FordExcursions.com Forums
cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:8/5/2003 12:18 |
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Ok, so I am new to this board and am on my second superduty. The first was a 99 F350 w/PS automatic that I bought with 86k on the odometer. Purchased it not knowing how failure prone the torque converters were and had to replace shortly after acquiring. I cam upon a deal to good to pass up on a 2000 Excursion/LTD powerstroke 4x4. It already had 115 k on it and no record of changing the torque converter but a great service log with all details and recommended intervals completed and alot more.
Well it now has 131k and the torque converter is going south quick and I am afraid the tranny is close behind. So I am doing alot of research as to the best bang for the buck. I know a little about ATS Diesel Performance and have heard some ok things about Suncoast converters. I would like to know what experiences any posters here have had with upgrading the converter and transmission. I am seriously considering running the Triple-Lok Commander from ATS on the transmission as I do have a Western Diesel 4bank chip and 4 inch exhaust with K&N FPIK type kit. I have a Western Diesel turbo brake sitting here, but have talked myself out of the lengthy install and questionable gains from the product in the long run. Anyone with some grounded advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bobby
'00 Ford Excursion/LTD/4x4/PS/131k+/33"BFG's/4"exhaust/Western Diesel 4bank chip
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/5/2003 15:02 |
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Hi Bobby,
Welcome to the site!!!!
With regards to torque converters...I am in the process of testing an aftermarket converter in my Excursion. I run a 330HP/700ft-lb chip and this torque converter and shift kit I have installed are lightyears ahead of how the stock trans functions. Mike Lovrich ("gearman" on these forums) will probably chime in when he's at the 'puter this evening. He's the one that arranged the "test-drive" of this torque converter for me and will be selling them through his transmission shop based out of CA. I will let him explain in more detail about the benefits, costs, etc.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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gearman
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• los Angeles, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/22/2003 |
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• 336 posts |
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Posted:8/5/2003 21:07 |
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Welcome 
With the mileage on your truck i would think the trans is at its end. I dont recommend a partial repair or update . If you do, you will find yourself in a Carch22 syndrome, and you cant win. There are some good companys out there, i am a Suncoast dealer and i also build my own transmissions. As far as Suncoast is concerned,they are very hard to beat. their products are hard to break. they stand behind their products. If they werent this good i would not sell their product. as far as torque converters go (this is the weak link) you dont necessarily need a triple lock. they are great, but i dont use one. by the way i have a Suncoast Pro-loc in my X.(single clutch). My company is experimenting with a different approach to converters. more power at low speeds and mid range and top notch pulling power all the way up the power band. Eric Long is doing an unbiased test on one of my units. Eric will advise me as to how good it is and what needs to be improved. He will report what he finds. that was the deal, good or bad. as far as other companys: ATS has a good rep. so does BTS. can you go wrong with aforementioned names? absolutely not. any other names you can think of ; i have no comment.  if you want to talk to me you can call me. 310 674 4400.
regards, mike
01 excursion psd hellwig rear stabalizer 285 michelins suncoast converter transmission custom built with Transgo shift kit,by me.
TTS computer chip,next mod-TTS exhaust system
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cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/5/2003 21:34 |
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Appreciate the opinions, Suncoast seems to be the best product and they arent too far from me, less then 6 hours and I will be within 2 hours of them this monday. If I can swing it I may just make a visit and pick up what I need. I had a hell of a time towing home my jeep(well over 8000lbs trailer and all) the other night and the tranny temp climbed to just under 210 in no time flat and the X hasnt been the same since. I couldnt get up to lock up speed which addresses the other issue of which controller/commander to use out there. Sounds like Suncoast has a controller that does the deed and the cheapest. ATS would be a cheaper package with maybe a better Torque converter for their whole package, but it sounds like Suncoast has the better tranny rebuild from my discussion with them. I want the best of the best(thus the limited excursion, etc etc) but as always timing couldnt be worse personally. So I am trying to figure out if perhaps the ATS torque converter for $200 more is perhaps better and if suncoast is going to have a conditional/no gaurantee if I dont use their torqure converter(which is the impression I got). Either way I have to do something or I have a hell of a nice tow rig uncapable of towing let alone grocery getting in this summer heat if the tranny gets much worse. Thanks
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/6/2003 17:43 |
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Hey Cowboy,
I ALSO tow a Jeep but previously had a '99 F250 Powersmoke. Mine had 85K miles when I traded it off and, fortunately, I didn't have any problems with the TC. It's my understanding from several, the '99 models were prone to TC failures. That's, since, been adressed AFAIK. In other words, you shouldn't be having the same problems with the TC on your Splersion that you did with the '99 unless it was poorly kept before you bought it. There's nothing wrong with adding beef no matter what! 
Now then... how you're eeking out well over 8K#'s Jeep, trailer and all, I'll never know but I'll take your word for it. My fairly built rig weighs in at what I would consider to be a failrly hefty 4350#'s and the trailer 2K#'s at the most. Even then, dragging 8K#'s of anything I would imagine you would want to beef up your tranny cooler, increase your service intervals and use a high-end tranny fluid. But, of course, you know all that 
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Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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gearman
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• los Angeles, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/22/2003 |
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• 336 posts |
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Posted:8/6/2003 20:50 |
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Kevin
i dont know what rags you are reading or who you are listening to but, the E40D and 4R100 torque converters have never been adressed by Ford nor have they been improved. the lid(which is the pressure plate is too thin, in fact the metal on the entire unit is too thin. this unit is a meltdown ready to happen. the new 5R110 5speed trans behind the new 6.0 is the same piece of shit. i have cut them open and matched them side by side. please do some homework before you post tech. call BTS,Suncoast,ATS, Precision,hell call me. 
regards, mike
01 excursion psd hellwig rear stabalizer 285 michelins suncoast converter transmission custom built with Transgo shift kit,by me.
TTS computer chip,next mod-TTS exhaust system
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/6/2003 21:07 |
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lol... can't argue there! 
You're right... ain't read about it a whole lot, just some... mostly hearsay, but from one fella I worked with and shared stories with constantly who bought his '99 just before I did. Had to get his TC replaced but was *told* by the dealer it was replaced by an improved version. Something to do with this TSB: 99-3-5 FEB 99 A/T - 4R100 Rattling Noise From Torque Converter Area. He also had about ½ as many miles as I when his cratered.
Of course, Gear, had anyone other than you told me to call BTS, Suncoast, ATS, Precision, et al... I would think they would tell me it was crap just so I'd buy their stuff.  Thanks for the info. Not trying to be argumentative here by any means. Just wanting to learn like everyone else.
Just out of curiosity, is there a reason you picked Suncoast over the others?
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Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/7/2003 09:19 |
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Well I have an overbuilt jeep sitting on 40" Boggers, hard top, full interior, tool box, spare anything I can fit in the cab, full size spare hangin off the back, dana 60's, track bars, Atlas II, custom nerf bars/sliders, heavy ass bumpers, stretched 6", 2 batteries, AC(works), winch, chains, gear galore, full roll cage, and oh did i mention a competion level stereo system? I am dropping the spare tire and considering going topless now days and that should drop 400 pounds or so. I have a 14k rated bumper pull trailer 20' long with full tool box and ramps, its over 2500lbs itself. So I carry a load through the GA hills.
Back to Ford talk, definitely dont believe what youre Ford service writer tells you for face value at first,......lol. Ford skimps majorly on their torque converter and it just doesnt make sense to have this kick butt diesel sitting in front of it. So my X will not be rebuilt or touch by the dealer now that its way out of warranty. I think I will get a performance torque converter and then have the tranny rebuilt locally with the help of Gearman and whoever I can source out to thats worth a darn.
Thanks for the help Mike(Gearman)
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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gearman
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• los Angeles, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/22/2003 |
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• 336 posts |
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Posted:8/7/2003 09:44 |
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Kevin
i chose Suncoast because of the people in my business that i know. I am fortunate to be friends with some of the best transmission minds in the our industry. Most of them recommend Suncoast some recommend BTS. and some ATS.. I have heard good things about Precision. I dont think you can go wrong with any of these companys. I talk to Joe Webb at Suncoast all the time and like him. I will stick with them; their product is hard to break. Sorry if i sounded a little upity, i didnt mean to. As far as Ford improving their converter; they were force to put a better converter clutch piston in their converter a few years ago (made by LUK). It seems like the aftermarket always comes to the rescue. In my stock rebuilds i always use a Ford rebuilt converter because they are of better quality then most rebuilt converters. If you tow, add a chip, or just drive hard, you need more then that. Thats where the big name aftermarket companys shine and your transmission performs above and beyond.
regards, mike
01 excursion psd hellwig rear stabalizer 285 michelins suncoast converter transmission custom built with Transgo shift kit,by me.
TTS computer chip,next mod-TTS exhaust system
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Texas4x4
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• Tyler, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/25/2003 |
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• 289 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:8/7/2003 11:11 |
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Cowboy -
Sounds like a nice rig! SHWING! You compete in ARCA or anything? PM me to keep it off here if you wanna talk Jeeps.
Gear -
I didn't think you were being upity - no worries. I'm new to this list and am still trying to learn the personalities. I don't mind being told to shut up if one thinks I dunno what I'm talking about.
I really appreciate the info. There was no telling when my TC on my P/U was gonna crater. Glad I traded it off before it had the chance. I did run a chip which seemed to lock the TC - I'm sure that helped some. If I decide to keep my X past the 3/36, I'll more-than-consider then Suncoast TC swap. Any other components need attention?
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Kevin Curry
Staff Writer: www.ROCKCRAWLER.com
[email protected]
http://www.texas4x4.com
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