[ChrisCNC]

Just recently went through a VERY reputable Ford tranny guy here on the West Coast. He went through the transmission and beefed it up, bigger bearings, best torque converter money can buy (in his opinion), new pressure plate, valve body, springs...etc. I've known of him for over 20 years and have had some of my good friends have the exact same thing done to their tranny's. I'm confident of his work and my friends have had nothing but success using him (they abuse their trucks IMO, I tend to baby mine).

Just got back from a trip with my new tranny. I've got a 2003 F250 with 35" tires and pulling a 5000# trailer, am using the PHP 80 HP, standard Tow program. Pulling up one of the main pulls from the Willamette Valley (Lebanon, OR through Sweet Home to Sisters called, "Tombstone Summit") is a 10 mile pull at 10 - 11%. Twisty-turney, 35 mph corners and some spotty rough road all the way up. I had a difficult time getting the Torque Converter to Lock up in 3rd gear. I had to pull over twice because my temp gauge alarmed out (at 225) and I was at 240 degrees and climbing fast by the time I found a place to pull over.

I'd have to slow down for rough road (and the truck would need to shift into 2nd) and when I accelerated back up it would go into 3rd and I could not get TCL. I'd try to accel and back off, hard accels, soft accels, everything. Near the top the road straightened out some and I was able to stay in 3rd with TCL and the temps would stay around 216 which is acceptable.

Is this something that should be addressed with programming? Or do you think I need to go back to the Tranny place and see what they can do. My other friends (one in particular) are pulling 12,000 to 18,000 tow haulers up the same grade with bigger tires (on the same 2003 trucks) but with different programs (One has Standard Edge, One has SuperChips).

Please let me know what you think as soon as convenient. I'd like to talk to my tranny guy and get this resolved asap.

Thank you and Sincerely,