48re finally dying?
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48re finally dying?
Guys I’ve been “limping” a dying trans for 10 years. I have a company pickup for my day job so I haven’t put many miles on it the last 10 years (maybe 30k) but for the entire life of the pickup it’s pulled a trailer. A few weeks ago I was delivering some firewood and got in loose soil backing up and something broke loose and a burnt trans oil smell rolled out. So since then I’ve been having to use low range to reverse with a loaded trailer. Well today It failed to move in foreward in mud loaded. No burnt smell. But now it shifts real funny in 2 and 3.
Anytiing worth a try to get me another month or so down the road? In the past I’ve dumped the pan and added fresh oil and a quart of Lucas. Im in the heat of firewwood season so I’d love to kick this down the road a bit.
Pickup is 05, auto obviously. 126k miles. Has smarty on #3, Small injectors, Bhaf. Driven sane obviously since trans lasted this long pulling heavy 1/2 time empty half.
Im tempted to try a rebuild myself. I’m very mechanical, but have never done a transmission. Just engines, differentials, farm stuff, etc.
Anytiing worth a try to get me another month or so down the road? In the past I’ve dumped the pan and added fresh oil and a quart of Lucas. Im in the heat of firewwood season so I’d love to kick this down the road a bit.
Pickup is 05, auto obviously. 126k miles. Has smarty on #3, Small injectors, Bhaf. Driven sane obviously since trans lasted this long pulling heavy 1/2 time empty half.
Im tempted to try a rebuild myself. I’m very mechanical, but have never done a transmission. Just engines, differentials, farm stuff, etc.
Last edited by SamT; Dec 13, 2018 at 10:45 PM. Reason: Accidentally posted before done.
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From: Vidor, Texas
Sam on our slush box trans. What I have researched on which I just performed on my 1996 12 valve with a 47re trans. which really made it shift like a new trans. was I replaced my Governor pressure solenoid in the trans. which from what I understand will work on 48re also. It is a GM pressure solenoid on a Dodge part. $172 dollars for it. Look on you tube about it. I got mine from Thoroughbred Diesel. Ain't saying that will fix yours.
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Thanks for the ideas guys. I’m gonna dump the oil today and add some Lucas to it. I’ll see about adjusting the bands. I know that’s never been done.
If if I put a whole new valve body in it would that be something I could reuse when I rebuild?
Im really thinking about just pulling the thing buying a manual and going for the rebuild myself.
I figure a $800 built valve body, $800 upgraded torque converter, and a $300 Mopar rebuild kit will get me back in business a lot better than stock won’t it?
Ive made it through a couple boat stern drive rebuilds with a good manual. I’m just having a hard time stomaching what the labor bill is at the trans shop from what I’m thinking the parts cost. And no one selling mild built transmissions will warranty one of I install it myself. I’ve been quoted $3300 for a stock trans that I’m scared wont be as good as it was new up to $7800 for a racing trans. $5800 for the kinda trans I’m talking about building. Just seems like the labor is 3X the parts. I don’t mind paying for labor, but looks like I’m paying for the warranty cost of folks that abuse the transmissions.
If if I put a whole new valve body in it would that be something I could reuse when I rebuild?
Im really thinking about just pulling the thing buying a manual and going for the rebuild myself.
I figure a $800 built valve body, $800 upgraded torque converter, and a $300 Mopar rebuild kit will get me back in business a lot better than stock won’t it?
Ive made it through a couple boat stern drive rebuilds with a good manual. I’m just having a hard time stomaching what the labor bill is at the trans shop from what I’m thinking the parts cost. And no one selling mild built transmissions will warranty one of I install it myself. I’ve been quoted $3300 for a stock trans that I’m scared wont be as good as it was new up to $7800 for a racing trans. $5800 for the kinda trans I’m talking about building. Just seems like the labor is 3X the parts. I don’t mind paying for labor, but looks like I’m paying for the warranty cost of folks that abuse the transmissions.
Last edited by SamT; Dec 15, 2018 at 10:51 AM. Reason: Hit send too quick.
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From: Huntington West Virginia
I recently posted on this forum a question about the 48RE longevity and got a few responses. As with any other question I got a variety of responses, some very good others not. I ask a friend of mine who runs a reputable garage about his preference for transmission work in our area. He does not do transmissions. I pull a 5th wheel rv all over the US and just worried about being on the road and having transmission problems away from home. I was considering a rebuild even though my transmission seems perfect at this point with 107K miles. It's had three fluid changes in that 107K miles of use, engine totally stock. He suggested that I not worry about it until it happens and if it does happen just find a garage that will order and install a Jasper Re Manufactured transmission. They have a three year 100K mile warranty good in every state. So if I drive away after a replacement and get 500 miles down the road it's still covered by a Jasper dealer. The cost is around $3000. Transmissions are complex and you may or may not be able to pull off a rebuild on your own. At any rate it will be very time consuming, hard work and will give you a questionable transmission. I also have done Mercruiser outdrive work on my boats and I would think it's a walk in the park compared to a transmission rebuild. Maybe not. This is just my humble opinion. In my years of turning a wrench and doing many things for myself some of it worked out some did not and then I was in to it more deeply $$$$ to have it done again. Good luck to you and keep this forum posted on your decision and outcome. I don't think a governor pressure solenoid is a real hard job. I can't tell you for certain it will help but this seems to get a lot of attention on this and other forums.
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From: Huntington West Virginia
The shop that I talked to actually quoted $3200 for a OEM transmisson and I don't believe this included the torque converter. However a modified built unit with all the things that make it good for engines that are modified would be about $1200 more.........plus installation charges and I did not ask what that was. He is a friend of mine and I assumed he would not charge too much.
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I did find a local mechanic who has done some 48re transmissions before that’s a friend of my dads. He’s been just installing the transmissions from rock auto lately, but he told me to bring him a cord of firewood and all the parts and he’d help me rebuild it and I could use his rack and stuff while he is doing other stuff.
That spunds like a heck of deal to me. I get to learn something with a guy that’s a pro mechanic looking over my shoulder. He doesn’t know anything about performance upgrades though. Works on a huge variety of stuff from cars to tractors.
That spunds like a heck of deal to me. I get to learn something with a guy that’s a pro mechanic looking over my shoulder. He doesn’t know anything about performance upgrades though. Works on a huge variety of stuff from cars to tractors.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 139
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From: Huntington West Virginia
I did find a local mechanic who has done some 48re transmissions before that’s a friend of my dads. He’s been just installing the transmissions from rock auto lately, but he told me to bring him a cord of firewood and all the parts and he’d help me rebuild it and I could use his rack and stuff while he is doing other stuff.
That spunds like a heck of deal to me. I get to learn something with a guy that’s a pro mechanic looking over my shoulder. He doesn’t know anything about performance upgrades though. Works on a huge variety of stuff from cars to tractors.
That spunds like a heck of deal to me. I get to learn something with a guy that’s a pro mechanic looking over my shoulder. He doesn’t know anything about performance upgrades though. Works on a huge variety of stuff from cars to tractors.
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