new guy questions

[Dmundell]

Hey guys,this is an awesome sight. I wanted to ask a couple of questions,I recently purchased a 99 CTD QC Auto 4:10s LB I will be towing a Sundowner 3 Horse slant Gooseneck about 12000# I was wondering what the best bang for my buck would be,as far as upgrades. I will be Towing through the Rockies and West Coast as you know there are some serious hills out here,I just want to protect my investment and make sure my trips are as trouble free as possible. any info would be greatly appreciated!

Forgot to mention also 4x4

 

[Bob Wagner]

welcome aboard

take a nice easy trip to Phoenix and visit TDR Member Fred Swanson



Fred can show you several options

 

[HOSS]

transmission!!!

The first thing I would do with the auto is install a torque lock (makes the torque converter stay locked up) and a pressure lock. These will help keep your transmission together. Do a search on transmition problems and read up it will give you a ton of valuble information. Also it is wise to invest in a set of gauges (pyro,fuel pressure and boost) are most common. After that if your wallet allows go for power bombs (fueling boxes,injectors exhaust ect,ect,ect)

By the way welcome to the club. There is a lot of info to be found here. Have fun.

 

[Dmundell]

Thanks Guys, I will search transmission problems and have the pressure lock installed. As far as gauges any suggestions on whitch ones to use. I understand some are hard to read at night, and fuel pressure gauge should i get one if so where do i mount it

I really don't like the idea of a pressure gauge full of Diesel fuel in the cab? I will get hold of Fred Swanson and talk with him. I really appreciate the feedback Thanks again.

 

[JR2]

Not to stir anything up but you might want to ask a few others there opnion of the torque lock/Pressure lock. I believe you will find that most of us would not put them on our trucks. I will let someone with a little more experience speak as to why not to use em.



Take that trip to Fred Swansons shop. . you will not be dissapointed.





JR2

 

[cwsoules]

First I would have three gages installed. Mine are on the pliiar next to the driver's side door. They arfe from top to bottom: EGT Exhaiust Gas Temperature entering the turbo charger, Turbo Charger Boost Pressure, and transmission fluid temperature enroute to the cooler. I'm currently pulling a 10K 5er thru the rockies on I-80 enrout California, and I find that I monitor these gages more than any other to ensure that I'm not overloading my truck.



Call Bill K. at Diesel Transmission Technology and discuss your concerns. 1 866 504 4002. I have had his recommended modifications on my truck for a several months now and only regret that I did not have my transmission upgraded two years ago.

 

[csutton7]

a fuel pressure guage would be a must in my book---visit Fred or call Bill at DTT to get their feelings on trannies and then if you don't feel like you've got enuff info call BD, Suncoast, Dunrite, Goerend or ATS to get their feelings on transmission setups---they all have different thoughts---like JR2 said---I'd really check out the info on the locking devices---some guys have bad experiences and others good... . good luck----chris

 

[JR2]

I know what Bill K is going to say...



By the way. . Fred Swanson installs Bill K's stuff... . go see him, you will not regret it.

 

[Dmundell]

This is great to have so much info at your fingertips. I guess Fred

Swanson is the man to see. I will contact him tomorrow,and gauges are a must i know just need to decide which ones to instal

is there any A pillar pod that you would recommend?

 

[Chipstien]

First have DTT do the trans... then go for the Comp.

 

[JGarcia]

I agree with the everyone else in regard to upgrading the transmission, but the greatest benefit to doing this is that you will then be able to install an exhaust brake. I live in Denver and haul a 3 horse Featherlite over the Rockies every now and then, and the greatest sense of security is coming down a grade and having that braking power without putting so much stress on the truck and trailer brakes. Also, exhaust braking makes a much smoother trip for the horses!! Something about hauling horses makes you want your equipment to be the best it can be!



Regards, JRG

 

[rrausch]

Not to stir the pot here, but a lot of guys in Colorado hot-shotting heavy loads back and forth across the Rockies are using the ATS TripleLok.

Don Ramer would be the guy to talk to at ATS. 800-949-6200

Or go to www.DieselTorqueConverters.com

They have developed a 3-disc clutch Torque Converter that WILL NOT slip and self-destruct as the stock one eventually will under load. They also CNC all components in-shop. Their stator re-design is light-years ahead of the stock stator. Their trans also has the ability to shift locked if needed. They have years of experience beefing up the Dodge Automatic Transmission, and are great guys. They can ship their TC & VB anywhere and any good shop (Or you yourself) can put it in.

Check out the last issue of the TDR for an article on ATS.

 

[KatDiesel]

Before it goes south, please let me remind everyone to keep this thread civil please.



Thanks

 

[rrausch]

Let me put it this way... if you ask 1,000 TDR members who drive trucks with automatics who the best trans. builders are, 991 of them will name 1 of 4 places: ATS, DTT, BD or Goerend.

I went with ATS and it is the best thing I ever did to my truck. The ATS has been proven to handle heavy loads and high H. P. day in & day out. As have the others I might add. So do your homework and call them all! Then decide.

You won't go wrong whoever you choose.

 

[Dmundell]

Talked to Fred Swanson today and he is going to put a package together for me. I will go up to Phoenix next weekend to at least have A Pillar gauges put in and will see what he suggests as far as the transmission goes. Thanks I will also call ATS and find out what they have to say. You guys have been great Fred talked with me for 45 minutes about my truck what a wealth of knowledge he has about our trucks. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[JR2]

When you go see Fred make sure he takes you for a ride in his truck. I hear it is fun.



rrausch- I don't want to stir the pot, nor do I really care that much about the transmission wars... . but I have a real hard time believing that ATS and there "new" tripple lock have been around long enough for you to say "The ATS has been proven to handle heavy loads and high H. P. day in & day out". How many guys on the board have them... maybe 10 or 12 now and most of them have not had them a year. . I am sure they make a good product but I would hardly call it completly tested my any means.



Just so there is no mistake I have a DTT TC and VB and I like it.



John

 

[rrausch]

ATS has been building transmissions for 11 years. They've been building beefed drag-racing TC's for 8 years. They've been building Diesel TC's & beefing up Diesel Transmissions for 8 years. While it is true they only invented the TripleLok TC a year ago, it is evident the ATS stator & TripleLok is a MAJOR ADVANCEMENT in Diesel Torque Converters. That's why guys like "Earthroamer" Bill Swails uses an ATS trans. That's why ATS offers a 3 year/65,000 miles warrenty. That's long enough, good enough and strong enough for me.



John, the problem is once any of us spend 3 grand on a transmission upgrade, we have convinced ourselves that it is THE BEST ONE PERIOD EXCALMATION POINT! And we all suffer from this malady. Me included. So I suggest we all declare a TRUCE! You DTT guys will NEVER be convinced that the ATS TripleLok is is worth a Darn. We ATS guys are AMAZED you other guys haven't yet caught on to the superiority of the TripleLok and ATS's other upgrades. So... Can't we all just get along here! I'll continue to praise my ATS Stage IV to the rafters, and you continue to praise your DTT to the rafters, and GOOD for BOTH of us!!

 

[JR2]

RR - I am with you. I don't want to start a war here. I just don't think that you should say "The ATS has been proven to handle heavy loads and high H. P. day in & day out", because it has not. A better statement would be that ATS new tripple lock appers to be be a major jump in technology and so far appers to be one of the best ways to put HP to the ground or ATS has a long history in Drag racing torque converters and is now bringing that thechnology to the Diesel pickup... any way I have no doubt that the ATS transmission is great. If I was buing a new transmission today I would consider them as an option as I am not a "DTT guy" as you say, what I am is a guy who bought some good transmission parts a year and some months back and have been happy with them since.





Also, just so you know. . I did not spend $3K on a transmission. With install by a shop I have $1675 in my transmission and it is holding my HP fine.



This is the end of my participation in this post... ...

 

[rrausch]

You know what John, you're right. I'll corrrect what I said. ATS's new TripleLok appears to be a major jump in technology and so far appears to be one of the best ways to put HP to the ground!