1997 Ford Powerstroke
I am specifically interested in something that will keep my auto transmission alive while pulling MY 33ft 5th wheel.
Any suggestions?

check out www.ford-diesel.com and www.ford-trucks.com to see what is popular in those crowds...

I was considering the Diablo switchable stock/92 octane chip for my V10 :D

What DRM said.

I've been researching on ford-diesel.com for about a month.

I just got a chip programmer from UPS today and am going to reprogram my chip after work. (Super Chips Micro Programmer)

You can program 60 hp, 80 hp, and back to stock as often as you want, without ever opening the ECU.

BE SURE YOU HAVE OR GET; EGT, BOOST, AND TRANNY TEMP FIRST!!!!

Opps forgot: Most chips do not have a provision for raising the line pressure in the trans.

For that you would need something like the Banks trans command
or the Western Diesel Turbo brake III.

I have the Turbo Brake III. Its an electronically controlled exhaust brake that has the converter lock-up built in so you get the trans module and an exhaust brake in one unit for a couple hundred $ more than the trans module alone.

HTH

john for the auto tranny you want a seperate module. i got a gale banks trans-command. my 100hp chip did not really do anything for the tranny

Try calling THIS (http://www.dieseltrans.com/) place. They build the sheiot for the Dodges. They are great people. I'm sure they could send you in the right direction if they can't help you.

i got a BD programable, with a lifetime cert so i can go get it changed whenever i want if i don't like how it's pulling/performing. and make sure you get the gauges :D the hottest my tranny got weighting 13k was 185ish? and that's when i was full awn it trying to hild 45mph up a pass since my PSD is the biggest pile of dogshit with 4 tires and a voided warrenty!

I am running a superchips 80 hp chip. This is in a 2001 stroke, so whats avaliable for yours may vary. Chips can increase line pressure, depends on the program. They can also modify the shift points and the TC lockup point, as well as remove the speed limiter. All chips are not the same!

I feel the biggest value of the chip in a towing situation is the ability to make enough power under load that yout tranny isn't hunting for the right gear. The later trannies don't lock the converter till in OD, so keeping your rig in OD under load is a plus.

Don't get to happy if your towing, the egt's will be too high and tranny temps will be a problem. I did a few other things to help keep my tranny alive. Installed a trans go shift kit, and synthetic fluids. The shift kit increased the line pressure and got rid of the soft shifts that boil the fluids. The synthetics will live longer at higher temps, which is their biggest benefit.

I also added a Cyclone fan from US Gear. Go to US gears web site and read of the benefits, I can't confirm the HP gains, but this thing moves some air! At 95 deg towing a trailer across flat ground the tranny will get 190 or so, engage the fan and it drops to 165 - 170 and stays there. The decrease in MPG in this scenerio is negligible. An added benefit is the super cold AC!

Go to the site mentioned above and lurk, you will find the answers to your questions. There are several respected tuners and builders there.

Talk to Fred Swanson at Desert Diesel Parts.
He has goodies for Dodge, Ford, and Chevy including high zoot tranny rebuilds.

http://www.desertdieselparts.com/

Phoenix, AZ
(623) 910-9575
fred@desertdieselparts.com

Jay