Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Auto Upgrades

[DTangstrom]

I am looking to upgrade my automatic transmission in my 2000. I would like to add the FASS fuel system and 275 injectors, but am worried about the auto capabilites. I have about 75,000 on it now with no problems. My question is what would I benefit from the most with a truck with low to moderate HP upgrades? I have looked at the BD pressure loc system, as well as valve bodies and torque converters offered from the different vendors. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Lsfarm]

Upgrades

Installing 275 injectors is probably the best power upgrade for a stock transmission. The added power will come on at higher rpm's and heavier throttle position. The greater the pedal movement the higher the pressures in the trans to hold the added power.



For the transmission, the toughest power upgrade is a fueling box set on a high setting, then driven 'gently' with small pedal travel, The result is low line pressures and lots of torque through the trans resulting in shuddering and slipping clutches.



With 75K on your stock trans I wouldn't recommend just a TC and VB. Most stock transmissions have too much internal leakage and accumulated wear to survive long with just a VB and VB added to the worn trans.



You may get away with just adding the 275 injectors for many more miles, but if you add a fueling box on top of the injectors, you will be buying a trans rebuild soon.



Note, go to 'user control panel' and fill in your signature so we know where you are, and what your truck is.



Hope this helps. Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[y-knot]

It mostly depends on how YOU use your truck, any heavy hauling or towing and the trany will fail. I think the stock trany is marginal at best, and that is with a stock Cummins. One thing you should avoid is trying to solve your problems by adding small and cheap additions in the hope that they will magically solve your problems. Only thing they will do is lighten your wallet and put you further away from a real workable fix. BD and many others must make a fortune on people like yourself that are hoping for an inexpensive fix to their transmission troubles. It would be nice if it would work, but unfortunately their is no cheap fix to the problem. The logical thing to do would be hold off of any engine up-grades till you can afford a new trany. It does no good to replace any one piece, they are work with and upon each other, so do yourself a favor and wait till a complete job can be done. If you simply can not do with out you injectors, just don't tow or haul anything heavy and be gentle. The sad part is everyone wants to talk about big HP numbers, what new parts have been installed on the engine. Truth is you can add 150 HP to your truck and never fell it's effects, the stock TC is a DOG and simply does a lousy job of transferring power. No matter what numbers the engine runs(HP), the TC will simple jump to 24-2500 on take off and the truck will waddle off from the start. The best mod you could ever make to your truck, would be a Good after market trany and TC. I probably wouldn't have believed it myself before the ATS install, but it is true. The engine doesn't just jump up in RPM, now it stays much lower and you feel the power getting to the ground. I think you could take a stock truck with a good trany/TC combo, and dust a truck running 100 more HP but thru a stock trany/TC combination. What ever you do, make sure you do it right and good luck.

 

[klaybus]

My brother in law added DD1's & an EZ on a new 2002 CTD & when he had the money did the DTT! When it was torn apart, his stock transmission was already showing severe signs of wear at under 20k miles.

There are many aftermarker transmission vendors to choose from. Choose your vendor of choice & be happy. I like many others chose DTT because of their reputation of great customer service & an excellent product.

Do your homework & your choice should be simple. Mine was, DTT.



Good Luck!

Clay

 

[R-N-R]

A lot of good advice from personal experience has been posted here. y-knot summed it up about the best IMHO. I still wonder, if I had done the trans first would I have gone on with more mods, that is how much of a difference it made for me. Whatever you plan on doing with your truck, double it! I recall telling DTT that I "probably" would not be on the drag strip or doing excessive brake torques... . fortunately they knew better. When you get your trans and other bombs installed, your "options" will significantly increase.



I noticed that nobody has mentioned the necessity to start a post bombing tire fund... ... and I thought that LSFarms was only joking when he gave me that advice after rebuilding my trans.....

 

[rrausch]

You should do some homework. There are some great Performance Transmission builders who advertise on this site.



2 years ago I went with ATS, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. They have affiliate shops all over the country, including TST Products in Indiana, Sheid Diesel, &Blumenthals--3 of the best Performance Diesel shops in the U. S. To be affiliated with just those 3 is a pretty darn good endorsement, and ATS has another couple of hundred transmission Shops they are affiliated with also.

 

[jwilliams3]

I went ATS, good product!



Check their stuff @ www.atsdiesel.com



--Justin

 

[jhyatt]

try jannety racing they have both products in stock and ted the owner is very helpful

 

[TORQUE THIS]

www.massdiesel.com