Ok, so i was goin thru the smokey mountains today, and noticed the tranny slipping in and out of gear, and a lot of slipping, so i decided its time to rebuild the transmission(also ive been pushing double stock HP and that probably dont help a stock tranny)

So my question is this, should i rebuild the current A518, or should i go to the junkyard and spend some extra green on a 47RH

Im just lookin at the lockup aspect of the newer( how should i hook up the lockup?)

Either way i go, wat parts should i put back in the transmission, (clutches/bands/torque converter/pumps/etc.)

I dont know a lot about auto trannys, but i know people who will help me, just want to know wat yall reccomend

Just remember i want to keep the price under $1000 if possible.

 

You won't be able to do a built 47RH for under $1k. A stock rebuild of the 518 plus a shift kit and a Hughes converter is about all that fits in your budget - and that's if you do the work yourself.

 

Any good 3 disc torque converter for the 47's is over $1k.

I put $3k in just parts into a 47RH I built and thats was me doing the work. Stock clutch count with a billet input and a 3 disc converter with a valve body.

 

well how much do i need to do to the transmission to make it work well with my set up.

wat i was thinking was a master rebuild kit ($220(red eagle clutches/kolene steels)) a hughes rebuilt TC ($458( as of Febuary 08')) and probably a shift kit($60)

and would i really need to go to a triple disc converter style if i take the 47RH route?

and would the lockup of the 47RH be enough to justify the added price of the transmission from a junkyard?

all of which comes out to a total of $738

is this method enough or should i go further into the transmission?

 

That'll hold what you've done so far as long as you don't go nuts with boosted launches.

 

well does the 47rh have enough upsides to justify its added price?

 

The lockup feature gives slightly better fuel economy. It also runs much cooler when towing. If you tow heavy in the mountains it is definitely worth it.

 

Couple of things you forgot ---
engine-trans adapter ~ $100
2nd gen flexplate - recommended not mandatory
2nd gen starter ~ $75

So you're still under $1000, but not by much

I went the steel front planetary so I wouldn't trash the aluminum one, 4 ring accumulator so it would handle the extra line pressure from the TransGo kit, 5:1 band apply lever for more pressure on the front band and a kevlar band ...
I've got ~ $900 plus the adapter etc...
Add labor and install on top of that.

 

when you say the engine-trans adaptor/starter you mean for the 47RH route, (are they really different?)

how much is a second gen flexplate?
any more little things that i should do, such as heavy springs/extra clutches/etc.

 

Remember - the 47RH has a lock-up TC...That's thicker than the 518 non-locking TC so you need more room between the engine and the pump.
As far as the flexplate - find a good used one - unless you plan on 400+ HP then get an SFI rated plate.
Only other thing to plan is where to put your lockup switch or a pressure switch in the #4 port ( forget the name ) of the trans to control it.

 

well i talked to a guy at the tranny shop, and he told me that he would charge me $2800 to build the tranny, with the stuff i mentioned above. so my question is how bad would it be if i just changed the TC and installed a shift kit. b/c i really dont want to break down the tranny myself past that point

 

are you talking about just changing the tc with a shift kit and leaving the internals alone in the 518?? because neither one of those will help the 518. or are you talking about just a tq and a shift kit for the 47 with out rebuilding it? Problem with just a tq converter and shift kit in the 47 is if it ever does start to go on you you have just wasted money on the torque converter because as soon as it gets trash in it, its bad can't reuse it in a new trans. best bet would be to just drop the cash now do it right get it rebuilt with new converter shift kit you can get heavier clutchs, the sky is the limit on how much you want to do to the trans but whats the best for you?? I've rebuilt both trans, We got the parts through wit trans in Oklahoma, for the 47 my cousin spent $750 with a converter clutches and shift kit, didn't include the pump because it was still in good shape, The 518, was around 800 with the same stuff except the converter he got from jegs. haven't had a chance to test that converter out. Probably not as good as the other high performance brands but will be alittle better than stock and he didn't want to drop 7-900 bucks on a great converter just for farm and to hook on a trailer every now and then. Its all personal prefrence.

 

ok i was just wonderin, b/c i dont really feel like shellin out that much right now, but i guess i might have to, and dodgefreak ill take it those tranny costs you talkin bout are doin the work yourself?

and i think im gonna stick to the 46RH and just get a very low stall converter

 

Sorry, Yes that was with me doing the labor, which those trans are simple to work on, the hardest part is the OD. Also, I don't know if it was just because it was an RE or what but i tried turning the line pressure up on the 47 and it didn't like it. It would hang in 2nd and some other stuff. Just a heads up on that also.