taterfarm

truck is a 04.5 with 190k miles. I've only put around 8k on it since buying it earlier this year, never had any shift issues, trans runs cool according to the edge CTS display. truck has the smarty jr on it now, easy driving for the most part, light plowing and little towing. No plans for more power than what the smarty jr can do.

Problem started suddenly, I believe the stater in the torque converter is bad, it wont release or freewheel at a stop. The truck wants to push through the stop and takes right off when you release the brakes. I can feel the lockup apply and release in 2nd manual and works normal in 3rd and overdrive so I do not think its the lockup solenoid, truck doesn't stall either.

question is do i just replace the TC or do a full rebuild? the prior owner said it had some trans work before, he thought it might have been bands and solenoid but wasn't sure to what extent, all his work was done at the dealer. I dont want to waste my time doing just the TC to have the rest go bad a little while later then at the same time I dont know as though I need to rebuild a transmission that still shift and pulls just fine.

Im going to drop the pan tomorrow and see what there is for debris in there and check the band adjustments. Any input is greatly appreciated, I'd like to hear similar experiences, torque converter suggestions for mild power and thoughts on dong just the TC and if it will be damaged if the rest of the trans ends up failing shortly after.

Thank you

Asher

I ripped mine out earlier this year, rebuilt it, installed a billet input, HD flexplate, upgraded clutch packs, HD bands, GM conversion, transgo kit, triple disk convertor.. I think I got away with about $1800 in parts...

The convertor and input was the biggest expense but the best buy I could find was DPC, great guy to work with and very fast...

You could save a decent amount going with just a heavier single disk convertor, but I think you would be much better off opening that tranny up and looking at the clutches... My disks where toast and somehow tried to jump a tooth on the input shaft so that made them hang up and start self distructing..

check out patc transmissions web site, you should be able to get all the parts you need if you want to tackle the job...

Here is a link to my build list...

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...report-321942/

Patc site:

48RE Performance Rebuild at PATC 48RE 47RE 46RE

DPC site:
Diesel Performance Converters | Best Diesel Torque Converters


You might jump over to DPC's forum and ask your tranny question there, those guys seem very helpful..



If I did it again, I wouldn't do anything differently... about 10k on the
new tranny, pulling my jeep and a large skid steer through the Ozark hills (smarty on lvl 7 w/no tq management) and mp-8... Heavy on the throttle when empty and the fluid still is as pink as the day I poured it in...

pmtg

Goerend sells a kit with all the goodies... GT1 Basic Overhaul Kit for 2003-2007 48RE. It comes with a lip-seal installing that works like a charm....I messed up a lip seal until I found out I had the installer in the kit ha

I added a DPC single disc reman converter, a TFOD-diesel shift kit (instruction provided are kinda crappy), and an eBay upgraded flexplate. Did the work myself and 25,000 miles later it's still going strong. I was ~$1700 (TQ $450, shift kit $100, trans kit $750, ebay flexplate $100, barring tool $50, new solenoid & transducer, shipping costs, and new fluid).

I upgraded before I had issues and all looked well inside my transmission, so being that you have an issue I would just go through it all. It was all straight forward, the thing that got me was re-installing the torque converter-to-flexplate bolts....gotta zip the first one, torque it down, then backoff....rotate to the next bolt, zip it in but keep it a tad loose, and so on. Then go back to each one for final torque. If you torque right away on the first bolt, you can't always align the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc bolts in their holes.

Oh and my transfer case was a bear to separate from the trans tailhousing.

All in all, it sounds more intimidating than it really is, but I also had access to my work's garage and jacks and tools so I wasn't working in the dirt.

taterfarm

Thanks for the replies. Im thinking i'll probably open it up and do the rebuild, the main reason I dont want to is that my neighbor thinks dodge transmissions are all junk and wont buy a dodge for that reason. My brother has an 03 that looks just like mine, his bands are worn out and needs a complete rebuild, I was hopeing I would have to do mine at the same time, this isnt going to look good.


I do see a lot of similar posts from the 06 trucks that had the bad batch of convertors, did those guys all have full rebuilds or just swap out the tc and flush the system?




What did you guys do for the overdrive unit? just take it somewhere to have the bomb done or is there a safe way to do it in the shop?

taterfarm

Asher, what did you use for a rebuild kit? Was it something complete from the PATC site or did you buy specific parts?

PMTG, how do you like the single disc? I might go with that too. I dont tow very heavy, and only have the smarty jr. I do plow snow but its just my own driveway and I, not tearing around when I do it. Im not sure how long Ill keep this truck, the engine is likely to stay stock. I have my old 92 to play with, its cheaper to buy performance parts for it, haha.

pmtg

It works well for me. I like to get on it now and then, but my average daily trip doesn't involve foot-to-floor type of driving. Triples and singles converters are basically the same thing until you get to lockup. And it's a slippery slope, once you go for a triple you probably should get a billet input to protect your transmission investment. At that point, you've got enough holding power for more injector. But then you could use a bigger turbo to get more out the injectors. Then you add some head studs for piece of mind. And so on!! I've finally been honest with what I want and honest with how I drive it....and have saved a lot of money along the way by just being happy I go from A to B reliably.

For what you have and how you'd use it, a single would be fine. All my shifts are smooth as well as lockup....you can feel them, but they don't bang in. It's about perfect...one, it's easier on hardware and two, it doesn't bang in on a slippery winter road and kick the rear out.

taterfarm

Yeah, Im sitting here reading about all the options on the PATC sight and adding up the cost. I started to think about going with the billet whatever and not having to worry about it but now Im thinking of what the next weak link is and what that is going to cost. With my luck I'll go with the all billet and tripple disc then get excited and my transfer case or axle will explode. Maybe I should just keep it simple and stay off the throttle.

taterfarm

Is the flex plate still necessary with the single disc? I see a lot of people replacing them, are they a common problem?

patdaly

They are a common high mileage item even at stock levels. I think most people would use my logic, if I am in there I am going to do it once, hence the upgrade.

I do know of one owner who went with the upgraded flexplate and promptly sheared that one, but it had to be a fluke, they swapped it out and haven't had a problem since.

I do have to ask why Dodge rebuild kits are so stinking high though, a 4L60E master kit is like 185 bucks....... and it has more stuff.

taterfarm

I'm on the revmax site now looking at their combo kit. I see they have a list of upgrade options and have the sprag assemblies and the bushing kits, it says that all rebuilds should have them replaced? Are you guys adding all these little pieces or just inspecting the old stuff as it comes out of the trans? Are most people just adding the master kit and calling it good? Ive read about several people that like the revmax converters too, Im comparing their single to DPC and the ones on the PATC site. Revmax has a better description of how the internals are build, with more billet parts. Might have to call DPC and see whats inside theirs.

Patdaly, I was thinking the same thing, I have a brother that is a chevy fan and most of his rebuild kits are about half price.

Asher

I pieced mine together, a couple months earlier I did the shift kit, servo/piston install but it didn't seem to solve my shifting problems... then my convertor started slipping when locked up... I figured it was time to do a little upgrading... The original plan was just a simple single disk convertor, HD flex plate, and decent soft parts... It all went down hill from there, I plan on keeping my truck for a long time, and plan on pulling heavy next year (skid steer, backhoe, cabin framing) while building my cabin down in the Ozarks..

So after talking to DPC, I sprung for a triple disk (so I could tow heavy and not need to back the power down), and since I went with a triple, I wasn't going to put it on a stock input shaft, and then realized that a couple more bucks on parts and I could upgrade to better soft parts... I decided not to touch my OD unit, I have a press but not the basket to compress that spring. I was told that they aren't usually a weak link, but the nice thing is that if it does become a problem you can pull it off the back without pulling the entire tranny.

My T-case was also frozen, I had to beat the heck out of them to get em separated but then used antiseize on everything...

Removing the tranny on these trucks is so simple and easy it's amazing... I think I had mine out in less then 2 hours... Every bolt is easily accessible from laying directly under the tranny and looking up... I raised the back of the truck higher then the front.. with the tranny on a jack I was able to lower it, roll it back, pivot it sideways and pull it out just in front of the rear tire... I have pulled tranny's out of a lot cars/trucks (they all sucked), this one was a breeze and crazy simple...

Make sure you lock tight and torque your flex plate bolts, and converter bolts....


If your neighbor gives you any trouble, tell him you plan on turning up your truck and want to be proactive... If that doesn't work, ask him why they make adapters to run 48re's behind those duramax's...

taterfarm

Well looks like I'm having a transmission rebuild party with my brother, his is a 47re. We are about to order all the parts, both trucks will only have smarty jr programmer and are operated normally with light weight towing and some plowing. I think a single disc billet converter would be a good fit but some of these converter sellers are saying triple disc. I dont think these southern guys know what a snowplow is but I've heard you dont want a triple disc if you do a lot of driving without it locked up?

anyone plowing with a triple have any input?

Are the upgraded powerpacks worth doing for the extra $100?

Thanks

Asher

This is strictly my opinion, but if your snow plowing, I would upgrade the clutch packs. It kind makes the 47re a 48re, and the 48re more like a "49re" (that doesn't exist)... I would go with a DPC reman'd single, if for some reason you don't like it you have like a year to trade it in for a full credit on a triple.. Definitely install a transgo shift kit (they have a snow plow section in the instructions)... When you install the shift kit, it says to back the pressure screw to "flush", I added an extra 1.5 turns to bump the pressure a little more, seems like a lot of guys do this.

Jump on E-bay and buy a SFI HD flex plate, they are cheap insurance.

taterfarm

well, parts are on the way. I got tired of reading about all the kits and crazy ideas on forums and everything else, its also frustrating to see a master kit that doesnt actually include everything you need. The other thing that bothered me is the go around on the super servo, transgo shift kit and 5.0 lever issue, those parts are from 3 separate companies do not go together yet some kits will send you them without letting you know it will bind up when shifting.

After looking at numerous kits and seeing that none of them had the exact parts list I finally found the site for transmission bench 46RH 4RH 46RE 47RE 48RE Parts Page

This guy has a super deluxe kit that he puts together based on what he has seen for common problems, it has all electronics, and extra parts that should be replaced like the snap rings. I called the guy and he was very helpful on the phone and told me he has several instructional videos on you tube that show every detail on the teardown, the rebuild videos are not up yet but hes working on them.
I dont plan on adding much for extra power and like that the kit had the extra pieces included so thats what I bought along with the transgo kit. Its also nice to know that the parts are coming from one place and I can call and talk to the guy if I have any problems.

Other parts on the way are flexplate, B&M aluminum pan, rear main seal, and a DPC single disc converter. Now just to take the time to do the rebuild before we get anymore snow so I can finish moving.

patdaly

Hey, THANKS! That site is fantastic, and it looks like he knows what he is doing without all the glitz and hype.

Prices look to be very reasonable as well............ Let us know what your experience is with his stuff.