I agree that the TC unlocked builds heat, that's why I use my BD lock up switch to keep mine locked all the time when towing and carefully make all shifts manually. However, I've been told by several tranny guys that if you run a chip with a stock tranny, not to apply too much torque with the TC locked and RPM below 2K because the main pump doesn't put out enough line pressure to avoid slipping the TC at lower RPM.

 

Isn't the general concensus still that if you have one of Jody's chips that you don't really need a TC Lockup? Doesn't that go for towing as well?

 

No, I don't think this is correct, at least not for minimizing the wear and tear on a stock tranny when towing a 14K 5er! I have a DP Tuner with among things a standard 40 and 60 TOW and modified versions of those tunes that give me more manual control of the tranny when used in conjunction with my TC lock up switch. Jody's chip increases line pressure by programming the variable solenoid that controls it, but the main pump has to make enough pressure at higher RPM or you'll still slip a locked up TC on a stock tranny.

When I tow I never let the PCM shift the tranny automatically, because this causes excessive wear on the clutches. I make all shifts manually. Once I get above 15 mph, I lock the TC with my switch, and I keep the TC locked all the time so that it isn't unlocking and locking under load when I shift manually. On up shifts, I let up on the throttle to match RPM to road speed for the next gear up and make the shift manually. On down shifts, I increase the throttle to match RPM to road speed for the next gear down. It's kind of like shifting a manual, and requires a little practice to coordinate the timing between the manual shift lever and the throttle adjustments. However when done correctly, you can manually shift up and down (under heavy load) and not feel any jerk in the driveline at all. When you shift like this, the opposing clutch surfaces have little if any differential rotational speed, and they are just pressed together with a minimum of scuffing.

 

I always shift mine manually with heavy load don't like the way it shifts on its own
was wonering how it would work with torque locked
haven't installed it yet

 

when you say shift manually, are you really shiftting from 1-D with the handle? And if I dont find myself towing a lot, could I get away w/o one with the DP Tuner?

 

Strokin_it7.3 Hit the nail on the head

Cowboy Steve

 

I love being able to lock up while towing or not especially when starting up a grade when tranny doesn`t have enough rpm or speed to reach automatic tc lock say about25-30 mph in 3rd. All power is instantly going to the wheels and has no lag time between engagement there is much less rpm and slipping of the tc. I am running a Predator but when Jody`s tunes go in down the line I am hoping this all can get done through him and the magic box.

 

parkland,
Has this mod changed the trans temp?
and are you running a sonnax kit or a BTS VB?

 

I just have the stock temp guages, as my truck is stock HP rating...

and the stock guages never move.

stock tranny. stock intake. (k&n) stock tc.

I have to disagree with "low rpm not engagine TC lockup properly"

1.) without lockup switch, slowing to about 60 km/h, it locks up automatically around 1100 rpm
2.) obviously ford would have given some leeway for operating conditions

Bringing me back to a previous point that i dont think these trannies (+-TC?) like to be WOT at 1000 rpm, and thats probably a reason why ford put in a TC that is so "slippery"

However, I feel confident that using the TC lockup and not goin full pig till you get 1400-1600 rpms isnt gonna hurt it, honestly, the other day i locked it up and started off at 900 rpm, and mashed it and there was no slippin at all. If you put the truck in drive, its idling 600+- rpm, pull the TC lockup and the engine instantly stalls. No slow kill, no "slipping feeling", no give, it just feels like dumping the clutch on a standard.

INSTRUCTIONS --------------
http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/

 

If i felt slipping or "u-joint" snapping shifting i'd be scared, but, the truck runs awesome locked up, and i love not hitting 2000 rpms driving around town at 40 km/h.

 

great, I think this might be the first on my mod list when the truck comes home,followed by a shift kit/filter change.

 

You won`t be sorry, just don`t forget it`s locked when you slow to a crawl cause it can be dangerous if some elderly person is crossing the street and you are trying to hold back the 444 with a little disc brake.

 

It wouldn't be hard to make it unlock when you hit the brake pedal.

 

The wiring diagram is what has me worried but I may be making harder than it has to be.

 

I went through 1 rebuilt ford tranny and 2 jaspers in a year because of TC failure and was told that the TC lock up was the cause when used at or below about 1500 RPM they said the pump wasn't pumping enough fluid through the tranny to keep things cool.