CHUZIE's 4R70W install

[mlogan24]

Modified the existing program.

Just a friendly reminder to chuzie or anyone else running an AOD. You can upload your shift files here. My primary reason for setting up the group was to share TCS shift files.

 

[chuzie]

I'm a member. I will upload my most recent files when I get home in a few days.

 

[zerostar2410]

Chuzie,
did you have any problems with the front drive shaft contacting the oil pan?

i just finished installing my 4r70w from an explorer and seeing the the front drive shaft cant be installed because it contacts the oil pan. any suggestions other than beating the pan for clearance? i need about 2 inches of clearance.

 

[chuzie]

Ugh.

You can get a thinner shaft (not ideal if you have large tires and go off road.

Install a suspension lift.

Find a different oil pan.

Cutout and weld oil pan for clearance.

Get taller motor mounts.

Lower transmission.

None of these are great options. I have a 5.5" lift so it never was an issue. Maybe someone else has a better solution.

What oil pan and lift are you running?

 

[Rox Crusher]

I have 3.5" lift and it wasn't a problem on mine. I think my new driveline was made from heavy duty smaller tubing. I have the steel oil pan on my Explorer 5.0. Don't know of that helps any.

CHUZIE, I recently changed my gearing from 3:50 to 4:88 and love them with my 33" tires. I'm wondering about changing some shift points and wondering what you did (and why) ?

 

[chuzie]

I like my 4:56 with 35's but think 5:13 would be better. Maybe one day.

Anyway, I tuned my shift points such that it did not hunt between gears at common speeds like 35, 45, and 65 mph and modified TC lockup logic since it can hunt as well with different combinations of speed and throttle position.. Wanted to make sure it utilized a decent amount of RPM before shifting so it doesn't bog down.

Some folks like to force it to go to 2nd when at a stop to prevent creeping but I didn't find it necessary.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Chuzie,
did you have any problems with the front drive shaft contacting the oil pan?

i just finished installing my 4r70w from an explorer and seeing the the front drive shaft cant be installed because it contacts the oil pan. any suggestions other than beating the pan for clearance? i need about 2 inches of clearance.

2" is a lot of interference. What transfer case and front axle are you running?

With a stock Bronco D20 transfer case and Bronco D44 front axle I had plenty of room with just going down to a 2" shaft. That was with a stock stamped transmission pan. You don't need a ton of clearance, the transmission side of the driveshaft has very little movement.

As for strength, with lower gears the stress on the driveshaft is lowered (spins faster instead). I have not heard of any problems from those who have been running a 2" front shaft.

 

[zerostar2410]

I don't have any lift yet. Duffs monster 3.5 is in the mail. I was hoping that would correct the problem but 2" seems like a lot of interference. Running stock Dana 20 and Dana 44 front axle. I already have the extreme motor mounts. Stock 4r70w oil pan.

I'm running 4r70w with AA kit so I used the stock crossmember.

How would lowering the transmission solve my problem? Seems like it would contact even more or make me have to clearance pan more.

 

[chuzie]

Just read your post again. You are talking transmission pan or engine oil pan?

 

[zerostar2410]

My bad. Transmission pan. Contacts about two inches on the drivers side. So much that I can't even attach shaft to D20

 

[Broncobowsher]

Post a picture. I cannot see how you could possibly have 2" of interference. That's nearly the whole width of the driveshaft.

 

[zerostar2410]

I won't be able to post a picture until thur. Bronco is at a buddy's house where we work on it.

It's not that it interfers horizontally. It's the vertical that's the problem. Hoping suspension lift takes care of it but I wanted to see what you guys thought.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I am going to say no. The driveshaft has very little travel at the transfer case side. That is how you can get away with pretty tight clearances. The driveshaft to transmission pan clearance pretty much has zero change regardless of the amount of lift.

 

[Rox Crusher]

Something doesn't seem right with your combination.........is your front end a high pinion D44 or something ?

I would guess that the SL should solve it as you are lowering the front diff relative to the frame mounted transfer case.

 

[chuzie]

If it's that close I would be concerned about it impacting as soon as he hits a whoopdedoo.

 

[Rox Crusher]

If it's that close I would be concerned about it impacting as soon as he hits a whoopdedoo.

I would agree based on his description.

I'm using the same combo as he is and the area he is talking about is indeed a bit tight but as bows her correctly said, it doesn't have a big range of motion there.

As far as I can tell, the difference at the moment is the lift. I ran mine without bump stops at Moab last years and nothing hit. I wished up and added bump stops this year though.

I'll be interested to see what this turns out to be after we see the pics.

 

[zerostar2410]

Just a stock D44 with stock suspension lift as of now.

Could raising the transmission help? Or would that just bring driveshaft up with trans because it's attached to transfercase.

 

[Rox Crusher]

I would be surprised if you can raise the transmission.

On mine, I used the modified stock crossmember from WCB Broncos. I used the stock mounting position with slightly longer cross member to frame brackets.

I have new stock height body mounts and the transfer case was right up under the cross brace on the underside of the floor.

So, unless you have a bunch of body lift I doubt you can raise it. Even if you did, I doubt it would solve the problem.

Just see what you got after you install the lift.

 

[sicaz66]

Bringing up an old thread... But instead of cutting the tail shaft couldn't you just put a 1/2" AA spacer?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Bringing up an old thread... But instead of cutting the tail shaft couldn't you just put a 1/2" AA spacer?

Most of the time we are scrambling to get every bit of length possible on the rear driveshaft for the best possible angle. Half an inch doesn't sound like much, but every little bit adds up. Besides spacers cost money, trimming the shaft costs a buck as you burn up a cut off wheel. Trimming is a WIN-WIN.