will a 40 hp increase in power damage trans, I tow a 28 ft 5th wheel and get 16 mpg now and a pal of mine has a smarty doohicky and said I could use it to change my parameters on my engine I have read alot of good things about the smarty .

My question is Bumping my hp up 40 horse (is this going to cause my trans any problems) thanks

 

As long as your trans is in good repair now, you should not have a problem.

Good looking Shepard as your avatar, their my favorite. I have a purebred black male "Fritz", looks like a little Griz.

 

You should be just fine!!

 

I can tell you from personal experience that the stock tranny will not reliably hold more than stock power. None of this "you should be fine" stuff.

If you raise the power level you must take it easy on the TC. It is the weak link and will begin to slip if you tow at low RPM or pass at full power in OD. If you let it slip it will get worse and you'll have to replace it.

So, tow at a higher RPM, like 2200 on the steep grades, by going into 3rd gear. And if you feel it shudder while passing let off a bit till the RPM gets up to that range.

By all means, run the Smarty. It is an excellent mod to the engine and really makes driving better while adding mileage. You can try the 60 or 90 HP increase with timing, but watch the EGT if pulling hard at lower RPM.

Later, you can add a triple disk TC and some valve body work for better towing without going all the way to a new fully built tranny, if you wish. Mine has 206,000 on it now and I have to be careful with it.

The thing about the Cummins is that it will pull the load, and make it look easy, even at low RPM. But the tranny will be begging for mercy. Just keep the RPM up under heavy load and both the tranny and the valves will be happier.

 

I have had a Quad box on for the last 40K and no issues with the tranny. I usually run 45hp, but sometimes bump it up to 65. If you roll into the power instead of mashing it from a dead stop, you will be fine. If you are flooring it all the time you will start wasting parts. Put in a tranny temp gauge, do regular fluid changes, drive with common sense and it will last. I find it is easier on the truck with the added power, especially when pulling big hills.

 

That's the kind of sensible driving that will make the tranny last. Any increase in power puts us outside it's working envelop at full power and low RPM. The trans will not just suddenly explode, it just slips the lockup clutch under heavy torque.

The increase in power and drivability are worth the extra care required. I'm always exploring the options with the tranny situation and will probably either end up with a G56 manual or a Georend 48RE. An Aisin 6 speed auto from a Chassis Cab would really be nice. This 4 speed auto is just not the right thing for towing.

 

I thought the Smarty was VIN specific, in other words you can't have it loaded on 2 separate vehicles at the same time.

 

I can tell you from personal experience that the stock tranny will not reliably hold more than stock power. None of this "you should be fine" stuff.


If one drives their rig like a Moron, the trans will not hold up with stock power. The general "rule of thumb", is, the stock trans will handle 60hp over stock.

There are 03/04 trucks that were released with the 47RE, 235/250HP, doing just fine running the Smarty JR.

No, don't go out and do boosted launches, and flat foot your truck all over town, your trans will fail. Drive it like you actually paid for the truck, and "you should be fine".

Cheers, Jess

 

Towing heavy I would slip my TC in 4th locked up at 60 MPH on small grades. That was with only a Quad Std. on the 30hp setting and no other HP mods several years ago. I would back off on the throttle to keep from roaching the TC when I noticed it. Personal experience here.

 

I guess my "You should be just fine" wasn't enough

Since there was no mention of wanting to drive it harder just because the OP wants an extra 40 HP I felt that he understands that the stock trans is already the weak link and was already driving "Normal".

Soooo, you should be just fine if you continue to drive easy and don't try to race anybody and keep your take offs to the normal slow roll into the throttle.

 

it cant, but you can unlock it from one truck and install in on another. basically what you do is set one truck back to stock, and then you can use it on another.

 

That's my point, "His buddy has a Smarty that he can use". My understanding is he and his buddy think you can run multiple vehicles at the same time. I very well may be wrong and his buddy doesn't use it any longer but also doesn't want to sell it.

 

I'm putting at least 40hp extra on my 47RE & I regularly pull a 10,000lb. toy hauler- 85,000 miles and no problems yet (knock on wood). I also change the filter every 30,000 miles with partial fluid replacement and did a full fluid replacement at 60,000 (ATF was starting to look brown and smell bad).

The only time I get worried is towing heavy on long, slow step grades (usually dirt) in the mountains in 1st and 2nd gear- which I do frequently around here. My tranny temp really starts to climb and I have to stop occasionally and let it drop. Of course that might happen stock, I dunno.

Steep grades (up to 10% around here) on asphalt at highway speeds aren't a temperature problem in 3rd. I guess it has to do with TC lock up and tranny cooler airflow. I never have a problem keeping up with traffic and have only been passed by two other rigs pulling similar weight (and only because I wasn't paying attention to my mirrors ). Put me down in the "you should be fine" category IF you have gauges and pay attention to them.

 

My experience exactly. The tranny doesn't explode or overheat, it just can't handle the extra torque at lower engine speeds in lockup and begins to slip. This is why a triple disk and valve body are nice mods. Some sensible driving and a couple of mods will lead to years of use. Either way, adding a Smarty is so worth it. Even if it makes you a bit cautious with the trans, it's still worth it.

I used to think the 48RE was at is max and was doing all it could with an HO Cummins. Then I went to a tranny shop and had mine worked on. While I was there we talked about all the ways Chrysler cheapened the tranny and only made it strong enough to hold stock power and no more. I looked at a bunch of stock parts and stronger aftermarket and Chrysler optional parts. These trannys can be made so much stronger, even using Chrysler parts.

Cooling them used to be the biggest problem back in the 1st gen trucks. I drove mine nearly to destruction with stock power in my '93. Now it's other stuff, but there are fixes that will make them very tough.

After all the miles I've put on mine I still can't get over how powerful the Cummins is! It will always do the job and make it look easy, while twisting the tranny into a knot if necessary! Sheesh.

 

To interject more of the same YES your trans may be fine if you drive sensibly. I've had power adders since I got my truck and the stock trans is still working perfectly. I don't do burnouts or boosted launches, I don't drag race, and I don't keep my foot to the floor as I go through the gears. Be smart and you can add all the power you like. "Enjoy" that power too much and you will surely be buying a new trans in short order....