So I talked with a tranny guy about rebuilding my spare auto trans to handle my engine I’m building, then I asked why are the 46re so weak…

the #1 thing that kills these transmissions is fluid flow. Everybody starts the trucks and goes, some let them warm up but that doesn’t do anything for trans.

He asked how I check fluid, and I said in neutral running…he said exactly, neutral because that’s when the fluid flows. He said that a big issue when people take off is they throw it into drive and go, shouldn’t do that.

because the fluid doesn’t move around in park, when you take off your starving the trans of fluid, because it takes several seconds for fluid to fill the “loop”

he says a great way to extend the trans is to put truck in neutral for about 15 seconds before taking off so fluid has a chance to do its work.

he also said this is more so when the trucks been sitting more than a few hours. Going into store then coming out you don’t have to but after trucks sit for a few hours/ days he said throw her in neutral for 15 seconds then go…


found it interesting and it makes sense

 

Sonnax makes a lot of parts to solve a lot of the problems with them.
https://www.sonnax.com/units/400-46re

 

Every one of my 46re's got a mild shift kit and a manual valve that allows the fluid to flow in park. Otherwise if you let these sit for months they won't move unless you let them set in neutral.

 

Not right away at any rate, and leaving it overnight is long enough for the fluid to drain to the point that you don't get any gears for 10-15 seconds at initial startup. Especially if you have deleted the one-way valve in the cooler line.

 

Anyone have a link to this thread on removing check vavle? getting ready to do it to my truck but lost the thread and havent been able to find it

 

Have a read of this thread. It's just one of many methods of getting rid of the check valve.

 

I noticed that on my newly-acquired 2001 1500 2WD with 5.9L engine, the auxiliary transmission fluid cooler is plumbed directly to the transmission, it is not passing through the radiator trans cooler. Is this a factory setup, or is it a "modification"? I think fluid should go through the radiator to keep fluid warm when the weather is cold or you aren't towing. My 1994 Chevrolet Caprice with the towing package that was included as part of the LT1 engine upgrade had the radiator as part of the auxiliary trans cooler circuit.

 

It's a mod! one line from the trans goes into the radiator and the one coming out goes to the "auxiliary" (this was an option and not on all trucks) cooler.

 

There was a thread on here i found a while ago with a detailed step by step with pictures on a 46re rebuild. trying to find it. any help? I found one but it was for a 47 re. im having trouble figuring out what is inside my transmission . everything stock has been changed. essentially outside of my overdrive theres clutch pack that set on the outside rain gear. after the overdrive clutch packs have already been pressed.. its the next clutch pack that goes around them on the outside....well im watching videos and seeing threads where it says the thicker end plate goes first. some say you can swap it for 2 steels and a friction. which is what someone did to my trans, well im having trouble figuring out if the thick plate goes on first or last? or does it matter? Ive seen some videos that show 2 thick plates, and some show one thick plate with 1 thin steel in place of the first thick end plate you install. am i just over thinking this or is there a specific placement on the thick end plate... does it go first? or last? when you replace one thick plate with 2 steel and friction. i am almost done rebuilding my trans but this is the part where im questioning weather or not i rebuilt it correctly seeing the videos and threads online. any help appreciated.

 

I think there is an ATSG manual for the 46RE in the FAQ section.....

There are also tons of videos on rebuilding the 46 on youtube.