All I hear is how weak the trannies are for my 98.5. I want to give it some ***** and have some fun but nothing too crazy. (injectors , tuner)
So, what mods do you have and how well is it holding up?
It acts funny now so I'll probably be getting a TC and a VB. Even with the tranny upgrades, how long are these things lasting between rebuilds? If I have the power, I want to use it.

...I don't tow anything.

 

Mine is still running strong at 113K mi, and I tow a 13,000 lb 5th wheel. But I change the trans fluid and filter every 25/30K . And have used ATF+4 every time. (note) a partial fluid change, but with the doubl deep mag hitec, that is about 9 qt's.

 

150k on mine bone stock.

 

i have 103k on mine, change the fluid and filter regularly.. from what i gather they last well when babbied and break when you hot rod them. i also heard that putting a vb on a older trans can cause probs due to internal leakage.

 

Mine lasted ~78,000 miles before going into limp mode.

Thanks to Dave Goerend....it's ALL better now.

 

96,000 and I finally pulled my original and installed the trans I built with Dave Goerends help and parts. I LOVE my new trans. The efficient converter really gets the load moving at a much lower rpm than the stock did. I tore down my original as I'm going to "freshen" it and do the same upgrades as the one in my truck and it was spotless inside. No heat signs on any clutches. Torque converter has a nice purple/blue ring on the front from where I could feel the engine drive through the lock up clutch. This was the second torque converter as I installed the first under warranty back at 32K.

 

About 125000miles on my DTT now. Ticks like when I installed it.
I think it breaks down to how good your individual tranny is- it's a lot about tolerances. And after some tenthousands of miles, with an unspecified amount of friction material floating around in the fluid etc all bets are off without taking the tranny apart- you may find that it's spotless like J Body did, you might find it being just a thou away from falling apart. Personally I think that if I have to pull it (especially on a 4WD) it's well worth to tear it down and then build it with good parts and new seals.
If you go for more power than stock you will have to adress the tranny sooner or later- stock it's built for stock power and torque and you won't get too much additional power to the ground unless in lockup. (Don't blame DC, they built and sold you a stock truck....)

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

82K before I had to go see DTT

 

110k very abusive miles. I just got done doing a 4psi launch and it still sent the tires up in smoke. If your not gonna go stupid crazy on power then I say just do a valvebody and be done with it. A good valvebody SHOULD hold 120hp over stock but it all depends on your driving style, whether or not you tow, and how good a condition your tranny is when you put it in. These tranny's are a lot tougher than people make them out to be.

 

Thats what I say!!!

I know a guy who pulls 20 tons often for a long trip, stock tranny, with the pedal to the medal, 80 mph!
he has a 97 truck with a fuel plate,

and hasnt have to rebuild the tranny yet!

 

.....and I know since the inception of the 48re our tranny work has dropped off dramatically. 47re was never anything to brag about. You'll know that after you update yours. All the new "features" of the 48 were basically changes the aftermarket had made on the 47 over the years. Too bad they didn't go as far as they could have with the torque converter though.

 

200k on our auto tranny and 53 block.... shhh....knocks on wood

 

Cool. Well when ever it does come out, i'll get a new tc and vb for sure.
Thanks for the input.

 

I had heard how the trannies were a 'weak link' on these trucks before I bought one, so I just figgured in that I would have to spend money on a new one.

Right now I'm a little over 120,000 miles and it shifts smoth and normal so far. I have pulled our overloaded 30 travle trailer up & over some pretty steep hills and never had tansmission problems yet.

You can change the fluid in the trans???? ( I know, I know, but just never have opened the trans at all, or needed to add any fluid for that matter)

When (or if?) the trans does die at least I'll be able to put in a trouqe converter that can make better use of the Cummins low end toruqe!!

 

83,000 VERY abused miles on a Goerend TC and VB and still going strong.
Towing average 9,000lbs twice a week for at least 300 miles.
Thruck shifts like a manual, all the people that drives this truck ask me what did I do to it, and I answer: .....nothing, Dave did it