So a few weeks ago I was finally able to upgrade and swap out my weak 44reply tranny for a head 46reply tranny. And I pulled a 231 d transfer case off of a ram 2500. I love it. I get better mileage and I have much better bottom end. Not to mention towing is a breeze now. And the transfer case selector is positioned differently now. I need to get the shifter ball off of a 2500 so the transfer case position matches up with the selector ****. But now I'm having issues with the rear differential. It seems to be lacking into position and not wAnting to release. So its either my spider gears or the clutch packs. I won't know till I pull it out.
Also for everyone's information it doesn't cost all that much to get this done. If you have the 5.2 you have the 44re unless someone already did the swap. But the swap costs around a grand total including the tranny and transfer case and the torque converter. I got the tranny torque converter and the transfer case off Craig's list and it cost me 500. It also cost me 500 to have a tranny shop do the swap for me. Including fluids and adjustments.

 

Where did the improved mileage and bottom end come from? I also have the 46re behind my 5.2, but for different reasons.

 

The 46re is geared differently than the 44. Its made to be heavier duty for easier towing. I gained mileage and power due to the fact that the 46 puts the power to wheels easier allowing the motor to not have to work as hard moving it. I swapped mine cuz the 44re wasn't strong enough to tow around some of the equipment I have for my construction company.

 

I'm surprised to hear that considering the 46re has higher first and second gears than the 44re. Something must have been screwed up with your old transmission.

 

Is the final drive ratio the same between the two?

 

3rd is 1:1 in both and overdrive is .69:1 in both, but 1st, 2nd, and reverse are different.

46RE ratios:

_1____2___3___4___R
2.45 1.45 1.00 0.69 2.35

44RE ratios:

_1____2___3___4___R
2.74 1.54 1.00 0.69 2.21

 

I have to agree with this because i got slightly better mileage by simply rebuilding my 44re... Was not something to write home to mom about but there was a difference.

Also, keep in mind that unless you got your PCM flashed it still thinks it has a 44re.. Might be a factor in the results.

 

My old tranny wasn't screwed up till I towed my excavator to the job site. My old tranny reved at 250rpm higher at 60 mph than the 46. So when im drappointment ving to and from work sites like m getting around 16 mpg. But around town short drives its still around 12mpg. And I'm not sure what the difference is between my new transfer case and the old one. My old was the standard 231 but now I have the 231d. I had to replace that cuz it would lock up my front tires when I engaged the 4 wheel.

 

I also rebuilt the torque end of the d. Replaced the cylinder heads with a set of iron ram heads and painted most of it. And yes every thing was 're flashed.

 

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