I was checking out DTT's stuff for upgrading my 518. Was thinking of getting a new TC, regulator and Valve Body. Is it enough to just upgrade those components? Im not drag racing (yet) but I am pulling loads up to 15k lbs and am planning HP upgrades to somewhere around 400hp.
Well, I was planning on going DTT but I called for prices and they dont have any TC's or Valve Bodies in stock. Is a voltage regulator used in the 518? The person at DTT said I dont need one because its not an electronic transmission. I'm checking ATS parts out now.

 

there's nothing electronic in a 518, so no voltage regulator.

you wanna upgrade the valve body and the torque converter.

Stay away from ATS, rip-off's.

Dave Goerend @ www.Goerend.com has the best torque converter for these trucks priced at $550, it's alot tighter than stock. it's not on his website, have to call. And he doesn't have cores unfortunely so you have to send yours out and wait.

Suncoast is another good one to look into,

For 400HP i would want a full rebuild with good clutches and upgrade the planetaries to steel instead of alum.

remember at 400hp you'll be at almost 800 ft lb torque

 

To get a good Idea of what you might need contact Fred Swanson on here he's in Ariz and does tranny's and know's his stuff .

 

Thanks guys, Im going to check those things out. Thanks for the tip on ATS, their videos were pretty impressive.
Val, do you know what Fred Swanson's forum name is?

 

Goerend will put together and sell you an overhaul kit for your 46RH.
Plus whatever extra upgrades you want, like a valvebody, flexplate, TC, etc.
And the tech help was great also.

 

I believe it is just fred swanson if you can't find him PM me I may have his contact info some where .

 

yeah, that`s it

 

You need a built trans to do what you're asking to do. But you really should consider upgrading to a 47RH so you can get a lockup converter. 15K load on a non lockup TC in Texas heat, not ideal.
Not many vendors have these non lockup converters laying around anymore, so you either find one, or have to take your truck down.
There's more than one thread in this forum where people have purchased or built a 518, or converted to a 47RH, so do some research too.

 

Hey Fred I knew you would be the Best man for advise or even building a trans for him that's why we sent him your way .

 

Thanks Fred for the quick reply. I was wanting to go lockup anyway so I'll start searching locally for a 47. That would work better than using my 518 since it will keep me from having down time and I can take my time and do it right. SmokinBlacky did a conversion to a lockup 47RH recently and is really happy with it (until his turbo blew up) and he only needed 3 parts to adapt it to his truck. OK Fred, say I find a salvageable 47 locally. I don't know anyone locally that does performance rebuilding. Could I send it to you to rebuild? What exactly would you do to it and what would the cost be?