Which mild Fuel Plate for my 1997 Auto 4x4??
 

#8 or #10 Fuel Plate Kit??

Gauges are on the way, so I'm about ready for a fuel plate for my 97 truck. It currently has 85k miles on the stock engine. The transmission is stock except for a TransGo-TFOD Diesel shift kit.

The shift kit was installed/tuned for a mildly modified engine per conversations with TransGo. The transmission now shifts crisply, and had no signs of abnormal wear when the shift kit was installed. I'm planning on a Goerend converter, but want to see how good the stock tranny is with the new plate first. The truck is used for general hauling, and also will occasionally be towing a 5'ver that weighs 9500lbs when loaded.

My goal is to wake the truck up a bit, while keeping the stock tranny alive as long as possible. I know you can grind your own plate, but I would like to know what HP/Torque I'm putting on the trans so for that reason I'm looking at a Power Kit from TST or PDR Diesel.

TST shows a 97 auto with a #8 plate at: 230hp/605 ft-lbs.
PDR Diesel shows a 97 auto with a#10 plate at: 220hp/570 ft-lbs.

TST website chart doesn't reccomend the #10 plate for my truck, but the PDR website recommends the #10 for most applications. I've been leaning towards the TST #8 plate, but in many searches here I have found comments saying the #10 plate has a smoother profile (no steps?) and is easier to tune.

Which plate should I go for?

I have had a 10 plate in my 97 for about 5 years. I like it very well. I have to say that I think the hp numbers you got for a 10 plate are wrong though. My trany started sliping within a month after I installed the fuel plate. I think 240-250hp would be more like it. When my trans went I had the mods listed in my sig. and I would estimate that I was around 275hp. I would suggest that you get a new tc before hp upgrades or at least have your line presure increased to give your tc lock up a little more holding power. 240-250hp is the most your stock trans. will take. I could overpower my tc lock at will with the mod in my sig. I now have a full goerend trans and more mods so I am around 350hp now.
P.S. If I had it to do all over I would leave my truck the way it was in my sig. plus a new TC and timing at 15 deg. I could pull my 14k 5er as well with those mod as I can now plus my milage was 2+mpg better than they are now in all situations. I think for towing that is a great combo and the truck will hang with any of the new trucks power wise. I almost forgot I would also put in a manual toggle switch for the tc lock so that you can keep it unlocked or lock it in any situation you get in. There are times when I unlock my tc to keep my rpm in the sweet spot (1800-2000rpm ). Then if you are towing on back roads where you are only doing 25-40 mph you can lock the tc to keep your trans oil temps down.

I would go with the 10. IIRC TST bases their recomendations on emissions and stock clutch/tranny.

A 10 is prob the most common plate, and I have to think there is a good reason for that. (I have personally never run one)

The horse power figures I quoted are from the TST and PDR websites:
http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=119
http://www.pdrdiesel.com/catalog/12V-35-1.html

The TransGo shift kit I installed is supposed to have raised line pressures. The shifts are much quicker and crisper now anyway. How many miles were on your tranny when you put on the #10 plate? Could you slip it at all when stock?

Don't bother buying a plate. IMHO its simply a waste of 150$, Just grind out your stock one.

Also, you can slip a stock tranny with the whole motor being stock.

I know where you got your hp figures. I got my plate from Piers and when I got mine they just estimated what the hp would be. The 10 plate was made for the 215hp stick shift trucks and to my knowledge have not been dynoed in an automatic truck with the 180 pump. No my tc did not slip when my engine was stock. I put the plate in with 60k on the truck. The 10 plate works great with the automatic trans.

Are all the plates you see for sale the same (number for number)? The charts seem to have the same figures on them no matter what site they are on.

Unless its been on the rollers it's a guess. No point in being nitpicky about a few hp if all you have is a guess...

You might want to try sliding your stock plate foward w/a boost elbow & see how you like that,then bump the timing to 15-16 degrees
Don't forget some guages too.