Any suggestions for a H/D tranny to mate with a modded 360 with a lot of extra torque?
I've got the 4.7 litre in my Dakota and the crappy tranny that came with it, and i know it won't take the extra power.

727 auto, about the beefest auto tranny you can buy. Should bolt right up, and no computor controls. Also, just as an FYI for ya, i believe you have a 46RE in your dodge now, and the 46RE is actually baised on the 727 (case looks almost identical, but the 46RE (a518) has an overdrive on the back).

Garrett

Originally posted by Hick
727 auto, about the beefest auto tranny you can buy. Should bolt right up, and no computor controls. Also, just as an FYI for ya, i believe you have a 46RE in your dodge now, and the 46RE is actually baised on the 727 (case looks almost identical, but the 46RE (a518) has an overdrive on the back).

Garrett

I can vouch for the durability of the 44RE (A500) and 46RE (A518) - the 727 AODs.... I've got the 44RE behind my 318 in the Durango.. No probs to report. And I'm not particularyly nice to it..

BUT.. I'm afraid he's got either the 45RFE (545RFE). They're the multi-speed 5sp auto trannies.. And have been plagued with glitches and electrical gremlins... I'm sure by now most of the bugs have been worked out, but his being an early model, I can understand his frustration.

If you wanted AOD tranny, and something new, Jet Performance does make a replacement for the A500-A518 and his a stout HD unit for around $2400-ish.. BUT... Catch is you'll need a core for the case. Apparantly (from speaking on the phone with them) there are slight variations in the case from model to model (and 4wd to 2wd). You would have to specify they change the torque converter. Default TC has a 2300-ish stall speed and would be too tall for wheeling. They can use an 1800 stall upon request.

Thanks guys.
And Solid Axle, i do have that "multy" speed deal that came with the 4.7. It was new for 2000 model year, and that engine, and my truck was probably within the first 1000 or so Daks that was produced like that. (Based on the fact that i ordered it in Aug. of '99)
And the thing is, 3 days after i picked up the truck, the tranny dropped on it. It has less than 200 miles on it, i was breaking it in totally nice and easy, tranny just died.
They told me factory defect and replaced it. But, i always knew i would want to trade it away as soon as i could, but now i may just mod the shit right out of it. :D

So, i'm sure you can really see my frustration now. :)
I think i'll look around for one of those 727's, what truck did they come on?

Originally posted by The Adam Blaster
Thanks guys.
And Solid Axle, i do have that "multy" speed deal that came with the 4.7. It was new for 2000 model year, and that engine, and my truck was probably within the first 1000 or so Daks that was produced like that. (Based on the fact that i ordered it in Aug. of '99)
And the thing is, 3 days after i picked up the truck, the tranny dropped on it. It has less than 200 miles on it, i was breaking it in totally nice and easy, tranny just died.
They told me factory defect and replaced it. But, i always knew i would want to trade it away as soon as i could, but now i may just mod the shit right out of it. :D

So, i'm sure you can really see my frustration now. :)
I think i'll look around for one of those 727's, what truck did they come on?

IF you're asking about a good olf fashioned 727, you can find those in ~all~ kinds of things - but you've gotta be careful of the bolt pattern. It went behind AMC 360s, Dodge 360s, etc...

ALSO.. these puppies don't have overdrive, so you're looking at a 3 sp tranny. Not bad, just be aware of what you're getting into if you wanna go too far on the freeway.

AND, I have no clue about what kind of Canadian emission laws you've got, but in most US cases, we can't put a motor in that's older than the model year of the recipient vehicle. If you're going new crate engine - awesome.. If you're looking for a donor, it ~might~ have to be at least a 2000 model year 360 - which in that case, the engine computer would be expecting input from all the various sensors - including the tranny - your old tranny wouldn't talk without help.

BUT IF you're referring to the newer 727 based AODs - in other words.. getting your hands on a A500 or A518 and hooking it to your proposed 360 - get the A518. It's the one designed to go behind that motor. The A500 goes behind the 318. These are totally computer controlled, so you'll need the wiring harnass to allow the engine and tranny to be friends.. I don't know what level of effort is involved if you're getting a crate engine - never done any research there.. Probably your best bet for making it easy on yourself is to search for a wrecked 2000 model year Dakota or Durango 4wd with the 5.9 engine.. Take the entire drivetrain and wiring harnass. If your emissions laws don't matter about the donor vehicle model year, at least look for a 98 or newer. They have a redesigned overdrive "plunger" which is less likely to leak. 97 and older models lose a bit of pressure behind the seals on the solinoid and it wont hold 4th gear - sometimes stays in 3rd. It can be fixed, but might as well get the redesigned unit from the get-go if you've got the opportunity.

Hows that for enought caveats for you ?? lol

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango


IF you're asking about a good olf fashioned 727, you can find those in ~all~ kinds of things - but you've gotta be careful of the bolt pattern. It went behind AMC 360s, Dodge 360s, etc...

ALSO.. these puppies don't have overdrive, so you're looking at a 3 sp tranny. Not bad, just be aware of what you're getting into if you wanna go too far on the freeway.

BUT IF you're referring to the newer 727 based AODs - in other words.. getting your hands on a A500 or A518 and hooking it to your proposed 360 - get the A518. It's the one designed to go behind that motor. The A500 goes behind the 318. These are totally computer controlled, so you'll need the wiring harnass to allow the engine and tranny to be friends..

Are youy sure abotu the a500 behind the 318 and 518 behind the 360? I have an a-518 (46re for 97 and newer) in my 96 ram with a 318 in it. All stock (well, transmission was replaced at 61k)

As for freeway speeds, it isnt a biggy. I used to run a 727 in my daily driver, and it was just fine, sure the OD in my ram is nice, but most of the time i am in 3rd gear anyway, so it is kinda a waiste. Also, the torque converters on these trannys just plain SUCK ASS.. mine spit its guts and took out all the sensors in my tranny. Made me almost put in an nv4500, but i didnt because of my knee problem. Now if it were my truck, i woudl put in a 318 or 360 magnum motor, that orignally had a manual transmission behind it, then mate up a 727 auto to that, with a lokar kick down cable. ALso, these transmissions came in almost every chrysler RWD car truck, and van from the late 60's till 94ish. I would get one out of a late 70's to 80's van or truck, they are built alittle stronger. Plus you cant beat the price. I paid $31.50 for a rebuilt 727 out of an 87 dodge van at pick and pull. Still need to install it so i can get back to driving my old daily driver some times (i miss that truck).

Anyway, there will be bugs to work out if you go with the manual tranny computor set-up, but i woudl think it would be easier.

anyway, good luck.

Garrett

Originally posted by Hick


Are youy sure abotu the a500 behind the 318 and 518 behind the 360? I have an a-518 (46re for 97 and newer) in my 96 ram with a 318 in it. All stock (well, transmission was replaced at 61k)



I hadn't mentioned the Rams because I wasn't quite sure of the application... According to http://dodgeram.org the A518 was behind ~any~ V8 model you got - 318 or 360. From 94-97 it was the 46RH (hydraulic controlled) and 98-2001 46RE (electronic).

In the Dakota/Durango pair, it varied by engine. 318=A500 (44RE) and 360=A518 (46RE)

Originally posted by Hick


As for freeway speeds, it isnt a biggy. I used to run a 727 in my daily driver, and it was just fine, sure the OD in my ram is nice, but most of the time i am in 3rd gear anyway, so it is kinda a waiste.



I guess the need for overdrive will depend on his preferences, speed he drives, distance... Factoring in gear ratio chosen and tire size.

I know I'm glad I've got mine. I'm running 35's with 4.56 gears. Up to around 55 mph it's fine. But at 70 I'm turning 3000 RPM with OD off. Sure is nice to press that button and cruise at 2200 RPM.

I know "back in the day" they didn't even have overdrive and cruising around at 75 turning 3000 + was the norm (don't forget the open pipes ;) )... But it just seems like a waste of gas and a lot of extra engine wear. Not to mention, hard on the ears. Spousal unit and I are big into road trips so the noise level is important to us.

Originally posted by Hick


Also, the torque converters on these trannys just plain SUCK ASS.. mine spit its guts and took out all the sensors in my tranny. Made me almost put in an nv4500, but i didnt because of my knee problem. Now if it were my truck, i woudl put in a 318 or 360 magnum motor, that orignally had a manual transmission behind it, then mate up a 727 auto to that, with a lokar kick down cable. ALso, these transmissions came in almost every chrysler RWD car truck, and van from the late 60's till 94ish. I would get one out of a late 70's to 80's van or truck, they are built alittle stronger. Plus you cant beat the price. I paid $31.50 for a rebuilt 727 out of an 87 dodge van at pick and pull. Still need to install it so i can get back to driving my old daily driver some times (i miss that truck).

Anyway, there will be bugs to work out if you go with the manual tranny computor set-up, but i woudl think it would be easier.

anyway, good luck.

Garrett

Interesting.. I've never had a problem with my TC - knocking on wood... Perhap there was a change here as well when they moved from RH to RE designation?? Just a thought... I know they changed the overdrive solenoid to be more reliable....

$31!!?? :eek: Cheap = :cool:

One thing's for sure... He's got about 5-gazillion choices and any way you go, a drivetrain swap is gonna be like a puzzle in one way or another!! :D

Well, the tranny HAS to be auto, my right arm is paralysed, so shifting would be kinda tough.
Although one time, my buddy let me drive his manual truck when he got wasted, he just moved the gear shift for me, that was pretty funny. :D :D :D

Anyway, the reason that i am doing all this to the truck is to make it trail ready, REALLY trail ready. And the truck isn't going to see much pavement work at all, and certainly not any highway.
So, a 3-speed 727 will be fine with me, and looks like the A518 is what you're tellin me to get, and so i'll go that way. And i'll have to start patrolling the boneyards for one.

I'm gonna start a new thread linking this one with my engine questions......

yeah, in my old daily driver, i had 3.23 gears and 275/60/15's (lowered dodge). I ran at over 3k rpm.. but i was fine with it, and still got better gas milage than my ram. I used ro cruse at 90 all day long in it. But yeah, the exhaust was loud, and an overdrive is nice for that, but not much else in my mind. But since i do have an overdrive on the ram, i will probabally go to 4.56 gears with the 33" (i still see 37" in my future). And plus, like i said, most of the time i run with the od off anyway, because my trucks kicks into third on any sort of grade, so then that way i can lock the TC in third gear, and lower the rpm;s a tad, and what not. So expleain to me how i have an a-518 in my ram?? I know it is one, that is what my tranny guy put in. But then, i did see alot of boxes from the first rebuild (long story) with a-518 (46RE) on them. So who knows. I just know that it works FOR NOW. crossing my fingers it doesent break again. And if it does, off to jet it will go (they are about 25 min from where i live now). and call up jet, their prices on rebuilding your transmission are extremely resionable. I want ot say $1900 they wanted for my 518. I would give them a call directly.

Garrett