I finally got my truck back today. It still has a few kinks that need to be worked out but for the most part I'm pretty happy. It has new upper and lower ball joints, new Auburn LSD in the rear end, a APS performance model tranny, and a Hypertech Programmer I installed when I got it home.

So far my impression of the LSD is it's great. Now granted I haven't taken it offroad as I don't go offroad much anymore. On the road it seems pretty good so far although I haven't really put it through too many tests. It's just a quiet as can be. The people at the shop agreed with me that it seems to be set up perfectly now especially for what I do. I do 95% street driving atleast anyway so I didn't want a locker. It doesn't seem a whole lot different from the factory LSD other than the fact it doesn't have clips breaking off everytime I pull the differential cover. So far I think it's a pretty nice setup if you are looking for a LSD.


When it comes to the tranny here is where the kinks have to be worked out. When you get on it at WOT it's shifted around 4,100 or 4,200 rpms. I think its just that the TV cable needs to be adjusted so I'm hoping to get that worked out soon. It also is a kind of jerk into 2nd gear sometimes from first. After talking to Wayne I'm thinking this is normal. He said Chrysler has a issue with that kind of and a shift kit brings it out more. I don't mind it at all I just was afraid something was wrong. He said as long as it's not a clunking or griding I should be good. I don't think I'd call it a clunk although I guess you could say it clunks into gear. I think it's probably normal though. My old one has been messed up so I don't remember how it was when normal. I'm going to have the shop check it out when they check out the TV cable and make sure they thing it's okay. I have a feeling it's nothing I'm just a little paranoid as I don't want it to be something thats going to tear the tranny up. After that shift it shifts firm but firm and doesn't have to like jerk into gear. Shifts really good. I'm hoping to get the kink with it shifting at too low of an RPM worked out soon though. Overall it shifts pretty nicely and I'm pretty impressed.

As far as APS Wayne was great to deal with. The only issue I had was when I ordered it I talked to him on Christmas eve to order it. I was super surprised he picked up and would deal with a customer on Christmas Eve. This is some serious customer service here. He told me they were closed until after the new years but he would work on it during that time that he would start the day after Christmas. He told me he could probably have it on a crate waiting to go out in a week. I figured that since it was the holidays that it would take longer than this but it took a little longer than I wanted. It ended up taking about a month to get it shipped out and then another week until I got it. He told me that they were putting a new style valve body in it or something and that he had to keep waiting for parts to be done as they were still making them. After I got past that stage he told me he had just been really busy and also dragging his feet some. I talked to him almost daily for the last week or two as I got to where I was needing a tranny. This didn't bother me except he kept saying it would be done in a day or two. Then the next week the same thing. I understand he is really busy though so I can't blame him. He was super nice to deal with the whole time it just took a little longer than expected. The shipping company didn't make it by the day they were supposed to so they could pick it up to ship to me. He had told me he would personally drive it down to the shipping docks if he had to. Well, they didn't pick it up apparently so he drove it down there himself the next day. I mean how often do you get great customer service like that?

The next issue I had was the torque converter didn't show up. I called Wayne to see what was up on Friday as the shop putting the tranny in was wanting to get one from a local place to put in. Well, I got a hold of Wayne and he told me he would check into it. Apparently it was shipped with UPS instead of with the tranny. I told him that I had to have it Monday and I was willing to pay for him to overnight another one. He called me back 2 hours or so later and said he had been on the phone with UPS for an hour and they couldn't find it to tell him where it was. He then told me the guy that builds them had the day off but he understood I needed it so he had called him into work and he was coming in. He explained to me how he was going to have to pay him overtime but he knew I needed it. He then offered to pay half the shipping to overnight it to me. The shop had it in there hands on Monday morning with Wayne paying half the overnight shipping even after I had offered to pay to overnight it if I had to. He wanted to make it right which is something that seems rare in todays businesses. I was really happy with this.

When the shop got it back to me I called to ask about this shifting early issue and Wayne and I chated for a good 20 minutes. He was very helpful and told me if I have any problems now or down the road to give him a call. He also told me to tell the shop to give him a call if they have any problems with it.

This is some customer service.

Overall my opinion is his products seem good and his customer service is great so far. I'd highly recommend him if you have time to wait for the transmission. The non wonderful thing I have to say is it took a little longer than expected but what can I say. He more than made up for it. He also threw in a extra heavy duty OD unit for free since I had to wait. His customer service more than made up for the delay. The only reason I'm even listing that in here is because I wanted to be 100% honest on how my dealings went and I wanted to let anyone know if they need a transmission right away this might not be the best option. Otherwise I say give Wayne a call for sure and see what he can help you out with. He made everything right the best he could so far and has just been great in the customer service department. I haven't had customer service like this in quite a while.

Thats my review for APS although I know it's kind of long. Sorry.

As for the Hypertech PP3 I set it up on the premium setting. The truck was full of 89 octane and I threw in a bottle of octane booster and I don't have any pinging that I can tell. I plan to put 93 like it calls for in next. It might have made a slight difference power wise. Not huge but maybe a little. It however is nice that you can change the rev limiter and the tire size. It fixed my speedo which was nice. It was pretty easy to setup. So far I'd recommend it. Seemed like it might have helped a little power wise. Their dyno charts claim 21hp and 35ft lbs of torque on the premium setting but I don't know how accurate they are.

Would I pay the full $400 I see this thing for sale for? Probably not unless I really wanted to fix my speedo badly.

However I got it used on another site for $160 and so far think it was probably worth that. I like it but it wasn't a super huge power difference that I could tell with the old but dyno. It does seem like it might slightly be better though.


Well, there are my reviews for the stuff I got installed today. I'm hoping to get new MSD wires installed along with a Napa dist. cap and rotor soon. I don't know when I will have time to do it. I already have that setup on there now but its been on there for a while. I also plan to get the APS Pleneum gasket kit put on even though I'm not sure that my pleneum is bad yet. I don't want it going bad either.

I ordered the APS kit due to his great customer service and also due to the fact I read on Dodgeforum.com that it included 2 gaskets that the Hughes didn't so it ended up being slightly cheaper than that kit anyway.


Well, I know it was super long but I hope you guys liked my review. If you have any questions I will try to answer them.

 

Thanks for the review on APS. My tranny went last summer and I'm not looking to have that done again. But in the case something does happen down the line, I definately appreciate the heads up. I was trying to decide between a APS or a... Dr. Evil something or nother. Maybe im looking in the wrong section, but it seems that aps only does two types for the 46re? stock mopar tranny, and a torque'r one? there is quite a price jump. I'd like a little better than stock since after all it did fail, but i dont need to handle 1200 hp either. Over at Dr. evil, they have the pure evil for 2grand. again, maybe im in the wrong section but... yea.

 

APS sent me quotes from 4 different types of trannys. The stock plus, the performance model(This is what I got), the 4 pinion street truck transmission, and the 5&6 Pinion Super Track Pack Transmission. Last but not least they have the Super Torque Twister but I didn't get a quote for that as I for sure didn't want it. They also on top of that offer the factory one brand new in the crate just like you could have gotten from the dealer back a few years ago. Now the dealers only seem to have rebuilts. Thats another thing to consider APS starts with brand new units vs. Dr Evil's are rebuilt. Now to some this won't matter but I would rather have the new unit. APS also told me he could do a rebuilt if I wanted to save some money but after he replaced all the sensors and stuff it would probably only be a few hundred cheaper. It wasn't worth it to me. Unlike some places he replaces everything but the case when he rebuilds them. All the sesnors and stuff are new. Atleast thats how it sounded to me. I'm not sure how Dr. Evil does it. Even with a APS rebuild the Dr. Evil is probably still a little cheaper as they are quite a bit cheaper anyway. I thought about going with one of those but the time I called I didn't get an answer and I really wanted a APS more any way.

The reason I'd probably recommend APS is for the customer support. Dr. Evil may have just as good support I honestly don't know as I have never dealt with them. From what I've read on them either of them are a great choice.

 

Nice write-up. Thanks.

I have the Auburn LSD too, and really like it. I got it to improve my winter traction because I drive my truck about only 10% off-road - no need for a ful time locker. I've been very happy with it.

I've dealt with Wayne a few times, and that is why I bought my plenum kit from APS instead of Hughes. He is very knoweldgable, and had excellent customer service. He's on some other forums i'm on, and is very helpful to anyone who asks. I'd by a trans from him if I ever needed one.

As for the shift you described, sounds like what a typical shift kit feels like to me. They eliminate the slipping that is normally built into stock trans. The slipping is what generates heat and eventually hurts your trans. They are designed that way though so the shifts will be smooth. The shift kit increases line pressure and speeds up the shift duration, so it shifts into each gear a little harder. I'd agree with Wayne that as long as there is no gringing or obvious metallic sounding clunks, then the rougher shift is just the shift kit doing its thing. I'm sure you'll be used to it over time, and not even think anything of it.

Keep us posted on how that trans works out. You got a cooler on it?

 

Yeah I kind of like the feel of shifting so it is not a bad thing I just worried it was something wrong and it only does it from 1st to 2nd the rest of the gears aren't like that and this doesn't seem to do it everytime but most if you aren't on it hard. What forums are you and Wanye on? I have seen DTO but haven't seen him on there in a while. I'd like to read up some of his old threads if you don't mind telling me what forums they are.

I like you got the Auburn as I don't need a locker as I do mostly 95% street driving. For the rare occasion I go offroad I'm sure the LSD will be okay. I've never had a wheel off the ground and never plan to and thats where I hear complaints about them. I only got it because the clips were breaking off on my factory LSD.


As for a cooler I had the stock cooler removed and a B&M tranny cooler installed in it's place.

 

I was referring to DTO too.

 

Oh ok thanks. I got the TV cable adjusted today. The shop did it for free and then me and the mechanic went for a ride. It shifts like normal now. When I put it to the floor it revs up then shifts. What I noticed also is that it seems to kick down into a lower gear easier now. I didn't notice that it wasn't doing this before but now that it is it feels great. It's about perfect now. I love it. I thought I had a power loss after watching the videos of 01DodgeRam360 but now that it kicks down it seems to accelerate just as fast as his. It really is amazing how much difference 2 minutes of work made. I didn't even know some of the things it was doing wrong before.

 

Good to hear.