I understand the concept of limiting the amount of torque that the engine will make or send through the tranny (below a certain speed) to extend transmission life. After studying the 11 page thread on all the different Smarty Jr settings/combinations I have a question...does the (Smarty reprogrammed) ECM also control tranmission personality characteristics, such as shift points, line pressure (usually done by the valve body, effecting felt shift firmness) and torque converter looseness or tightness (stall speed)? Thanks.

 

stall speed no, well maybe if you are slipping it. i dont think it controls line pressure either

 

Nope, Smarty does not address any of the TCM functions.

You will find with the 05+ trucks this ends up causing problems that were not there stock because the OE programs cannot be adjusted. Shuttle shift will almost always be more obvious, and, the wear on the direct clutches will increase dramatically becuase of the low OE line pressures.

DTT Shift Enhanser is almost a must to keep the shifts and shuttling in check with TQ management removal. One can do it by building a VB correctly but that is a time consuming effort and takes some testing to get things correct.

The biggest thing you need to know is the more TQ management removal the better the truck feels at low rpms and the more fun it is to drive. This comes at a price in the trans department unless you address it also.

I have pictures of the damage that will ensue.

 

<The biggest thing you need to know is the more TQ management removal the better the truck feels at low rpms and the more fun it is to drive. [B]This comes at a price in the trans department unless you address it also.>[/B]

This is the key piece of information that I have been seeking...at the hp level that a Smarty Jr/Quad Boost Fooler/Stage 2 intake air filter-manifold set/muffler replacement combo of mods will produce (anyone care to take a guess at what that hp level might be?)...what changes do I need to make before hand so that my tranny will live a long and happy life? I don't race or do boosted launches and would turn the settings back to stock or near stock if towing...but like anyone else, I'm sure I will enjoy the improvements that I will have made and want to feel them on occasion.

Will a Goerend TC/VB do the trick or will I have to go with a complete tranny R&R? Thanks.

 

TQ 3 is too much for the stock trans, specifically the direct clutches will suffer. The HP settings are not as critical as a lot of that is obvious in the higher rpm's but the TQ will eat things down low. There is a reason the TQ management is there to begin with.

The lower 2 settings of the Jr are not too bad as long as Tq management is 1 or 2, the high setting and aggressive driving is going to eventually cause issues.

Combine 60 HP and TQ 3 and its only a matter of time.

A TC will make a big differnece in how the power is applied, a custom VB will address most of the issues in pressure, or, a shift kit will do the same thing for less money.

With extra pressures you need a billet band strut and anchor, billet front servo with better seals, and might as well do a billet accumulator. From what you have described, that will make your trans much better and longer lived.

You can still break it but it won't break the bank to build.

 

Sounds like I can install the Smarty first but I had better be real disciplined with the settings and start a Goerend fund. Thanks for all the advice.