SCT XCAL2 ..help

[rocket 5979]

Oh yeah only do things that can be taken off and returned to stock you know all about that.

Shift kits are actually way better for your Trans, the programmers push more fluid through the stock holes and put more strain on the stock accumulators and such. While the shift kit replaces springs and makes the holes larger for more flow to go through.

Stop acting like an ass and actually try to listen to what I meant.

I realize that not everyone is like me. In fact quite a few of you are not and that is fine. Allot of you will modify your Explorer's a little bit and then eventually sell them which is what I am trying to gear my advice towards. The next owner will probably not want really aggressive shifts so this factor may come into play with some people. With others it may not.

The shift kit does allot more fluid to flow easier through the VB and thus it produces less heat. I do not know why you posted the information of what the shift kit accomplishes while quoting me as it was probably me that told you that a few years back in the first place.

Shift kits are great if you want neck snapping shifts. A tune can get you pretty close to that too. The shift kit cannot be cheaply uninstalled whereas a tune will take 5 minutes. A tune will also give performance in other areas too which is another benefit as well.

 

[CDW6212R]

The issue about shift kit versus PCM tune isn't a big one. The 4R70W is a very well sorted out trans. It sucked when it began as the 1980 AOD, but as the 90's began it was a decent trans.

In the 90's it has been developed into a very good electronic trans. The VB kits have been available for them since 1988, I installed a kit from Art Carr that was actually the TransGo SysKo kit. Art Carr charged me $55 then, and I later bought the SysKo AOD kit made by TransGo for under $30 several times. They were identical, and I have the original paper work to prove it.

Anyway, the HD kit from TransGo is a real shift kit($80+), and other companies make serious performance kits for them. Those will improve the trans noticeably if done right, but they should be for serious vehicles, not one that you sell next season.

The 5R55E or other 5R's do not have a shift kit available, the two choices are not serious performance VB kits. That is also why they only cost $35 or so. What they do is correct many of the factory quirks and defects. TransGo calls them systems correction kits(SysKo).

The systems correction type VB kits are appropriate for any transmission, any vehicle. I install those in all of my vehicles, I reserve the HD kits for the serious performance vehicles.

With the strength of the factory 4R70W, there are no more real defects past 1998, choose either the PCM tune only, or both. Just decide about the VB kit first, don't do a tune and then have to do it again after changing your mind later.

If you don't get wild with the engine, or tow big loads, I would get just the flasher. Regards,

 

[storlied]

Good points Rocket.

For the most part, I don't care about the "value" and the "next" owner.. as far as this truck is concerned.. it's mine... my little toy.. and I'm never going to give it up.. and if I ever have to.. then the mods go with it.

Edit: I'm going to be keeping the shift kit in mind, but odds are I'm going to stick with Just the tune. The most I'll ever do with this tranny is change the fluid to amsoil as suggested by jtsmith.

 

[rocket 5979]

So you're saying Xan doesn't know what he's talking about?..
Come on Aldive..
I'm trying to take all this information into consideration, n tryin to figure this all out.,. how other people's setups are workin out for em.. n now ur tryin to make me choose sides... I mentioned above James knows his stuff, and I stated what he recommended what I should do.

As far as forcing fluids through small valves n whatnot.. there's probably a threshold James won't cross to keep things from being damaged.

I am sure Al does not mean to say that Xan doesn't know what he is talking about. But I can assure you that James and I sure as hell know one heck of allot more. We can also speak from both sides of the tracks too. I have installed multiple shift kits into vehicles including two 5.0 Explorer's and one 4.6 Mustang. I have also tuned a decent amount of vehicles too. I speak from both perspectives here. I am sure that James has installed his fair share of shift kits back in the day. You are looking for people who are experienced with this stuff and you are talking to us.

I suggest that you get the tune with the shifting modified to your liking. Then see if you like it the way it is afterwards. If not then you can start thinking about a shift kit if you want to. That way you can take a logical step in evaluating what route you want to go before traveling one which you cannot reverse.

 

[aldive]

So you're saying Xan doesn't know what he's talking about?..
Come on Aldive..
I'm trying to take all this information into consideration, n tryin to figure this all out.,. how other people's setups are workin out for em.. n now ur tryin to make me choose sides... I mentioned above James knows his stuff, and I stated what he recommended what I should do.

As far as forcing fluids through small valves n whatnot.. there's probably a threshold James won't cross to keep things from being damaged.

I know nothing about that fellow, do you? I am suggesting that you listen to the people who relly know what they are talking about.

 

[storlied]

I will admit, I am more.. hm "familier" with you than him.. but I don't wanna play games where I'm taking sides.. you guys have very good points.. lots of experience with mods.. both with good results and bad..

Curious, if I want a tune I ordered slightly changed... do I have to pay for another tune?..............

 

[Xan]

Stop acting like an ass and actually try to listen to what I meant.

I realize that not everyone is like me. In fact quite a few of you are not and that is fine. Allot of you will modify your Explorer's a little bit and then eventually sell them which is what I am trying to gear my advice towards. The next owner will probably not want really aggressive shifts so this factor may come into play with some people. With others it may not.

The shift kit does allot more fluid to flow easier through the VB and thus it produces less heat. I do not know why you posted the information of what the shift kit accomplishes while quoting me as it was probably me that told you that a few years back in the first place.

Shift kits are great if you want neck snapping shifts. A tune can get you pretty close to that too. The shift kit cannot be cheaply uninstalled whereas a tune will take 5 minutes. A tune will also give performance in other areas too which is another benefit as well.

Actualy i meant that as a joke, not to be an ass.

Was explaining my point not like i thought you din't know

I highly doubt you told me anything about shift kits, considering i did my first shift kit back in 1999 before i came on the internet to do anything besides play games. Infact i don't think ive taken much know how about anything exsept about torrison bars from any forum.
I've taken some trouble shooting and advice from alot of people though.
I've built alot of engines, rebuilt alot of transmissions and done alot of things, i think its sad you guys think your knowledge is so far past mine.

 

[rocket 5979]

Curious, if I want a tune I ordered slightly changed... do I have to pay for another tune?..............

If it is within the covered support period and is a modification to get the tune more to your preference versus to support another mods you decide to put on then yes. Most tuners will support a little tweaking and peaking within reason.

I understand that you want to know about this tuning stuff but since you will be dealing with James for your tuning matters then I suggest you ask these questions of him. Different tuners offer different support so it is best if you hear it from the horses mouth versus secondhand from other people in here. Good luck.

Please do not misunderstand me. General tech and tuning questions are meant to be asked in the open forum like you have been doing. However some of your questions are questions best asked directly of the person whom you will be doing business with.

 

[storlied]

Okay, everyone.. Xan, Aldive, Rocket.. enough fighting.. this is ridiculous. You each have your strong points and weak points in what you're good at.

This is what it comes down to, I'm going to get the tune to begin with.. if I don't like the responsiveness the tune gives me, I'm going to add the shift kit. [I've heard & read many good reviews of Trans-Go shift kits, they've been around for a long time and they know what they're doing.] We'll see how this turns out, and how my truck performs after just the tune.

 

[storlied]

I have asked him many of these questions, unfortunately.. he's not as detailed as you guys.. lol.. but he is very helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[rocket 5979]

Actualy i meant that as a joke, not to be an ass.

If it was meant that way then I apologize for getting on your case about it.

I've built alot of engines, rebuilt alot of transmissions and done alot of things, i think its sad you guys think your knowledge is so far past mine.

Xan, when you are in the business that we are in you tend to become VERY adept at determining the level of knowledge of the people with whom your are talking. It is part of the ballgame when trying to figure out what information you can provide the customer that will benefit them without overloading them at the same time. You have been on here long enough for an assessment to be made. You are definitely not a newby but you still do have allot to learn. Ego is the biggest item that gets in the way of learning. You may have done allot of work to cars but it all depends on the context in which you did them in too. There is a HUGE difference between a regular Mr. Fix-it mechanic and a Performance mechanic.

 

[aldive]

Okay, everyone.. Xan, Aldive, Rocket.. enough fighting.. this is ridiculous. You each have your strong points and weak points in what you're good at.

No one is fighting.

Rocket and I are simplying trying to help you. Unfortunately you just don't listen.

 

[rocket 5979]

I have asked him many of these questions, unfortunately.. he's not as detailed as you guys.. lol.. but he is very helpful and knowledgeable.

Save the tech questions for the forum and/or James if you wish. Keep customer-shop owner questions directed solely at James. He is the only one who can really answer because he makes those decisions; no one on this forum does.

 

[storlied]

No one is fighting.

Rocket and I are simplying trying to help you. Unfortunately you just don't listen.

HOW AM I NOT LISTENING!? You're not listening to me. It's not wrong to take everyone's information into consideration, I don't want to play these little games.
What do you want me to say/do?
Accept every single thing You say and assume it's 100% right, and that it's the absolute best thing for My setup?

Enough of this bs Aldive, give me a break. Xan is trying to help, and I'm not going to just ignore everything he says because you don't know him. A lot of what he has said makes logical sense.

You don't even have the same transmission as me, or engine. Do you have any experience with the 4R70W? Or the 5.0L? What about tuning this setup?

I'm going to leave the important stuff up to James, and I'm going to see how it goes with His tune.. I trust him and believe he has enough experience with my setup to give me the best advice/recommendation to his knowledge.

Have you done much research on shift kits? Or Trans-Go? Have you had any experience with them? You've taken everything I've said and thrown it back at me like I'm just making everything up and trying to prove some kind of point.
I'm still learning a lot of this stuff, and like I said.. you all have your strong points.. I believe you all have good information to share, and it's up to me to figure out what's going to be the best for my setup.. this isn't about you deciding who I should listen to or not.

 

[Xan]

Before my grandpa died we put 3 cars into the 9s i've done a little bit of performance work in my life. I've driven 12 second street cars (Z28, fox body 429 T-bird, 1991 corvette) I don't need anyone to stroke my ego and tell me i'm good at cars my girlfriend tells me that when i change her spark plugs and oil LOL or fix her turn signal when the bulb is burned out hahahaha. I come on here to give advice and help people. But i guess you guys got it covered i woln't step on your toes any more.

 

[storlied]

VIN : #################
Year/Model : 1998 Explorer
Trim : XLT
Drivetrain : AWD
Engine : 5.0L V8
Transmission : Automatic [4R70W]
SPR Setting : 1F
Axle : D4
Gear Ratio : 3.73LS
Box Code : NRT1
Tuner : SCT XCAL2
Tires : 31x10.50x15
Mods : Mac CAI, Mac Cat Back
Street Tune : 90 Octane

What am I missing as far as details to give him?

 

[aldive]

You don't even have the same transmission as me, or engine. Do you have any experience with the 4R70W? Or the 5.0L? What about tuning this setup?

Lets see, how many other Fords I have owned ...

I raced 5.0s before you were born.

I have a good understanding of tuning, both the oldys as well as using SCTs Advantage II software and oxugen sensors.

I have just been trying to help you but its wearing thin real fast. I really hate to see you do something stupid.

I'm going to leave the important stuff up to James,

Now you are making sense.

Have you done much research on shift kits? Or Trans-Go? Have you had any experience with them?

Yes, yes, yes.

I wish you well.

 

[storlied]

What other information am I missing that he needs?

 

[storlied]

I can't figure out how to update the firmware on this thing.

 

[aldive]

I can't figure out how to update the firmware on this thing.

What version are you using currently?