4STB OD Tranny? - Lateral-g Forums

rockertype · #1 08-08-2007, 01:24 PM

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?

67bird · #2 08-09-2007, 07:02 AM

I was wondering the same thing. My concerns were the manual valve body on the street. I think I read somewhere that Langer runs one of these in his Firebird. If you check over on the PY forums, there might be more info.

**Steve Chryssos** · #3 08-09-2007, 08:02 AM

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.