me. He gave me a ton of info on Ken and his project F150 and why his tranny only lasted so long which turns out to be that Ken was being a little extreme with his newly found hp. We talked about the 4R100 trans and the 4R75e trans and of course every trans has their problems but his wife's truck is a daily driver and the SC on hers has been on since 05 if I remember correctly and the truck has 80K miles on it. I fully understand the trans life depends on how you drive it and what you are putting into it but Mike explained that he knows of only a couple of vehicles he has installed SC's on that the trans went bad and one was Ken's. I think I just needed some reassurance that the stock trans could take at least 50K before needing a replacement. I like to think of it as how mpg is with a SC, if you dog it all the time you mpg will be hurt a ton and same with the SC, if you power brake and do burn outs all the time or just constantly race it well the trans won't last long cause that's not what the truck was built for. With proper care I would imagine the trans could last relatively long...at least long enough so I can save money for Troyer to drop in a new one if it does go bad, lol.

 

BTW, how did you know all that? Mike said almost the same thing verbatim! Either way that was very good info and led me to ask Mike the questions I did so thank you very much and my appointment is still set for May 18th!

 

Im at 70k miles with 450rwhp. Stock tranny and engine....

Don't fall into the hype.

 

 

What kind of power adder?

Darrin

 

blower on 12lbs even.

According to most of the E-smarties, my truck should have blown up 25 times by now with the abuse I put it through..

 

I would say that you would be just fine with a centrifigual blower at that power level transmission wise. But, compared to a positive displacement blower, that is a totally different animal on how it applies torque to the transmission. I am sure you understand what I am saying here.

Darrin

 

I guess we will find out, 12lbs of positive displacement is now on the truck.

 

Sweet!

The good thing is that both of you guys have 04 and newer transmissions. That gives them a much better chance of lasting.

But keep in mind that I have seen these transmissions completely broken on totally stock vehicles. It is VERY true that some of them came out of the factory built better than others.

Darrin

 

Just curious, FATHERFORD, how often do you service your tranny and what do you do. For comparison only...this is no way to start a service interval argument, just establishing what has worked for FATHERFORD so far and how he did it.

 

Service a Transmission? What is that?

I was actually hoping it would have broken by now so I had an excuse for a new torque converter etc, but no such luck.