Screwed05

Even with my tuner on a 93 tune. I turn the OD off when cruising 45-65.

FordFrenzy06

I see Edge tuners for $369 on Amazon and Summit. Anybody have a better price?

techrep

iTrader: (1)

buy one used on here... just saw one yesterday for $220 shipped.

FordFrenzy06

Please forgive my ignorance and help me understand why people re-gear if you can just a tuner to adjust shift points. If they are serving basically the same purpose, adding a tuner is a way cheaper option. Why spend $3000 to $4000 when you can spend $400? I must be missing something here.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

you can adjust torque converter lock-up points and shift points, that still leaves you with the same gear ratio your truck has. it helps but, not like re-gearing would.

dukedkt442

They don't serve the same purpose at all. Put it in terms of a mountain bike: taller tires are harder to turn, so it would be like you trying to start out in 10th gear rather than in 1st. Sure you can do it on the flat land, but add some hills or (in your case) a boat or cargo, and the drivetrain has some serious strain. Parts fail. A lower geared rear differential brings it back to starting out in first. All the changed shift points do is change at which point you switch gears on that bicycle, but it doesn't do anything to lessen the strain.

isvend

Best dang explanation about gear ratios I've read.

FordFrenzy06

It seems the real difference would be first gear. Once the truck gets going the shift points are changed by the tuner? I don't drive my truck over 70mph and I don't tow. Again this is a confusing subject for me as I am old and get befuddled by whether I'm losing or gaining sleep during daylight savings time. Please don't poke fun.

dukedkt442

No one's poking fun. The gear ratio still applies even at cruising speed, lugging the engine and beating the **** out of the rod bearings. Enough to cause an issue in the life of the truck? Many variables. But again, shift points have almost nothing to do with engine load between those shifts, especially in steady-state cruising. These trucks were under-powered 6k lb bricks when brand new (as per literally every comparison test of the time period), no reason to further hamper them. Improved shift mapping definitely helps don't get me wrong, but doesn't overcome the gearing. Keeping it to lower speeds is all the more reason to step to a lower gear ratio.

FordFrenzy06

I think I understand now. Even though I can change the shift points I will still be lugging the engine after the upshift between gears. It really is only going to help at cruising speeds by turning a few rpms more. By changing the shift points, instead of cruising at 1400 rpms I'll be turning 1600 or so because the transmission shifted earlier than before.