DTT, ATS, Suncoast, HTS
All make good strong trannies. You can go buy a Chevy/Allison but you will be in the same boat once you start BOMBing. The Allison is a great trans but it will break if you add an extra 200hp to your truck....
I had an 03 CTD w/ a full DTT trans and it was awesome. A fully built one will run you around $5000. You may be able to get away with just a converter and valve body upgrade though....
04 Ram 2500 RARE Timberline Green 4x4 305/555 CTD/Stock48RE,DS Predator,VA C3.2,HE351 turbo, 2nd gen intake, BHAF,Custom 4" exhaust, More stuff....
I'm not really looking for a new tranny. I was hoping to go with just some upgraded parts. I got a guy locally that said he will rebuild it, put in a big dawg converter like on an RV and a shift kit and charge me $1800. Anything else I should make sure I do? Somebody mentioned a "valve body". I don't even knnow what that is but anything else in mind?
good torque converter and a valve body are a must for performance upgrades. I don't know about the big dawg converter, but ATS, Banks, and BD diesel all make triple disc converters that work great. BD also makes a good valve body. A Shift kit will help, but the valve body will be better. Unless the valve body is modified the fluid doesn't even circulate in park, Not a good thing for the front pump bushing. Most all aftermarket valve bodies are modified for park circulation, as well as firmer more precise shifts.
I agree with the BD valve body. I am ordering one for my current truck this week. They improve the shift quality, raise the line pressure to prevent slip and run alot cooler.
I will probably be going with the BD converter as well. I picked up 2 mpg on my old truck with the converter and valve body and really improved the towing ability.
If it were me, I would stick with the mfrs that have proven parts. It would suck to put that Big Dog stuff in there just to have it let loose a couple months down the road.
As far as doing it yourself, the VB can be done pretty easily but it's messy. You have to switch a couple parts from your old VB but it's a pretty straight forward install. The converter is a lot more work and if you have a 2wd it's pretty simple. If you have a 4x4 then you have to deal with that big transfer case. That's why I paid someone else to do mine in my old 03....
04 Ram 2500 RARE Timberline Green 4x4 305/555 CTD/Stock48RE,DS Predator,VA C3.2,HE351 turbo, 2nd gen intake, BHAF,Custom 4" exhaust, More stuff....
I agree. Its to much time and money to take a chance on doing it twice. I did my ATS trans and converter myself, and I don't recomend it unless you have the experiance and equiptment for the job. The minimum for the converter is a good trans jack, and good set of hand tools. The trans and transfer case are far to heavy to wrestle around with a floor jack. If you need a rebuild, I would recomend having your trans guy do the rebuild and supply him with the valve body and torque converter you choose. This way you can find your best price on the converter and valve body and not pay any mark up for the parts.
I agree. Its to much time and money to take a chance on doing it twice. I did my ATS trans and converter myself, and I don't recomend it unless you have the experiance and equiptment for the job. The minimum for the converter is a good trans jack, and good set of hand tools. The trans and transfer case are far to heavy to wrestle around with a floor jack. If you need a rebuild, I would recomend having your trans guy do the rebuild and supply him with the valve body and torque converter you choose. This way you can find your best price on the converter and valve body and not pay any mark up for the parts.
i run a 89% converter and a shift kit i installed myself i had many runs at the track and then pulled my trans out again to inspect the direct clutches and they looked good werent black or discolored in any way so i know the trans has minimal slip when shifting.I ran 13.4 99mph 1/4mile. Oh by the way i failed to mention in my last truck which was equally as fast 04.5 i did break an input shaft, so that and the output shaft are the other weaker points of the 48re but have fun its ony money right.
06 ram mega 3500 4x4 srw laramie.many add ons to make it a 13 sec 1/4 mile truck.
if your on your 3rd tranny,maybe try a stick and trade her in for one with a stick,i like the autos but they cost way to much to take any power,ill stick with my stick.
I finally took my mega cab back in and sure enough, it had some issues, though they weren't extremely noticeable this 3rd time around. they warrantied it, probably for the last time. The 3rd gear clutch and overdrive were both black. They replaced all 21 rings and then thru in another torque converter. I then was called into a meeting with the service manager, who was very nice, but very suspicious. He said the first transmission was so bad it was melted together.
I'll stay stock until I replace the torque converter and valve body, whatever that is. What about the clutch disks??? That's what was burnt up this time.
