I was just wondering the other day.I am an avid reader of this board and I rarely post something as I don't know too much about trucks.But I see how people here are adding mods to their truck in a never ending quest to go faster and look better.But I also see how manufacturers give these trucks transmissions that don't allow the owners of these trucks to take full advantage of their trucks potential.The auto trans. eats up about 60 horses and the manual trans. eats up about half of that in the 5.4.Wouldn't it be a lot better if the manufacturer or some big aftermarket company would put the time and effort to make a more durable and more efficient transmission that puts more horses to the ground.I see people here adding thousands and hundreds of dollars to their vehicles in performance modifications to add more horsepower and more torque by adding cat-back exhaust systems, fipk's, superchargers, chips.All these mods are very good and do make a difference but sometimes all these things put together with the exception of a supercharger rarely if ever make more than the 260 horses at the at the rearwheels.Wouldn't it be better if the truck could come with a more efficient trans.Maybe one that would eat up only about half the horses that the manual transmission does.Because if they did do something like this, for those of us that still want to modify our trucks we would have our work cut out for us.Well anyways thanks for listening to me.I maybe right or wrong.But any answers or contradictions or comments are welcome.I would really like you alls thoughts and ideas on this.Thanks.

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2000 F-150 4x4 XLT
Current Mods:
Ford Window Deflectors
Ford Bug Deflectors
Continental Accesories Tool Box
Drop-in BedLiner

 

HI!... STEEL BREEZ : The 4R70-W trannys don't suck up 60H.P by themselves. It is called "DRIVTRAIN" loss. This is the amount od H.P you lose trought the tranny, driveshaft, rearend. Superchip's has proved that a 5.4 loses 60-65H.P through it's drivetrain. The actual H.P loss though a 4R70-W is probably closer to about 40H.P for just the tranny, then you have to add in thr driveshaft and rearend loss. Actually the newer tanny's are quite efficient compared to the old ones back in the 60's. Take the CARROLL SHELBY GT 350 MUSTANG race car. 289 engine making close to 500H.P (RACE VERSION), and it only made 357H.P at the rear wheels! That's almost 140H.P drivetrain loss. So feel good that you only lose 60-65H.P throught your F-150's drivetrain. Hope this answers you questions.

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NEAL " THE H.P FREAK" E-MAIL :nnewman@sympatico.ca
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 4.10L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, ***** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), fiberglass smooth wiper cowl (painted OXFORD WHITE), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, 3 AUTOMETER guage pods, filled with tranny temp, engine temp, and oil preasure AUTOMETER "PHANTOM" guages,custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, custom programed SUPERCHIP "FLIP-CHIP", BAUMANN ENGINEERING shift kit (on stage 5 setting)BYPASS CLUTCH CONTROL VALVE/PREASURE REGULATOR VALVE, ASP POWER PULLEYS, custom tig welded and ported JBA "JET BLACK coated headers, twin DERALE 16 INCH ELECTRIC FANS, PERMA COOL 14"/10" tranny cooler with 10" electric fan, PERMA-COOL external tranny filter, custom ported (STOCK) throttle body, custom digital air intake temp sensor, custom ported TB intake elbow, relocated ATS, FORD RACING 24LB injectors, RUSSELL stainless steel braided tranny lines with fittings.


FUTURE MODS : BBK 75MM THROTTLE BODY, 80MM PRO-M MASS AIR METER, AADI F1 RAM AIR HOOD WITH CUSTOM FABRICATED RAM AIR SET-UP, CAL-TRAC TRACTION BARS, EXTRUDE HONED INTAKE MANIFOLD, SHM CUSTOM FUEL RAILS, 90/10 FRONT CE SHOCKS, 70/30 REAR CE SHOCKS, BELL TECH 2/4 DROP, EXPEDITION CENTER CONSOLE, HARLEY DAVISON F-150 LOWER FRONT VALANCE (painted oxford white) and a KENNE BELL BLOWZILLA SUPERCHARGER.

ESTIMATED H.P TO DATE : 340H.P / 425ft/lbs of torque.

CURRENT PERFORMANCE : 1/4 MILE - 14.52E.T * MPH - 93.73 * 0-60MPH - 5.8 * 1/8 MILE - 9.2 * 60 FT - 2.0

OTHER TOYS : "83" PRO STREET FORD RANGER : 351-w stroked to 408c.i 625H.P (natural), 875H.P with 250H.P "BIG SHOT" N.O.S kit, tubbed (crome moly tubing), 12 point chrome moly roll cage, 4-link with coil overs, MUSTANG II front suspension, c-4 tranny (race prepped), 4000rpm stall converter(8 INCH), 3" chrome moly driveshaft,AUTOMETER guages, 16.50 MICKEY THOMPSON rear tires, 4" M/T front tires, CENTERLINE CON-VO PRO rims, fiberglass hood - bumper - prostock hood scoop, wishbone trac-link, two chrome moly driveshaft loops, 16 gallon JAZ fuel cell,etc

 

You can't get a manual with a 5.4

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1997 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2L V6, 5spd, Superchipped, '99 Lightning Grill, '99 XLT White Bumper w/Fog Light Kit, K&N Air Filter, Dash Mat, Clear Corner Lenses, Clear Tailights, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Painted Tailgate Handle, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
"If you're in control, you're going too slow."--Mario Andretti

 

Some companies make carbon fiber driveshafts to reduce rotating mass thus increasing the HP that reaches the ground. As far as the tranny and rearend some gains can be made with synthetic lubricants and such but when you get down to it gears pushing against gears will always create friction. There is no way to escape that.

-Jon

 

Steel Breez,
you invent it, prove it, and patton it, then i'll finance it and we'll both become millionaires. simply little thing like a trans should be easy.

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2001 F-150 4X4 Supercab
XLT 139" WB style side
5.4L V8 3.55 LIMITED SLIP AXLE
MODS:
AIRAID FIPK
SUPERCHIP(FLIP CHIP)
ROLL & LOCK TONNEAU

sitting in garage mods
GIBSON CAT BACK
GIBSON HEADER
REFLEXX COBRA HOOD
STREET SCENE GRILL
HOLLEY THUNDER SUPERCHARGE
ALL TO BE INSTALLED IN 20 DAYS

 

Well thanks for the replies guys.As for a manual on the 5.4 there was one available in 97 I believe not sure.But Neal I guess you are right the transmissions now a days are pretty good.I was just wondering cuz when I read some of the posts here I was like WTF?That is alot ponies lost through the drivetrain.With the technology now a days I just thought someone would of come out with something more efficient.But I guess were already there, they just gotta improve on it.Predator I wish it were that easy.Believe me if I could I would.Except I don't know a thing about trans.I'm just a beginner.Thanks for the replies.Although I would like more info and responses.

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2000 F-150 4x4 XLT
Current Mods:
Ford Window Deflectors
Ford Bug Deflectors
Continental Accesories Tool Box
Drop-in BedLiner

 

$20's says you can custom ***special*** order a 5.4 with manual.

All it takes is money!

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TRUCK
White 00' XLT 4.2 Auto Sport
Regular cab Styleside
3.55 non-limited slip
Superchip
Airaid FIPK
gutted MAF
custom ported STOCK throttle body
1/4 ... 17.221@81.35MPH

PC
Thunderbird 1.1ghz @ 1.33ghz
Abit KT7A-Raid
384mb Kingmax PC-150 ram
60gig IBM 75gxp RAID array
Geforce2 GTS 64mb

 

Yes, you can get a 5.4 with manual trans - in a Superduty!

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1999 XLT SC, 4x4, Long Bed, 4.6 with manual trans. Deep wedgewood blue

 

Talleywacker,

I will give you $100.00 if you can show me how to special order a 5.4 and 5speed manual tranny in an F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 with manual Shift on the fly. No BS now.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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SEE us play;
http://www.F150world.com/michapter/
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, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Hedman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

Predator1--the solution was invented long ago. It is the turbine powered car. It was brought to the Indy 500 in 1967-1968 and dominated the field until it had mechanical problems (2 years in a row). My dad swears that there was a conspiracy against the design by the auto manufacturers (they changed the specs at the track in 1969 to specifically outlaw the turbine engine). The vehicle effectively has no tranny and a whole host of other benefits. The car sits in the museum at the Speedway in Indy. So if you have the financing, the design is already out there waiting for you.