What's new

4R100 Upgrades?

clodhopper

Get off my lawn, punk!
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
564
Messages
799
Loc
Out on the plains, Colorado
My 4R100 lives behind a 7.3 (more or less stock power). I have been pretty tough on it the last 100k and she is starting to slip and is slow to shift. Time for a rebuild. Supposedly the PO did a rebuild with "all the good upgrades", but that was many years ago and I didnt ask what all was done.

What are the go-to improvements on the 4R100 I should be considering? Already have the 6.0 cooler on the truck. Planning a deep pan, but the derale looks goofy with the through tubes, so still looking. The shop doing the rebuild will be doing an RV style but is open to adding other upgrades. Suggestions?

Triple disk billet TC still the go-to? Looking to stay under 1k for the TC, so who has the goods?
 
Google it. There's tons of shit out there thanks to the powerstroke guys wanting to put 1000hp through these.

The 4R100 is already a pretty decently upgraded E4OD. If you're making stockish power then a well done rebuild with a couple of the little things (IIRC there's a couple holes to drill for extra lube and some bushings you should stake and other free mods like that) should be all you need. You don't need to get crazy with billet parts.
 
You should add some tech to the board and do a write up on a 4R100 build!

The only E4OD I own doesn't need a rebuild and is getting ditched in favor of a manual because project truck deserves fun transmission. Maybe I'll do a 4EAT guide.

The ATSG manual has been bootleg'd so many times it took me 5min to google them up

https://shop.ukrtrans.biz/wp-content/uploads/catalogs/E4OD.pdf

https://shop.ukrtrans.biz/wp-content/uploads/catalogs/E4OD_UPDATE.pdf

Like I said, the diesel guys have been figuring out how to put some serious power through these for 20yr now. You can learn a lot by googling around for E4OD upgrades and reading. But 99% of the upgrades are shit that the 4R100 comes with so a 4R100 with extra frictions and a harsher valve body (less slip) gets you 90% of the way there. Billet internals and converters as needed for your power level get you the rest of the way there.

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/0703dp-maximizer-e4od-towing-transmission/

https://www.becontrols.com/techguide_6.shtml

https://www.oilburners.net/threads/e4od-post-mortem-rebuild-and-upgrades.89189/
 
The only E4OD I own doesn't need a rebuild and is getting ditched in favor of a manual because project truck deserves fun transmission. Maybe I'll do a 4EAT guide.

The ATSG manual has been bootleg'd so many times it took me 5min to google them up

https://shop.ukrtrans.biz/wp-content/uploads/catalogs/E4OD.pdf

https://shop.ukrtrans.biz/wp-content/uploads/catalogs/E4OD_UPDATE.pdf

Like I said, the diesel guys have been figuring out how to put some serious power through these for 20yr now. You can learn a lot by googling around for E4OD upgrades and reading. But 99% of the upgrades are shit that the 4R100 comes with so a 4R100 with extra frictions and a harsher valve body (less slip) gets you 90% of the way there. Billet internals and converters as needed for your power level get you the rest of the way there.

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/0703dp-maximizer-e4od-towing-transmission/

https://www.becontrols.com/techguide_6.shtml

https://www.oilburners.net/threads/e4od-post-mortem-rebuild-and-upgrades.89189/

I was referring to the OP. A converter upgrade, a valve body upgrade, and a deeper pan is all the 4r100 really needs to live behind a sub 500 hp truck.
 
I was referring to the OP. A converter upgrade, a valve body upgrade, and a deeper pan is all the 4r100 really needs to live behind a sub 500 hp truck.

Deeper pan doesn't matter IMO. The extra thermal mass can help you skate by without additional cooling on the drag strip but a bigger cooler is a better solution for most.
 
Idk shit about 4r100s.

Is there any interchange different between 95-97 and superduty 98-04 trans?

Connector plug or stupid shut that will fuck a swap up?

My sd has 295k on it and afaik never been touched. Ocassionaly doest some wierd stutter but no slip or missed shift. Just planning ahead
 
4R and E4 are not the same, just similar. You don't need the hard parts for a 4r that you would need building a E4.

For Low to Mid power a stock trans is fine, Just rebuild with Quality parts. Having just gone through this on my E4 RacerXusa had the best deal for me on parts.

Don't skimp on the torque convertor. Don't fall for the low stall gimmick or anything like that.

Use a good shift kit like a Tugger 2. You don't have to set it up for hard shift, but it does improve fluid flow and cooling. Also converts TC to on off vs PWM application.

Sonnax has some upgrades not provided by those two as well.

had read the the mechanical diode (one way clutch) in the 4R is troublesome.

New bushings are important in any trans. thrust bearings/washers is a toss up, but cheap to do while you are there.

Stake the front bushing. Watch for the correct seal material especially on the TC seal. The diesel generates too much heat for the cheap seal.

Extra clutch kits are a mixed bag as well, extra clutches means thinner plates. They don't handle the heat as well. I ended up buying the extra clutch kit just to have enough parts to get the clearances I wanted, I paid no attention to whether or not there was an extra clutch in it.

I think I updated the sprags as well just knowing they had age on them and had them fail before.

I think the 4R uses molded or bonded pistons, which are great, but you need to buy new pistons, reusing is like using a lip seal over. Not the best idea. I had the option to use those but since I wasn't having trouble already I didn't see the need for the extra $100.

I used the Racerx torque convertor. Seemed like the best deal. Good reviews. Not the cheap one though, they offer 2. They say they are built to match your truck, but I doubt that is not the case. It did however take a couple weeks to get.

A google search for "4R upgrade" will lead you down a rabbit hole but you can decide what you feel is important to upgrade. I didn't do every upgrade my trans made it 170k and still looked new inside with heavy towing and mild power improvements for most of that. It is easy to think you need all those things but you don't. Just do careful inspections during tear down and decide from there.

Since you are having a shop do it. No telling what you will really get in the end. You can't be there watching the whole process, but you would hope they have some knowledge of tear down and inspection as well as some experience with the 4R. I will say It cost me over $2k in parts alone. about $900 was just the triple disc billet convertor. Even if they could buy decent quality parts for 20% less. It gives you a good idea what kind of build you are getting based on the cost.

Anyone getting a trans built and installed for $2500, or probably even $3k is not getting the best parts or upgrades.
 
Last edited:
If you want to do some real upgrades the guys at Warren diesel have a nice package that has machined parts to add clutches without running thin plates. I was planning on going with their stuff and building it myself until I just ran out of time and bit the bullet on a BTS. All said and done I probably only spent 1000-1500 more having BTS do it than if I had done it myself, and I’m sure I got more upgrades than what I was planning.
 
Welp, got the word from Brian.

The 4R100 Transmission is $5000.00 plus shipping. Usually around $300.00 to Colorado. We do require your core. You simply put your core in the crate your new transmission comes to you in and give me a call. I will handle all the shipping arrangements from this end for you.

That is a complete unit with Brian’s 13’’ Multi Disc Torque Converter. He uses all his upgraded internals and he custom tunes it just for your trucks set up. It will be tuned for your HP, modifications, weight, towing weight, tire size, etc.

I am sure his product is worth it. No issues with the price. Other than my old beater doesnt deserve that kind of class. Sad face.
 
How about a ford reman?

call dealer, get price and part number, find an online dealer with better pricing....
 
Ford remans where the hot thing for awhile, not sure if they still are. But they had like a 3 year unlimited warranty, but yes that does not come with the TC
 
Top Back Refresh