Alright on a '91.5 Cummins A518 trans. We got the truck torn apart rebuilding and painting it. Wanting to go ahead and take care of somethings for the transmission and would like some helpful input and advice. I've heard some ideas and opinions on what do get for them,I looked around and found some things I thought would help greatly. Look at these and then give me your opinions on them. I'm getting all the part #s from www.jegs.com so look on Jegs and search for the #s

B&M Transpak Shift Kit Jegs Part # 130-10227

B&M Aluminum Deep Transmission Pan Jegs Part # 130-10280-Possibly this pan or a Mag-Hytec from Genos,any suggestions on which would be best?

TCI High Torque Towing Converter Jegs Part # 890-142250-Still up in the air on weather or not to even put a converter into the truck or which would be best,this out of the ones I seen looked best suited for the application but is it worth it? Good question I'd like explained/answered.

Then through Genos garage I found these parts

Mag-Hytec Deep Tranny Pan

Autometer Trans Temp Gauge-Possibly a different style gauge but the basic idea.

Thought about a trans cooler but couldn't find a good one that would mount somewhere other than in front of the radiator,any help there?

Also on the sensor for the trans temp,would it be alright to plug it into the trans pan if I got one of the Mag-Hytec pans because it's already got a fitting or would it be best to mount in one of the lines,if in the line which line,main line or return line?

So there are my ideas floating in my head as of right now on certain parts. What I'd like is personal opinions and info on what would be best suited for this transmission. Whenever it leaves the yard it'll probably either have a 18-ft just small car trailer hooked to it or a decent size camper and go on several long trips. It's just a D350 and the Cummins will have some tweaks but nothing that'll just cause the transmission to fall apart. Thanks for any help,sorry for the big writeup.

 

I snipped out all the detail to try to focus on the requirements. You sound like you want to plan for the future, which is great! But you seem uncertain of what you're going to tow, and that really drives what you need.

Will you be towing a small car trailer of 4,000# or a decent sized camper of 7,500#? A D350 towing a 7,500# trailer can burn out that transmission in a few thousand miles with several long hills on hot days.

In any case, I'd recommend putting in the trans temp gage. I'd put it in the pan bottom and MagTec is as good as any. There are a couple schools of thought on this; my reasoning is that pan temp is the "input" to the transmission and if it's too high, shut it down and cool it.

Think of what the worst-case thing you might tow with it will be, how heavy and how far and how hot will it be. Then we'll be happy to make some recommendations. Right now, I'd say NO to the shift kit, YES to a better torque converter but not JEGs, and MAYBE to a deep pan.

Another thought - after you've figured out the worst case - is to call the experts at Suncoast Converters in South Alabama (actually Fort Walton Beach, FL). Their web site is: http://www.suncoastconverters.com/

Regards, DBF

 

Thanks for the feedback! Alright on the worst case I'd say the heaviest thing it'll probably ever tow is another Cummins one ton dually on a twin axle car trailer,and hopefully pull a smaller fifth wheel hitched camper trailer,unsure of the weight of one but one big enough to sleep four people MAX. That will be the worst things I can think of it ever hauling. This truck is my pop's and should be in the family for many many years to come and while we've got the truck tore down to pretty much the naked cab on the frame we want to do the precautionary things like the trans mods,while the trans is out,a rear main seal,fix the KDP(have to research up on that) then just get it all put back together and driveable then look into gauges and mods

 

I friend of mine just put a PML trans pan on his `03 Hemi Ram, really nice pan and competively priced, just no o-ring seal like a mag.
http://www.yourcovers.com/tp_9393.shtml

As far as the converter, I don`t know if I would put a TCI anything in my truck, they used to have a very good rep but I have heard some not so good things about them lately (seems as tho the company was bought out and the new "parent" company has turned things to doo-doo). I have looked and asked and it comes down to either one of the "super" converters, i.e. DTT,Suncoast,Goerend, OR I`m thinking of trying a Hughes XTM/XFM model. There is someone on this board (cant remeber his name..duhhh) who has one in a 1st gen IIRC and he had good to say about it, just my .02 YMMV.

 

Thanks Chris. Could you tell me what kind of money a converter would run for a decent one? It won't have the motor tweaked within a inch of lts life like mine will be So I'm not really worried about the transmission blowing up,just wanting to make sure while its out that if a converter would help it a lot(in which ways I don't remember for certain) but it'd be best to do that now instead of on the side of the road in the middle of no where

 

I have run a TCI convertor for 2yrs (55-60,000) miles. It stalls slightly higher than I would like, but is way better than stock and much more budget friendly. I don't think you will find a better convertor for the price.

 

I think these guys get the highest rating 'out-west'
http://www.dieseltrans.com/

for your needs,
1) aux cooler (I like my factory 'under-bed' w/fan), very effective, probably cheaper the the pan, and will work at low speed
2) probably an 89% TC (~$750)
3) valve body mods, and an accumulator

for my 93 D350 towing 15,000-20,000k (28,000 GCVW) regularly, they recommended a hybrid (part '93 and part '96) to get the heavier gears

~$3700 (including convertor) I guess I'll be buying a different truck...
That is a bit $$$ for my $5k 'work rig'