Yes I have searched...
I have an '03 SO not HO with a production date of 10/02. My shift lever says OD on/off not tow mode. Every sign in the world points to my truck definatly having an 47RE (SO,early '03,OD on/off). EXCEPT, after reading on the pacbrake website according to my equipment ID tag in the glovebox, it is a 48RE. The other thing that kinda throws a wrench into the identification is that the dealer installed a new trany before I bought the truck. Is it possible that they did NOT replace it with the same as what came out?

I want to put in a Transgo kit but I know the 48RE and 47RE kits are NOT interchangable. I also know that the two tranys are identical physically on the outside. So...How do I find out for sure what I have?

 

I 've got a 2003 SO build date says 03/03. Tag in the glove box says (DG8, If I remember correctly, thats the code for a 48re).

Even our old 2003 SO with the same build date of 03/03 had the 48re in it.

I don't think the OD on/off button indicates it's a 47re. I may be mistaken though. Our 04.5 says OD on/off.

 

The 48RE went into production Jan 03, except for a very few trucks that were already in process at the christmas break, 01-03 and newer is a 48RE in all SO and HO configurations.

The 48RE also has two configurations for the VB, the early VB uses the same shift kit as a 47RE. Its the later transmissions, generally 05 and newer, that use the different kit.

Since the dealer replaced the trans it is possible they put a 48RE in there. On one of the pan rails should be a part # stamped into the metal. Thats about the only way you can look up the trans type without doing some dissassembly.

 

About the only fool proof way to tell is get inside the front clutch drum. If it's a 48RE it will have 7 clutches and 5 steel plates. If it has 5 clutches and 3 steel plates it would be the 47RE. I have the 03 also and mine was a 05-03 model build and the sticker said 48RE. I didnt know for sure until I bought parts for the trans and found out it had a 47 in it. No big deal. I bought the drum, clutches, and steels for a 48RE and put her back together... along with a few other parts I toasted. LoL

 

Stock 48RE has 4 frictions in both the direct and forward clutch packs. The only way you get more than that is a custom build.

05-03 build had a 48RE from the factory, no other options as the 47 was out of productuion. If you really had a 47RE it was swapped in.

Easier way to tell is look at the input shaft. The 48RE has an o-ring on the end and a heavier stepped input.

 

I believe on the VIN number if the 8th digit from left to right is a "number" its a 47RE, if the 8th digit from left to right is the letter "C" it is a 48RE.