Aftermarket CRD TC/Tranny/TCM Info

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2007 9:15 pm

RedStapler wrote:

Today I had lunch with my mother who is the office admin for the university motorpool here in Reno.

After lunch and touring the shop I was talking with the head mechanic about the TC failure rates on the CRD relative to 1500 RAM with a HEMI.

He offered an interesting observation. The camshaft vibration on any 4 cylinder is going to be worse that a 6 or 8, but more so with a diesel and its high compression ratios creates more stress & vibration that a larger gas engine with the same amount of torque.

This has been mentined before and this link was given.
http://www.epi-eng.com/ET-PistonExcit.htm
I think he means Crankshaft. Basically our engine is kind of big for a 4 cylinder diesel and gives two very good thumps on the crank shaft for every revolution. A 8 cylinder spreads it out over 4 lesser thumps :roll:

Torque rating are a average over all 360 degrees and getting that average means two very big hits in short spaces

chrispitude · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 12:30 pm

Does anyone have any towing experience with the Suncoast converter? We just put payment down on a 27' Holiday Rambler, which will be up near the limit of the CRD's capability. I'm wondering how the tighter torque converter will affect towing. From the reading I've done, a lower stall means less heat which means a happier transmission.

- Chris

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 2:08 pm

chrispitude wrote:

Does anyone have any towing experience with the Suncoast converter? We just put payment down on a 27' Holiday Rambler, which will be up near the limit of the CRD's capability. I'm wondering how the tighter torque converter will affect towing. From the reading I've done, a lower stall means less heat which means a happier transmission.

- Chris

Wow. Hope it works out. My guess is that wet and loaded this rig may push 7K!

chrispitude · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 2:21 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

Wow. Hope it works out. My guess is that wet and loaded this rig may push 7K!

Hi Dave,

Thanks, me too.

You're right on the money, GVWR is 7350. We will need to be careful to travel dry (unload the tanks before pulling out, etc.) and we're installing a Hensley Arrow hitch for the best possible sway control. Dry weight is 4300lbs which is not bad for a 27' trailer (it's really a 26') and the bottom is enclosed for smooth airflow, no exposed plumbing or frame members. We know it won't be a "hitch and forget about it" tow, but with some patience and common sense, I hope it will do fine. And if the CRD just isn't up to it, we also have a 2005 Tundra (7100lbs limit, yards of wheelbase length). The CRD can definitely handle the weight, and I'm hoping with the Hensley it can handle the length.

It will be a learning experience, and I'll be sure to report back and let everyone know what I find out.

- Chris

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 2:45 pm

Of course one can pull nearly any weight it is the stopping and the swaying (with a short wheel base) that gets you. What brake controller are you installing?

I am a pretty confident tow because I become crazy conservative. The problem generally is the other guy that is just too stupid and pulls out in front of you without enough room, or not knowing that your approaching a serpentine 4.5% downgrade until you are on it.

Report back!!

chrispitude · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 2:52 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

Of course one can pull nearly any weight it is the stopping and the swaying (with a short wheel base) that gets you. What brake controller are you installing?

We're installing a Prodigy Tekonsha inertial controller. It is spoken of pretty highly on most boards. If you have any experiences with the CRD up at this end of its capabilities, I'd be interested in hearing about them - perhaps on a different thread in this section, as not to be off-topic.

Speaking of the thread topic - surely those early Suncoast TC adopters have something to share after a weekend of time away from work!

- Chris

DnA Diesel · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 3:34 pm

chrispitude wrote:

Cowcatcher wrote:

Of course one can pull nearly any weight it is the stopping and the swaying (with a short wheel base) that gets you. What brake controller are you installing?

We're installing a Prodigy Tekonsha inertial controller. It is spoken of pretty highly on most boards. If you have any experiences with the CRD up at this end of its capabilities, I'd be interested in hearing about them - perhaps on a different thread in this section, as not to be off-topic.

Speaking of the thread topic - surely those early Suncoast TC adopters have something to share after a weekend of time away from work!

- Chris

Tekonsha Prodigy is the one to get. You will absolutely need to install sway bars too. I was towing my parent's '71 Glendette 21' with a Reese full sawy kit...had to move the sway shackles on the trailer's hitch/frame a few times to get the rig perfectly straight when the sway bar cams are perfectly centered on the hitch followers....but the result is worth it. I last towed the trailer with a '99 Chev Tahoe, which I thought was pretty short wheelbase, but at 117" was still more than a foot longer than the Lib.

You are going to be beyond the maker's tow rating for the Lib, not that it won't do it, but you're safety margin will be very thin at what will likely be the worst time - when you really need it....be very careful to make sure your brake controller engagement and gain settings are properly set up and be prepared to get on the controller to get trailer braking happening ASAP and keep your self form jacknifing if you don't have things tweaked. Smooth yet expeditious application of trailer brakes through the controller is a skill/practice that all drivers who tow larger rigs should be comfortable with. Jacknife = bad.

Cheers,
Duey

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

chrispitude wrote:

Does anyone have any towing experience with the Suncoast converter? We just put payment down on a 27' Holiday Rambler, which will be up near the limit of the CRD's capability. I'm wondering how the tighter torque converter will affect towing. From the reading I've done, a lower stall means less heat which means a happier transmission.

- Chris

No towing (yet) but I just returned from a 120 mile trip in extremely heavy Interstate traffic, with long high speed caravans of cars miles in length. I can't believe this is the same vehicle - especially when passing at 65-85 - it just takes off like a rocket and it's so quiet now. That old tc was making noise to the point that it was a real physical grind on personal comfort level. Now its quiet and smooth - as smooth as any gas engine. The passing power is noticeably better, and it stays locked up instead of instantly dropping out and screaming revs when flooring it. It definitely stays in the power band. Good job Ron at SunCoast. This CRD is a blast to drive again.

One other fix - my heater socket plug on my new fuel head was overheating again. I used some battery terminal cleaner to clean the plug and socket, then dried it and put on some dielectric contact paste - problem solved! Before it was so hot it would burn your hand to touch it. Now, after 120 miles, it is cool to barely warm at all. Must have been some bad contact on those plug pins causing some problem. I got the idea from TDI clubbers who had electrical problems on their glow plug harness - they use DeOxxit - I found some other similar product at Autozone.

hatchetman · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2007 7:13 pm

I towed a 150 Coachmen Blast(18'9") toyhauler that weighs in at about 4150 dry. Hauled my 600 Polaris Sportsman(740#) 4'wheeler to Harlan, KY a couple weekends ago. Total weight was probably right at 5000#. It does have a large frontal area of at least 80 sq. ft. It's not so much the weight, but the frontal area. One some of the hills between Charleston, WV and Harlan, KY on route 119 it was slow going and could only do about 40-45 mph unless I would let the engine run at 3500 rpms. I got about 13 mpg. The prodigy is the way to go for a brake controller. I had mine set on level 2 boost. I do think I'm going to install a sway control cause the rig moved me a bit when semi's passed me. I want to get the Suncoast torque converter also. Happy towing. :evil:

techTim · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:49 am

anyone that has the new and improved TC etc.. have any more to add? Mpg, seat of the pants feel, anything?..........

I am at around 15K on my '05, bought used with the f37 done previously, listening intently for some of the noises you guys have been describing. What would anyone guess for miles before the new and "improved" oem TC gives up, or starts sounding bad? :?:

tomasnc · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 3:31 am

Do you need to purchase the fueling box FB from SC also?

I am guessing that the new FB will restore power back to the original specs or greater?

Thanks

Tom

chrispitude · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 12:10 pm

Hi all,

I emailed Ron and asked about the possibility of a modest group buy discount to help some of the fence-sitters here. Here is the response I got:

Quote:

Thanks Chris for your interest. At this time we would not be able to
discount due to production time and cost. This converter project was
worked into and between our other diesel converters which I'm behind in
now. (Note I enjoyed that project too, fun truck to drive)However we are
commented to making the best product we can and need your guys input to
keep improving it. Please tell anyone that installs it to note if any
improvements/changes they believe would help performance and driveability.

Thanks Ron

No discount, but he seems interested in any feedback from the early adopters. I'm about to place an order myself, but before I do, is there anything you would change about your TC? Would you want a little lower/higher stall, etc.? Would you change a thing?

Please let us know your thoughts! I want to get this order placed.

I'll be sure to share my experiences once it's delivered and installed, and anyone who cares to drive to zip code 18322 is welcome to try it out.

Thanks,

- Chris

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Chris,

I called Ron at SunCoast and thanked him for the excellent work he did on the converter. It turns out that they have their own CNC machining equipment in house, and do all of their own design and manufacturing. In talking with him, he said that he worked on the converter and tuned it until he felt it was right - he used a Liberty CRD from Kentucky to test it. Ron also said he tuned for efficiency, as the factory converter wasted quite a bit of power. When I mentioned that it appears that mileage has increased 3 to 4 mpg, he said he was not surprised at all.

Some other interesting points - he said when people first started calling about a better TC/tranny for the CRD, it reminded him of 20 years ago when the first pickup diesel truck owners started calling - with the same issues. Ron said that SunCoast will also be offering more transmission performance kits in the future for the 545RFE.

crdmike · **Joined:** Tue May 16, 2006 7:25 pm **Posts:** 138

Exciting! I'll let you know next week.

crawdad-480 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:03 pm **Posts:** 47

I have an 06 CRD in which I had F37 done December of last year. The dealer only replaced the torque converter.
I have not had any leaks or problems with the new torque converter. However I am looking to get the suncoast
torque converter. Is there a way to tell if I have the new style transmission oil pump without have to drop the
transmission? Based upon the julian date stamped on the transmission, it looks like it was built late August of 2005.

Thanks.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 11:59 pm

crawdad-480 wrote:

I have an 06 CRD in which I had F37 done December of last year. The dealer only replaced the torque converter.
I have not had any leaks or problems with the new torque converter. However I am looking to get the suncoast
torque converter. Is there a way to tell if I have the new style transmission oil pump without have to drop the
transmission? Based upon the julian date stamped on the transmission, it looks like it was built late August of 2005.

Thanks.

There was a TSB just before the F37 that replaced one or both of the filters depending on when you had it done. If that TSB was not done before the F37 then it should have been done inconjunction with the F37. There was a window when the filters were not a problem though based on the transmission Julian date not the vehicle date. Check the TSB sticky above for details.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2007 12:49 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

chrispitude wrote:

Does anyone have any towing experience with the Suncoast converter? We just put payment down on a 27' Holiday Rambler, which will be up near the limit of the CRD's capability. I'm wondering how the tighter torque converter will affect towing. From the reading I've done, a lower stall means less heat which means a happier transmission.

- Chris

No towing (yet) but I just returned from a 120 mile trip in extremely heavy Interstate traffic, with long high speed caravans of cars miles in length. I can't believe this is the same vehicle - especially when passing at 65-85 - it just takes off like a rocket and it's so quiet now. That old tc was making noise to the point that it was a real physical grind on personal comfort level. Now its quiet and smooth - as smooth as any gas engine. The passing power is noticeably better, and it stays locked up instead of instantly dropping out and screaming revs when flooring it. It definitely stays in the power band. Good job Ron at SunCoast. This CRD is a blast to drive again.

Does this cure the shuttle problem, or is it fuel or computer related? I noticed that when I did the ORM the shuttle was gone for awhile and now back as bad as ever. I wonder if the lock up clutch has springs to absorb the shock of engine virbration and shake as much standard stick shift clutch plate?

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Shudder problem on mine tracks with air in fuel. Early in 2005, I had a TC lockup-unlockup jerking issue, cured by a long forgotten flash sometime in 2006. Shudder issue disappeared after 2 mods - ORM and elimination of air leak in fuel head. Haven't had an issue since then. TC will not eliminate air in fuel shudder.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2007 10:19 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Shudder problem on mine tracks with air in fuel. Early in 2005, I had a TC lockup-unlockup jerking issue, cured by a long forgotten flash sometime in 2006. Shudder issue disappeared after 2 mods - ORM and elimination of air leak in fuel head. Haven't had an issue since then. TC will not eliminate air in fuel shudder.

Opps

My fault, I just checked the G3 prefilter I install awhile back and it was black and hard to blow through. I changed it and clean the MAP and all is well now.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2007 9:11 am

I ordered the Suncoast TC today. My local shop has the TransGo kit. Installation is scheduled for June 12-13, when I get back from some work-related travel.

- Chris

Aftermarket CRD TC/Tranny/TCM Info

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