Looks like I need a rebuild on the tranny. 1997 Dodge CTD auto.
Since I don't think I am going to keep the truck too much longer I don't want to put in a $4K tranny. I am going to do a basic rebuild. Is there anything special I should have the shop do? I know people say to get a good converter, but anything else?

I assume its a 47RE?

Call up Suncoast Converters (in florida, www.suncoastconverters.com) and tell them your situation/what you want....they will steer you in the right direction...as for exactly what stuff for a 47RE, im not sure....I only know Allison's :(

I remember reading an article in a 4X4mag about a tranny shop in S Lake Tahoe that did a performance build. It wasnt a name brand shop but it sounded like they knew that shit. Its worth a phone call. I cant remember the shop name.

Hopefully DURAtotheMAX will chime in to tell you where he goes to get a "Built up Allison" that will run 12 second passes for $2,700 :laughing:

If you really aren't gonna keep it - just get a run-of-the-mill rebuilt put in there and nothing else. An upgraded TC will run you 4-500, and a "good" one will be $800+, definately a waste on something you plan to sell soon.

Hopefully DURAtotheMAX will chime in to tell you where he goes to get a "Built up Allison" that will run 12 second passes for $2,700 :laughing:

I go to the shop down in the basement of our house....:)

Suncoast IV kit for an Allison LCT1000 (Suncoast IV will hold "any" power and is suncoast's strongest kit, Suncoast III will hold 500 rear wheel hp)

kit includes:
-Alto red eagle C1, C2, C3, C4 clutch packs (you keep/reuse the OEM C5 clutchpacks because C5 is only used in reverse IIRC)
-kolene steels for all the clutchpaccks
-TransGo kit
-modded TCC cutback valve, and the shim you need to put in there
-new C3 and C4 apply pistons
-new C1, c2, c3 backing plates to accomodate an extra clutch and steel (or it might be 2 extra clutchs/steels, I forget, Its been a while since I did mine)
-triple disc Torque converter of your choice (I went with the 1057 TC)

for the Allison kit's, all of the hard parts are kept stock. No real need for stronger hard parts....that stock input shaft is as big as my arm, and the clutches themselves are bigger than a 45rpm record. Ford and Dodge Suncoast kits require a billet/stronger input shaft.

It is 3000 dollars for all of that, but that includes a 300 dollar core charge on the TC, so when I sent back my stock TC, the cost was 2700. Obviously if you are not doing the rebuild yourself expect to pay $1500+ for labor.

also, the 2700 dollars does not include fluid, sorry I forgot about that. For the Ally you need just about 5 gallons:eek: im not sure how much you need for a Dodge or Ford TorqShift.

that trans (Suncoast III or IV) will easilly hold a 12 second pass, mine hasnt broken and it works like a dream... The dmax extended cab/short bed that runs 10's I think uses a Suncoast....or it might be ATS, im not sure. ATS or Suncoast, 6, 1/2 dozen or the other, cant go wrong with either.

Looks like I need a rebuild on the tranny. 1997 Dodge CTD auto.
Since I don't think I am going to keep the truck too much longer I don't want to put in a $4K tranny. I am going to do a basic rebuild. Is there anything special I should have the shop do? I know people say to get a good converter, but anything else?

I didnt see that you are going to be selling the truck soon..any reason why you are selling? ..in that case I would do a stock rebuild and save the $$$ for the next truck. Usually there is valve body stuff you can do, but the next weakest link is the torque converter. Depends how much power you want to make....a '97 12 valve will make stupid power very easilly.:D :smokin:

BUT if you're going to be going all out on the truck I would do a full ATS/Suncoast with a triple disc TC... Better to overbuild than underbuild. If you go "part of the way" now you may wish you did more later on.

Gunracer rebuilt his own I believe. It is pretty similar to the 727. I will look for a link.

edit; here is the link; http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=88733&highlight=rebuild

I didnt see that you are going to be selling the truck soon..any reason why you are selling?


Two reasons. One it's a dually and I really do not need that much truck. Kind of big for my wife to drive too.
The second is I have two kids that I have to get in and out of the extra cab. I think it's time for a 4-door.
I figure with a rebuilt tranny and 219K on the motor I can get $9500-$10k for it. Does that sound reasonable?

Would you consider rebuilding it yourself? OEM clutches and steels shouldnt be too expensive, as well as a stock reman torque converter...there will probably be a core $$$ on the TC tho. With a good service manual it woudlnt be too hard....

Would you consider rebuilding it yourself? OEM clutches and steels shouldnt be too expensive, as well as a stock reman torque converter...there will probably be a core $$$ on the TC tho. With a good service manual it woudlnt be too hard....

I just don't have the place or time to do it. If I had a garage and some time I would probably take a stab at it.

Gunracer rebuilt his own I believe. It is pretty similar to the 727. I will look for a link.

edit; here is the link; http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=88733&highlight=rebuild

Just spent an hour reading it. Good stuff!
Thanks-

Pretty easy to rebuild.... I rebuilt the 47RE in my '01 CTD. Sorry, I don't have any tips for doing it on a budget, though.... I rebuilt mine with all the DTT goodies, billet front servo, billet accumulator, billet input shaft, 3rd gear upgrade to 5 clutches, OD upgrade to 5 clutches, DTT towing valve body, DTT torque convertor... blah blah blah. It is the same as a full DTT trans. Definately puts a :D on my face when it shifts.

The only budget tips I could offer is in the specialty tools. I made the OD spring compressor tool for about $4 instead of spending $80 on one from the tranny parts shop. If you rebuild the OD unit first, then you can use the intermediate shaft to line things up instead of shelling out for the alignment tool. I did buy the gauge block and the gauge bar since the measurements made with these tools are extremely critical to life of the trans.

Just spoke to a friend who has a tranny shop about 1.5 hours from me. Said he will rebuild mine at cost.
Maybe I should just keep the truck and bomb it. Only has 219K on it.
The new car payment doesn't sound appealing.

I dropped the coin on the full DTT because I do plan on keeping the truck for the foreseeable future. I'm coming up on some normal wear and tear replacement things now, I'd expect to have to replace things like tie-rod ends, etc. on ANY vehicle approaching 100k