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CK5
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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond
- Thread starter mrk5
- Start date
Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
I've been doing a lot of thinking and planning for the controller. I've figured out a few things that I had misunderstood, but that will actually work better.
First, I had mentioned there are 4 modes or tables you can load into the controller. A common example of modes in a pickup might be a regular cruise mode, and then a "tow/haul" button for when you've got a load. In the case of the Quick4 you can have more than just those 2. I thought that each of those modes would need to be used for each of my 3 lo range options. I called and talked to the tech support and it sounds like that is not the case.
In the setup there's a tab for 2wd/4wd Options and this is where you can put in the number of low ranges and their gear ratio.
I get a kick out of the notes saying this is an "exotic" setup.
You will see in the highlighted drop down menu I can select which range I'm in with a click of the knob. So what this will do is just change the math the controller uses to figure out proper shift points NOT change tables like I thought. The tech guy said back in the first version controllers you did have to load a separate table for low range.
Now you do have the option to change the table with the change in low range. This is an option to select in the tab called MULTI-TUNE.
So that being the case, for now I'm just going to do the classic 2 mode setup with a standard mode and tow/haul mode.
Another thing I didn't really understand was the difference between Manutronic and Manual mode. Or why there needed to be a Manual mode when you can just move the shift lever to change gears. I also discussed this with the support guy and understand it now.
The Manual mode is a TRUE manual meaning that if you are in Manual mode and the gear selector is in 3rd gear, the truck will be in 3rd gear no matter what. There is a setting on one of the tabs where you can allow a 1-2 upshift in Manual mode to avoid over revving.
You can see there are a few different ways to activate it like most every feature on this controller.
The Manutronic mode is just an electronic means of shifting manually and it has more built in safety to prevent over revving the engine.
You can see there is an option to have it shift into 1st when you stop. You can also choose to have it do nothing. I plan to use this mostly for mountain driving, especially when coasting down a grade in the mountains. I might also use it on the trail.
Speaking of coasting down a grade, there's also a setting in the MISCELLANEOUS tab where you can boost the line pressure when coast to get more braking effect. You can see below at the top of the screen when you are editing a setting there are notes that pop up telling you a little about what you are working with.
The last thing I was confused about was how to add the other tables. I could find nothing in the interface that said something like "Table 2". Part of the confusion is because they call what I'm showing in the screenshots a "calibration". In reality "table" and "calibration" are kind of interchangeable. So what you do is create a calibration for 1 mode and then an entirely new calibration for the other mode. Then when you upload them to the controller you tell it which table the particular calibration is for. This is the window that pops up when you loading the calibration to the controller.
In my case, the "cruise" calibration will be Table 1 so I'd click that button when uploading to the controller. The tow/haul calibration will be loaded under Table 2. You choose "All Tables" when you only have 1 calibration.
Part of the reason I was confused about this is because I don't have the controller yet to connect for upload so I didn't know how that process worked.
There are some other fun settings to play around with involving the Torque Converter Clutch (TCC).
One tab is TCC-Comander.
The other is even neater, OFF-RODE TCC (I'm assuming the misspelling is intentional).
Essentially you can have the torque converter behave more like a standard transmission clutch when in manual mode. Typically on the trail I'm always manually shifting the transmission so I'm really anxious to see how this works. I'm strongly tempted to see what needs done to allow TCC lockup in first gear so that I would gain full benefit of this feature.
So all this is going to mean I have some wiring to do. I need a switch to activate Manual Mode, another for the Tow/Haul mode, and a third switch to activate the Manutronic mode. I'll also need 2 momentary switch for the Manutronic shifting. If they weren't so expensive, I could add paddle shifters to the steering wheel to operate the manutronic.
Now I'm even more excited to get the transmission installed.
First, I had mentioned there are 4 modes or tables you can load into the controller. A common example of modes in a pickup might be a regular cruise mode, and then a "tow/haul" button for when you've got a load. In the case of the Quick4 you can have more than just those 2. I thought that each of those modes would need to be used for each of my 3 lo range options. I called and talked to the tech support and it sounds like that is not the case.
In the setup there's a tab for 2wd/4wd Options and this is where you can put in the number of low ranges and their gear ratio.
I get a kick out of the notes saying this is an "exotic" setup.
You will see in the highlighted drop down menu I can select which range I'm in with a click of the knob. So what this will do is just change the math the controller uses to figure out proper shift points NOT change tables like I thought. The tech guy said back in the first version controllers you did have to load a separate table for low range.Now you do have the option to change the table with the change in low range. This is an option to select in the tab called MULTI-TUNE.
So that being the case, for now I'm just going to do the classic 2 mode setup with a standard mode and tow/haul mode.
Another thing I didn't really understand was the difference between Manutronic and Manual mode. Or why there needed to be a Manual mode when you can just move the shift lever to change gears. I also discussed this with the support guy and understand it now.
The Manual mode is a TRUE manual meaning that if you are in Manual mode and the gear selector is in 3rd gear, the truck will be in 3rd gear no matter what. There is a setting on one of the tabs where you can allow a 1-2 upshift in Manual mode to avoid over revving.
You can see there are a few different ways to activate it like most every feature on this controller.
The Manutronic mode is just an electronic means of shifting manually and it has more built in safety to prevent over revving the engine.
You can see there is an option to have it shift into 1st when you stop. You can also choose to have it do nothing. I plan to use this mostly for mountain driving, especially when coasting down a grade in the mountains. I might also use it on the trail.
Speaking of coasting down a grade, there's also a setting in the MISCELLANEOUS tab where you can boost the line pressure when coast to get more braking effect. You can see below at the top of the screen when you are editing a setting there are notes that pop up telling you a little about what you are working with.
The last thing I was confused about was how to add the other tables. I could find nothing in the interface that said something like "Table 2". Part of the confusion is because they call what I'm showing in the screenshots a "calibration". In reality "table" and "calibration" are kind of interchangeable. So what you do is create a calibration for 1 mode and then an entirely new calibration for the other mode. Then when you upload them to the controller you tell it which table the particular calibration is for. This is the window that pops up when you loading the calibration to the controller.
In my case, the "cruise" calibration will be Table 1 so I'd click that button when uploading to the controller. The tow/haul calibration will be loaded under Table 2. You choose "All Tables" when you only have 1 calibration.
Part of the reason I was confused about this is because I don't have the controller yet to connect for upload so I didn't know how that process worked.
There are some other fun settings to play around with involving the Torque Converter Clutch (TCC).
One tab is TCC-Comander.
The other is even neater, OFF-RODE TCC (I'm assuming the misspelling is intentional).
Essentially you can have the torque converter behave more like a standard transmission clutch when in manual mode. Typically on the trail I'm always manually shifting the transmission so I'm really anxious to see how this works. I'm strongly tempted to see what needs done to allow TCC lockup in first gear so that I would gain full benefit of this feature.
So all this is going to mean I have some wiring to do. I need a switch to activate Manual Mode, another for the Tow/Haul mode, and a third switch to activate the Manutronic mode. I'll also need 2 momentary switch for the Manutronic shifting. If they weren't so expensive, I could add paddle shifters to the steering wheel to operate the manutronic.
Now I'm even more excited to get the transmission installed.
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Dude! That sounds awesome. I've never considered an aftermarket controller before, but I'm seeing the possibilities. 
There are quite a few people that install them in vehicles that have factory equipped transmission control. You can bump up line pressure and shift points on the fly with the controller which I like because I have a feeling I might want the shifts a little firmer than most. I kinda like that jolt you get with a firm shift.
They have a setting for use with a newer Ford that has the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel that will allow you to use the cruise control buttons to control the Manutronic shifting. The "accelerate" button upshifts and the "coast" button downshifts.
They have a setting for use with a newer Ford that has the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel that will allow you to use the cruise control buttons to control the Manutronic shifting. The "accelerate" button upshifts and the "coast" button downshifts.
Wow that is a lot of options! Cool! Or you could have swapped in a 465.
Haha, or NV4500 like I originally said, haha
In all seriousness, that is a pretty cool controller. And I think for Scott's overall use of the truck, this 4l80e/Magnum205 will be bitchin!
I totally agree! Just electronics scare me...
I like wiring stuff. Scary thing is this makes me start thinking about rewiring the dash so I can make these new things fit better.....
glad you're guinea pigging this for me 
I could do like all the other threads I find about this stuff and post a whole bunch of the set up and then never come back and post about the results and lessons learned after the fact.
Not you, I don't think you would sleep at night.
I just have no time to play with my rig yet in the winter season . . . .
Haha!
I wasn't worried that you would leave us hanging. It's more of a problem I see on other sites.
Oh great another thing I need to add to my crew cab list
The original transmission would hold whatever gear you stick it in without a control box.....
Martin
Martin
This. I understand computers well enough to get into trouble but not well enough to fix that trouble...
I feel like you 3-pedal guys are trying to convince me to take Roseanne Barr to the prom.
You're just upset it's not loud and obnoxious.
