Toys on the way...

[AstroVic]

Well, many of you will remember when I first bought my Marauder, I swore up and down that I'd never touch it - "Bone stock, I tell you!" was how I used to put it - but, you guys have worn off on me.

Today, I've purchased a few toys....er, actually I think Santa Claus ordered them for me....but he used my credit card. Bastid!

I wanted a supercharger, but I don't really have the money for one right now. Perhaps in June when the wife's Yukon XL gets paid off I'll be able to make that leap. For now, the following toys will have to suffice:

- SCT XCal2 from Lidio at Alternative Automotive
- ProGard rear skid plate from Reinhart
- Ford "U-Haul" drain-plug equipped transmission pan from Reinhart
- Ford Racing 4.10 gears from Ebay
- Royal Purple 75W90 differential fluid
- Motorcraft Mercon V transmission fluid

Some new Motorcraft spark plugs and a Motorcraft PCV are also on the "to do" list, as well as a coolant exchange and power steering fluid exchange.

I'm still debating on the Trick Flow axle girdle. One side of me says to go ahead and do it while I'm doing the gears. The other side of me says it's a total waste of $150.

It's a real nice unit and it comes complete with the stud kit and shipping included for $150. I know it's unnecessary for my purposes, but I like the drain plug it has. Same reason I bought the transmission pan, I guess. I can't stand those transmission and differential fluid showers!

It's amazing how quickly a thousand bucks can disappear, isn't it?!

Thoughts, comments, opinions - all are welcome here!

[KillJoy]

NICE!!!!!

Different car man....different car!!!

Enjoy!!!!

KillJoy

[Raudermaster]

You won't regret the tune at all.

[MENINBLK]

Ford "U-Haul" drain-plug equipped transmission pan from Reinhart

AstroVic,

Can you measure the heights of the two pans, Stock vs U-Haul
and tell us if they are the same ?
I need to know if the U-Haul pan is TALLER.
If it is, then it means it holds more Transmission Oil than stock.

[DEFYANT]

Congrats man! You'll be very happy with these mods. Hold off on the coolant change. You'll end up dumping the coolant when you install that supercharger :D.

[Shora]

AstroVic,

Can you measure the heights of the two pans, Stock vs U-Haul
and tell us if they are the same ?
I need to know if the U-Haul pan is TALLER.
If it is, then it means it holds more Transmission Oil than stock.

"u-haul" pan is exactly the same as stock except with a built in drain plug.

[Vortech347]

You don't need the axle girdle. Unless you're making even 500ft-lbs of TQ with slicks they really arn't nessisary. I don't run one on my high powered fox that runs low 11's. I havn't had any problems....

I've heard they leak and the only reall pro is the drain plug but you can just modifiy the stock one.

[fastblackmerc]

Modding an MM.........................

It's not IF you mod it....







It's WHEN you'll mod it!

[Haggis]

You have been assimilated. I told you resistance was futile, welcome to the Collective. :up:

[AstroVic]

The goofy-ass shifting is what really did me in. It didn't take long for me to say, "Hey, this sucks! There's gotta be a way to make this better." Lo and behold, there is. It's a tune!

And since I'm changing the differential fluid anyhow - as a little part of my anal retentative preventative maintenance routine - I might as well give myself some off-the-line responsiveness, right? Along come the 4.10s. :)


You don't need the axle girdle. Unless you're making even 500ft-lbs of TQ with slicks they really arn't nessisary. I don't run one on my high powered fox that runs low 11's. I havn't had any problems....

I've heard they leak and the only reall pro is the drain plug but you can just modifiy the stock one.

Yeah, I think you're right. I'd rather save the $150 and put it toward one of Jason's auto details or something - although he lives about 1,400 miles away from me! Or maybe I could put that $150 toward gas for MV V. :)

[RF Overlord]

"u-haul" pan is exactly the same as stock except with a built in drain plug.^^^what he said^^^

Astro: the girdle, while certainly not needed N/A, is cheap insurance when you have a power adder. If you delete it from your list now, don't forget about it if (when) you get the blower. I have the one from TA Performance and it doesn't leak.

Congrats on the new toys...as other have said, you won't believe the difference the tune and 4.10s will make. You'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner... :D

[magindat]

AstroVic,

Can you measure the heights of the two pans, Stock vs U-Haul
and tell us if they are the same ?
I need to know if the U-Haul pan is TALLER.
If it is, then it means it holds more Transmission Oil than stock.

When I saw them side by side at Reinharts they look the same size.

[magindat]

Astro,
Congrats. I took a huge chain-reaction plunge a couple months ago with the drive train. You'll not regret it.

As for the girdle and cover, I discussed this at length with DR's master mechanic, Steve. His attitude was that it was not NECESSARY, but reletively cheap insurance both from the aspect of changing the fluid (1st) and holding things together (2nd). Also, IMO, don't forget the bling factor. Last but not least, make sure your prospective cover will clear the rear sway bar.

I added a LOT of stress (though still NA) to my diff and Steve said I'd be fine without a girdle and cover, but showed me how to do it myself if I ever got one.

My final opinion? Get one when you have the extra bucks, but you don't NEED it.

All the best and happy driving
Rich

[88LTDCV351]

Myself, I was all about stock at first. But I have a need for more power. My Marauder needs more power. Its stock now and I can't afford anything else. However, I want to consider my options. I want a Trilogy Supercharger but I have to wait until money will allow. Also, a 4.10 but will my gas mileage go down and ability to pass well on the highway? I see Superchips has a tuner for marauder. Any opinions on that? Also, which chip is it that everyone is talking about that smooths the transmission shifting out? THX

[Raudermaster]

Not necessarily smoothen out, it will make them firmer though, and you will notice when the car shifts. Two vendors on here offer the SCT Xcal2, Lidio (Alternative Auto) and Dennis Reinhart (Reinhart Automotive) They both have very good tunes, so do some research and see what people have said about both. 4.10's, I don't have them, but some have said they noticed no decrease, and some other people have said it's minimal, about 1-3 gallons a mile or so. Welcome to the site too!

[fastblackmerc]

Not necessarily smoothen out, it will make them firmer though, and you will notice when the car shifts. Two vendors on here offer the SCT Xcal2, Lidio (Alternative Auto) and Dennis Reinhart (Reinhart Automotive) They both have very good tunes, so do some research and see what people have said about both. 4.10's, I don't have them, but some have said they noticed no decrease, and some other people have said it's minimal, about 1-3 gallons a mile or so. Welcome to the site too!
Welcome to the site... the modding begins!!!!

You will lose about 1 - 2 MPG with the 4.10's and the engine will turn about 200RPM faster at speed, but the way the 4,000lb beast comes off the line - out of the hole is worth it!!! You won't be disappointed. After the 4.10's you'll never get that grin off your face!:D

When you get your tuner, ask them to include a tune for the 4.10's as your speedo will be off by about 5MPH.

[88LTDCV351]

Thank you very much. Gives me a good idea were to start once I have $$. Also, I'm driving a long commute currently so not ready to lose the miles per gallon yet. I read about Dennis' chip in a few other threads. Its a power programmer like superchips, etc.? Can you change back to stock when necessary?

[Loco1234]

Its a haldheld device which will hold three seperate programs....
One program can be the stock program....
It will connect to your OBD-II port and flash the onboard computer....

[88LTDCV351]

Thanks. If I get a 410 will I loose some of the acceleration at high speeds, like on the highway? Like a trade off, either a 410 for the power at low end or stick with stock for power at the high end?

[Vortech347]

No. Your car still won't "tach out" in OD till like 175mph.