Five years ago my truck had an auto in it 47RE, I had it rebuid with ATS parts, TC, and VB. I still hated the truck, it drove very bad. When you punch it, it would just rev to higher RPM's and not move . That is made made me do the 5-sp swap. i could control the power better. Well now i know things are different in the auto tranny world. I know Goerend and DTT are the top names in tranny's. How is it driving a truck with a good built Goerend tranny, My buddy just got his D-max back from a complete Suncoast buld. It's unbelievable how it shifts and drive. Will a built 47rh/47re drive close to the same, I mean when his shifts, its like hittin another gear in a 5-sp truck. you can feel it drop RPM's and climb higher. I'm after another 12v and want to go auto, I know it takes the $$$$ to build it but would love to have a tranny that can hold and feel the power of 600hp+. I've done tons of searchs, trying to find awsers and vids of how a good built dodge tranny shifts. Of am i kidding myself, and ya cant beat the 5-sp???

 

If you can build it, Dave can build a tranny to hold it and shift the way YOU want. He has a comprehensive questionnaire on how you want to use the tranny to direct him how to build it. I asked for a great towing tranny - which I got. Shifts like stock when casually driving around town, but turn up the box and it hits great between gears and you know you have a good trans under you. I've also felt a race built billet tranny and it reminded me of chirping gears in my old hot rods. You talk to them direct - and have them build it the way you want it to be - and he will do it. Don't doubt - it will be done right!

 

^ +100,000,000

 

Also Agree!!^^^

 

I'm not really douting, it just going to be tough for me to drop some bucks into a auto with how bad the last one bit me, i think it cost me about $4k-$5k. I just wish i could find someone in the area that has one to really feel how the truck shift. I tried like hell to make it out to Scheid this year, just couldn't make it, i'm sure there was one of two of his tranny's around there. haha. I dont know a hole lot about these tranny's, (how they work anyway) but the one thing on me old one i can remember is. It almost felt like you didn't even know the truck had power till it Lock-up into 3rd or OD. I had a ATS trans comand, (waste of money also) but when you would punch down on it. you didt even feel 1st and 2nd, RPM's just held high and truck did't feel all that powerfull, Then out of no where BOOM! it would lock into 3rd or OD. Why is this, Even on a bone stock truck , tranny, it feels the same way. What does he do to make 1st and 2nd lock-up?? I keep comparing to the d-max because i really have never drove anything with a tranny like that, even stock, you punch and can feel each gear TC lock-up and shift. Why is it you dont on the dodge?

 

Well, some tidbits about the dodge tranny-
it will not lock up in first.
Stock it will only lock up in 3rd or OD, it is programmed to only lock up when it has reached the highest selected gear.
For the holeshot you will be interested in the fluid coupling characteristics of your TC, it needs to let the engine rev enough to produce power, but not let it scream or overrev before transferring power. So with a modified engine you will need a modified TC.
There are some products like controllers or lockup switches that will let you lock the TC in 2nd and on up, but with a good TC (in an ideal world) you will come out of the hole at max hp rpm and the rpm will stay there until you hit lockup in OD. This feels funny, but it is the quickest way to shoot you through the 1/4 mile.
So the builder needs to match the TC to the power output and rpm range of your engine, otherwise you will definitely be disappointed!
The rest, like shafts, number of lockup clutches etc do depend on what you intend to do with your truck, and IMO on the personal preferences of the builder.
My personal experience with DTT is stellar. (Disclaimer: I never laid my hands on a tranny from another big builder)

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

Don't forget HTS...

 

I don't think you'd be happy with any auto tranny. First gear is a bit high and you can't screw around with them chirping tires like you can with a manual. In a drag race, or daily driving the auto is great, but if you like to show off at lower speed, the manual is better.
I have a Ponci built 47rh with all Goerend parts and TC. I love it, but miss the manual tranny every time i take off with a load.

 

I would love to have a good paddle shift five speed for my 95 lol. If they could build what I wanted then I would have a perma grin!

 

There's the first post that scares me away from an auto.







This helps alot, thanks for the good info. I need to just find someone with a good auto around here and ride in the truck. This is going to be a truck to take out on weekend and go for little joy ride. I'll never sled pull i'm sure (way to much comp in my area) but maybe hit the local drag srtip on a friday night, maybe pull a horse trailer 4-6 time a year.

 

You might consider using a 47rh and manual switches for lockup and OD. If you are used to shifting anyway they are not a problem. That way you can lock the tc in 2nd(as long as you are going at least 25mph or so). When towing the only issue is getting it going the first 50 ft. It's not hard, it's just more lethargic than a manual. if you manually shift to second you can get the revs up a bit, then lock the tc, then unlock and shift to 3rd, then lock again, then unlock and go to overdrive and leave it unlocked. I may not of explained it well but it works well when towing( I rarely tow in OD with it locked because my truck is not really set up for towing heavy). Locked in second works about like between 3rd and 4th on a 6 speed. I wouldn't ever go back to a manual, but i do miss 1st gear to get a heavy load moving.

 

I can say that even a moderately built tranny should act better than you are describing. The 35's won't help with getting firm shifts though, I don't think...

I rebuilt my auto 2 years ago (then broke O/D, so went to manual) and it was amazing what a 3k rpm, shift kit, some extra clutch discs, and a lower stall converter make. Stock, it slipped so bad on shifts and heavy throttle starts you couldn't tell it shifted, kinda sounded different that was it. After the rebuild, I had some trouble getting the 1-2 shift right, but once it was dialed in it REALLY threw you back! With a heavy load and a low stall converter, you feel the turbo lag a bit more but well worth it once it's spooled up, my opinion. I had no problem with just minor pump tune lighting them up pole-to-pole through second gear. Was a lot of fun while it lasted.

I still have the auto, and I plan on rebuilding it again with some real parts to swap in to another Cummins....maybe in my 96 Dakota.

 

Its hard for me to justify building an auto and still not be what i want. Like i said i guess i need to find some one that has a really well built tranny and go for a ride. 5-sp are nice because it just seems like you can control the power more, and also feel it more. I really dont mind the shifting, but with a dual disk clutch, its hard to grab gears fast. the cost of building one is whats holding me back more than anything, I know it can take up to $6k-$7k to get one fully built. if i was only talking few thousand, then no biggie if i'm not happy. on top of that, if i do smoke a built tranny (not saying i would) but could happen, then ya get to putting even more money in it. I know there are alot of high HP drag trucks that are running auto's, are are holding up fine. I know like Garmons Diesel builds a good tranny and there are a few drag trucks running them. You talk about low stalls?? That was also one reson why i didn't like my tranny. when i bought the truck, i tried to save tranny by putting in a ATS TC and VB. Well didn't last long and OD was slipping, so i had a company in INDY build it (A&A Transmissions) now normally they used all Suncoast parts, but because i already had a TC and VB from ATS, they just used my ATS stuff with Suncoast internals. When they got the tranny all back together, they called and asked me more about the TC, Were i got it, how did i pick this one, well it was just an off the shelf at TST. I asked what was wrong with it, first off, They rework the VB becuase they didn't like the way it shifted, then they tell me the TC has WAY to high of stall. Its been years ago this happen and i cant remember what the said the rpm was, but it was way higher than a Suncoast, that they are used to. so after number of calls to ATS and the owner of A&A talking with ATS, ATS built me a custom one for free with a lower stall, (but lucky me still had to pay to have tranny pulled and installed) They got the new TC installed, then called me and said well, its better, but still nothing like a Suncoast. He said it locks up at a lower RPM, but doesnt lock up tight, I went up there and drove it, well i just delt with it even though i wasn't happy, nor was the owner of A&A with the truck, he did offer to sell me a Suncoast TC at cost, but at this point was so fed up i just said heck with it. 6months latter, we had big snow storm, my truck was one of the only ones to make it around (sittin on 36's at the time) I tried pulling out a stuck truck on side of road. The TC was slipping so bad, before i knew it, the tranny temp guage was bottom out. and fluid leaking out of TC seal. It got so hot, the inside of truck smell like burt tranny fluid (rotton eggs). After that the 5-sp went in. So you can see why there is such a bad taste in my mouth about auto's. But i'm really wanting to give a good built tranny a shot, If it will please me. I just think in a toy, fun, play around truck, it would be lot nice to drive?

 

It's real simple...find a good builder, and do what he suggests. NEVER mix and match parts, because then it's just a blame game.

Now, for towing, I still don't like autos...even the 68RFE in my 2010, which is light years ahead of the older ones as far as drivability. I just like lock in and go with a manual....but for Daily driving, the auto is great, and shift nice.


Find one to drive...if you're in Indiana, you should be able to find someone close to you...if not, come over to the Buckeye and there's plenty!

Chris

 

I have a goerend trans. and it is much better than stock for towing and daily driving. However the 47re will never be a Allison trans. with 5 and 6 speeds. The Allison is a great working trans, the 47re will always be so,so at best with a big drop in rpm's going into 4th.

Dave can give you lockup in 1st (with lockup switch) but you will need to let him know you want it.