4TSB OD Tranny?

[rockertype]

Has anyone used one of these (4TSB)? I was getting ready to purchase a 4L80E but just recently heard of this Ford based trans from FB Performance. It's a 3 speed auto with a transbrake & an electric overdrive. They claim it has been used in 3500 lb cars with over 1000 HP with no problems. It also has interchangable bellhousings to fit different motors. Almost sounds too good to be true! Any comparisons to a 4L80E? Is the 4STB just as good?

[Steve Chryssos]

Man is their website confusing. As far as I can tell, it is a manual valve body transmission. Then they have an "E" version, but I can't tell if it is fully electronic. Based on their descriptions, torque capacities are comparable. Gear ratios are similar as well. So it comes down to manual valve body with transbrake vs computer control.

The 4L80E is fully electronic, and in my biased opinion, computer control is the best part. The computer allows you to custom tailor combinations of throttle position, wheel speed, gear selection and lock up control. That means you can set the 4L80E up soft at 7%, 13% throttle angle while setting up the calibration to be progressively more aggressive if you so choose. And since the computer allows you to select between manual and automatic modes, a manual valve body (manual only) seems obsolete.

Manual valve bodies have been around forever. There biggest limitation is shortened transmission life as a result of driver error. Accidentally leave from a stop in high gear and wear is inevitable. And without that computer, you are stuck with the factory shift firmness calibration. And manual valve body transmissions are usually set on "KILL" across the board. It's useful for a street/strip car that is more strip than street. Not sure how useful it will be in a pro-touring car.

Sorry for the biased response, but once you've enjoyed computer control, you will never want to go back to fluid control. And yes, the computer is a breeze to install and set up.

[GMachineDartGT]

The 4STB is an Ford AOD trans with a man valve body and a switch for the OD. AODs are very strong when they are built properly. Only its built by Freddy Brown....

[Steve Chryssos]

Wat about the "E" model. Computer control or manual valve body? There website kinda says both.

[GMachineDartGT]

I would think its all manual.

BTW Steve - Does your shifter work with Keisler's 4L60E electronics that are included in their kits?

[Steve Chryssos]

Yes it does. Keisler runs a rebadged PCS controller.

www.transmissioncontroller.com

[GMachineDartGT]

Thank you Steve.

[cubes]

Wat about the "E" model. Computer control or manual valve body? There website kinda says both.

This is a AODE or the later 4R70W wit a manual valvebody with electronic overdrive AND electronic converter lockup. The 4R70W can handle a lot of abuse if built by the right builder in the correct manner e.g. Bc-Automotive, possibly Lentech.

[Steve Chryssos]

....wit a manual valvebody with electronic overdrive AND electronic converter lockup.....

Sounds like the same capability as the non "E" version. There must be more to it. But if that's the case, there is no electronic line pressure or shift timing capability. You lose the ability to custom tailor the trans to your vehicle specs and persnal preferences. And no automatic mode. Just hard manual shifts all the time. If you forget to downshift at a red light and leave in overdrive, bad things can happen. Likewise if you lose your mind and downshift too far at speed--VERY bad things happen.

Hey Rockertype. Sounds like you are local. If you want, we can meet up and pay FB a visit. That way we can pick their brains together. I want to get to the bottom of this. The one call that I made yielded the same vague shpiel as the webpage. I can also demonstrate, first hand, the value and simplicity of computer tuning, so that you can get good perspective on electronic manual mode vs. an old school manual valve body. My schedule is hectic, but we can figure something out.
/Steve