Auto trans controllers.

[Jaydee]

I'm getting to the stage of looking for a transmission controller, with flappy paddle shifter. My trans is a BTR 95 LE behind a 5 litre Ford engine.
I can't find any listing at all, but surely you could work out which solenoids do what, and wire it accordingly?
JD

[Gav]

There are loads of controllers available nowadays.
As I have told you before though, DTM in Geelong are probably your best bet.

[Jaydee]

Thanks.
I have rung him before. He's talking lots of money. I just want to get more opinions. I've seen a couple of controllers that look good, but I don't know if they can be rewired for any trans.
JD

[Gav]

You get what you pay for.

[glenview289]

Check out Baumann Engineering. I have one controling a Ford 4R70W behind a 351W. It can control paddle shifters, lock out overdrive, and handle multiple programs, i.e. shift points for track usage, shift points for street, ect. Control shifting by RPMS, speed, torque, your choice. Programable through a lap top. Good support!

Bill

[Jaydee]

Thanks Glenview 289.
I did see that one, and it looks impressive. I have e'mailed them in regards to my trans.
JD

[sideshow]

try compushift and try pcs
expect to pay over a grand for a decent model

or if u want to spend 10 bucks get an auto ecu from a ncii fairlane
and wire it up like factory
ive done it before to an eb auto gbox
but u get no wank shift with std auto ecu

[Jaydee]

Thanks Sideshow.
I still have the complete wiring loom from a 91 Fairlane.
Bauman engineering says they are looking into making one.
But I do want the "wanky shift"
JD

[sideshow]

I wired a red willys coupe afew years ago
it had a baumann Trans ecu on a quad can mustang
auto Trans
was bit fiddly learning the software but after afew hours if driving up and down
the highway we sort I got it changing ok
nothing as good as factory ecu
I've got tip tronic units for Toyota and Lexus boxes
but they only run two solenoids for gear changes
where holden and ford have five or seven and working
in a complicated manner hehehe

[Jaydee]

PCS looks like a nice setup. It has all the dials on the box, so you can easily change all the perameters, etc. But there is no listing for the BTR. I've e'mailed them.
It looks like I might just use the original ECU. Hopefully that will wire up easily on it's own without the main ecu.
JD

[sideshow]

it should be fine
I ran an ls1 ecu on an eb v8 and then
the std eb auto ecu on the auto

[hp1050]

Try these guy's always been great when I have used them.

High Performance Automatic Transmissions & Parts - TCI® Auto

[sideshow]

biggest problem si not many people make ecus for ford autos
everything is all gm stuff

[Jaydee]

Thanks guys.
I've e'mailed them all, and no one in America has one or even heard of a BTR trans. I'll do what sideshow suggests and stick to the standerd ecu for now. I can still shift sort of manually using the shifter. Maybe I'll end up getting a manual later.
JD

[sideshow]

I found this info on a 4 spd btr trans
I thought they had more solenoids but looks like only 2 solenoids so similar to Toyota
which is easy to make something using afew relays the only problem would be inhibitor
because on the fords they are a resistor type signal so not good
ive got some Toyota tip tronic units which are for two solenoids aswell but slightly different to the ford ones
if I knew abit more about this type of electronics I recon I could get these to work



all that is required is control over the S1 and S2 solenoids.
1st - S1/S2
2nd - S2
3rd - no power to either solenoid
4th - S1

[sideshow]

more info from this site
http://www.fordmods.com/ford-4l-and-...21574-160.html

if you could create a PIC controller that had 4 programs that could be moved between sequentially then thats all thats needed.

ie. program one would be 12v to S1 and S2, program 2 would be 12v to S2, program 3 would be no power sent to either solenoid, and program 4 is 12v sent to S1.
if you could make the trigger to go between programs in either direction a 12v signal, then we could use any momentary style button, ie. the outer most buttons of the cruise control on a EB fairmont steering wheel, or anything really, could be alot of choices.

if i had the money to buy the hardware and PIC controller id look into the code and do it myself, but i just dont have the time or money atm

[sideshow]

u can also buy one of these
BTR 4 speed Full Manual Transmission Controller - $189.00 : Shiftkits Australia, Performance Shift Kits and Vehicle Electronics

[Jaydee]

Thanks Sideshow.
Reading through that forum has done my head in even more. It looked simple to start with, then guys were breaking band and shafts because of rough shifting. I'll look more into shift kits Australia. It does mention that it's for of road vehicles only?
JD

[sideshow]

hehehe
I do make small shift units for Toyota gboxes but some boxes u cant control line pressure
and u need to run a switch for overdrive and if u want an extra switch for torque converter lockup but I always tell people for an every day car this setup is not preferable because u have to move the gear lever every time u need to change gears
even when slowing down I tell people best of getting something that can control gbox just like a normal auto then u flick a switch to make it manual control
I drove my old 1uz hilux with a tip tronic setup for awhile but it was always tip tronic I could not just put it in D and it drove like a normal car and I would sometimes forget to down shift back to first when stopped at lights so I eventually put it back to factory auto control
the ford auto must have 2 or 3 extra solenoids which do something between or just before a gear change so I guess this is the hard thing to get working and looks like it might hurt the box when these are not hooked up
maybe the gbox needs to be rebuilt a different way if u plan not to use these extra solenoids
nothing controls an engine or a gbox as good as the factory ecu

[Gav]

A dedicated aftermarket trans controller is sounding much simpler than the suggestions being produced in this thread!
The other option is just to manualise the trans. Fit a ratchet shifter so you can't select reverse by accident and you can even buy a simple controller for your lockup converter so it only selects above a set speed.
In hindsight I would still fit a TCI or similar controller. Buy it once, do it properly.