Guys can you tell what trans you have by the vin number? i am planning on buying an 03 and want the 48 re not the 47. and i dont want to be all gung ho about it before i know thanks

 

Do you have access to the truck? If the little tag on the driver side of the engine says 305hp then it is a 305/555 engine and it should have the 48RE for sure. If not, it likely has the 47RE.....as it would be an SO or California truck.

Maybe somebody can help you by VIN if that info doesn't help you.

..

 

whats SO by the way im new to these year trucks

 

In 03 and early 04......The first Common Rail Cummins engines in Dodge Ram trucks were designated HO (high output) and SO (I think it stands for Standard Output, honestly I don't know). The SO trucks had lower horsepower/torque ratings and were designated for sell in certain states, I believe.....like California, Massachusetts etc.

Starting 1-1-04.....the new trucks were called 04.5 trucks (325hp /600tq). From 04.5-07 the engines are essentially all the same........no more HO or SO. They are 50 state legal from the factory. Then in 07.5 came the 6.7 DPF (diesel particulate filter) equipped Cummins which already met the new 2010 diesel emissions.


They are all good trucks, including the SO. But some of those included the 47RE. All the other autos had 48RE, until the 07.5 trucks.

 

If the 6th digit of the VIN is a "6" it's an SO and may have the 47RE. If the 6th digit is a "C" then it's an HO and definitely has a 48RE trans.
Look in the glove box. There should be a sticker in there that has some option codes on it including a couple trans codes. Apparently they all have a trans code that says "DGA" which is just a routing code. If it also says "DG8" then it's a 48RE. If it says "DGB" then it's a 47RE....

 

Didn't some of the late 03 and 04 standard outputs have the 48RE?

Or does SO = 47RE guaranteed?

That being said, I'm very happy with 03 HO 48RE.

 

i think its the 8th digit, not the 6th, i just checked mine, and i know for 100% sure, that mine is a HO, and it has the 48RE, and my 8th digit is a C.
i also have the call tag, or what ever its called in the glove box, which tells me there i have the 48RE, and tells me i have 4:10 gearing, etc.

 

Mid year '03 all autos have the 48RE...........started March '03 I believe. My truck is a May '03 SO with a 48re.

 

Standard Output 03's had either the 47re or the 48re.
All high output 03's had the 48re.

The 48re shifts into OD and locks the torque coverter religously at 50mph. / 80kph if your not hauling anything.
It's a very noticeble shift and rpm drop at that speed.

I had an 02 with the 47re and found the shifts sluggish, the 48re's shifts are firm and solid. I've been happy with it so far.

Cheers....

 

The 47 RE is a good tranny too, the 48 had some internal upgrades.