Towing and Tuner Chips

This week: New Goodyears, K&N filter, new upper/lower NAPA hoses, Gates thermostat, coolant flush, Hayden 5000 trans cooler, new ceramic brake pads, getting ready for the pull. Yeah, she's running better than ever.

Just came home with my 21' Outback TT, 4400lbs. Yep. Weighed it. Gotta tell you I was not impressed with the towing capacity of the Expy. Not that I had my expectations too high. I have no intentions of going over Wolf Creek Pass with this setup. I know the 4.6 just doesn't have the torque below 4000, and the suspension is kinda soft. But my real gripe is the shift points on the tranny. In 2, floored on flat ground, I could reach 65 easy, about 4000rpm, with little trouble. Ease up on the throttle into 3rd and 2500rmp, and she couldn't hold the speed. Speed drifted back to 57 or 58. Add more throttle and she shifts back down into 2.

All right, I admit, I am cheap and lazy. I really don't want to change the rear end if I can help it, although in my heart I know it is the most effective. And buying another TV(like a PSD) is not really an option right now.

My question is, have you ever heard of an aftermarket chip controlling the tranny shift points enough to keep the thing flying in 3 without lugging the engine, or should I just suck it up and re-gear the diff? And if I re-gear, does that screw up the performance due to the stock chip programming?

most of the higher-end "chip" products can reprogram shift points...

check like Jegs.com under "ECM upgrades"

u need to do a few mods to get the best results from the "chip".
Open up the intake...I know u bought a K&N which was a great move but it still needs to breathe better. U can do this for nothing by cutting the filter housing open. Right there where it necks down to goto the fender well cut it there. Make sure not to cut to far back as to cut off the mounts. If u want it to look good u can buy a intake kit but i think it's a waste. I did this to my Expy with 5.4, with that mod and the K&N i gained 3 mpg and more power. My city Avg now is 15.5 and 19 on the Hwy. Next, open up the exhaust. If ur a do-it-yourself kinda guy, goto Jegs and order a catback exhaust system from either Dynomax or Magnaflow (flowmaster is good but noisy) get the system that uses 2.5" in and 3" out. It will come complete w/ 3" tailpipe and use all the factory hangers and exit like your current exhaust.
Ford uses a programmer not a chip. U can fully adjust your shift points and firmness as well as tire size changes and tune specifically for what octane fuel u use. A really good one is Superchips. It is computer specific unlike hypertech which is generic. With all those u should see a gain of 35+ hp and torque.

Okay, its all good. I'll get out the Dremel this weekend and make a big hole in the air box. I looked at it. Hard to believe that all that air goes through that 1-1/2" hole, from the fender, no less!

The cat back is not too far out of my bailiwick, but I'll probably just pay somebody to hang it. I'm getting too old for the heavy stuff.

Also thought about hanging an electric fan behind the radiator, removing the stock unit. Might save a hp or two.

I checked out the Superchips 1715 micro tuner. Looks like this is the one that will advance timing, change shift points, etc. $400 or so. Requires premium fuel. I'll let you know.

I'm hoping for a 40-50hp gain over stock. We'll see.

I have a 99 with the 5.4l and four wheel drive. I have put many mods in it including 285/75R16 Dunlop Rovaer AT tires, 4.10 gears, K&N filter, cut open airbox, platinum+4 plugs, Catback exhaust, engine oil cooler, oversized tranny cooler, a new aluminum radiator, and the Supechips micro tuner.

I have run full performance profiles in the engine and tranny for over a year, using 87 octane gas. I have not had any detonation or hesitation problems, nor any high temp issues. I do use mid grade 90 octane when I tow, and it seems to give better mileage.

So don't be afraid of the "requirement" of premium fuel for the Superchips programmer. It is my firm belief that this is to protect themselves from any claims from people trying to say that they didn't get the power they were promised.