If I remember correctly, I don't think the 44re can handle high torque vs the 46re. So if you plan on making some serious hp, the 44re won't hold up for very long.

 

also the 44re has a shorter first gear than the 46re. 2.74 vs 2.45 so a 44re will get off the line a little quicker but all the other gears are the same so second may seem more sluggish in the 44re cause the rpms will be lower when it shifts into second cause the top speed of the gear is lower, at WOT. But yes a 46re can be beefed up quite a bit.

 

well i wont be road racing it at all. lol. i do however take it offroading alot. i live in the boonies of western ny. and my family owns close to 1,000 total acres. alot of which is wooded area for hunting and grapes. and there are alot of trails going thru the woods. almost my whole family uses wood to heat there houses, so we use the woods to get our wood. thats why there are so many different trails. which are mainly driven on by tractors, and my truck and my brothers. and i absolutely love driving it thru the creeks and ravines here also. so i guess what im saying is a lower bottom end is probably best for what i need. but if the 44 wont hold up to the power, cuz i did find quite a few stroker kits. the 408 stroker kit is for 550hp and theres a bigger one that produces 850hp. but would either of those work on the 44re. would i definetely have to step up to the 46re?

 

bolt it in with the 44 and see how it lasts, chances are you will be fine for a while before you need to replace the trans, you are over thinking this

 

sorry i tend to do that, just trying to cover all my bases befor i get in over my head with no way out. lol. ill bolt her up to it and see how she does. hopefully she will last long enough for me to get a 46 and have it beefed up a little.
thanks for everything.