Really need some good solid advice. I've literally poured thousands of dollars into this 1998 Ram 1500 4X4 the last 6 years and I'm sick of being broke from it (3 tranny's before taking off the check valve and adding the trans cooler, 3 blown intakes, 3 cats, transfer case, water pump, 2 compressors, an alternator, bearings front and back, front end, and not to mention the non-adjusting back drum brakes that are a constant headache, and the list goes on). I could deal with it since I finally have it in good shape, so to speak, but constantly having the tranny go is too much.

Is there one particular really good aftermarket tranny someone has gotten over 100K miles on - APS, PATC, Hughes, Dr. Evil? Is is possible to interchange a torque converter from one of these with a rebuilt tranny (46RE?). In other words could I slap a really good TQ from APS, PATC, Hughes, into a rebuilt transmission and have everything match up including the programming, overrunning / overdrive clutches, spline, vlaves / solenoids? Is there something else I need to do? I know the last time I had it rebuilt by a local shop he ended up - after swearing alot, having to take it to the dealer to have them put in a mopar torque converter and reprogram the computer. I think the TQ just needs replacing, but I'm not sure, or it's not engaging in lockup? - getting the TQ shutter at 38-43 mph and the check engine light on after 4-5 hours of driving. Should I just replace the whole tranny?

Also, how much is too much oil in the intake? I've had the dealer replace with that crappy steel plate 3 years ago, but it still has always burned about a quart of oil every 700 miles, not sure if it's still the intake or rings are gone (no rattling or valve clatter). Looking down the TB it looks like about 1mm or a skim coat of oil in certain areas, but nothing is bone dry. Still going to have oil in the intake if I replace with an aluminum from Hughes?

Any solution to the back drum brakes also out of adjustment?

Any suggestions you guys have to help me out is greatly appreciated....

 

as far as your Intake Issues,,, this will correct the problem
http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/p...4&partid=22220

^^^ that is the reason all so the cats are going bad due to all the oil

 

It sounds like you should have found this forum a long time ago.

Here is a current thread about a good tranny https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...nsmission.html

There should be no oil inside the intake manifold.

If the torque converter needs replacing the tranny needs to be rebuild.

A perfomance torque converter will go into a stock transmission. By the way most of that stuff you talked about working together has nothing to do with the torque converter.

 

Thanks, appreciate the help. Definitely will go with the hughes plate. Wish there was a way around having to rebuild the transmission, truck runs good with the o/d off (light on), just get the shudder when o/d is on and a 5 hour trips flips the check engine light.

Wow, looks like the thread on best aftermarket transmission is all over the place. Almost doesn't seem worth the extra money putting in a performance unit. No too many saying they've got 100K+ on the performance transmission.

 

Hey, mechanic is telling me I can just replace the torque converter since the truck runs good with the overdrive off. I'm not convinced after reading a lot of older posts. Any big problems doing this besides voiding the warranty? I'm not a tranny expert, is this a solution, or are there other things to consider like overdrive clutches within the transmission?

Thanks for all the help!

 

yea if the TC is bad, then most likly the tranny needs a rebuild.

 

I guess the first thing I'd be looking at is what usually fails and why. Since heat is the main destroyer of transmissions, you have to review everything from your driving habits (5 hours of what kind?) to your mods. Since you're getting an OD shudder, I wonder what tranny fluid is in your ram. Some rebuilders (shiver) think they can use Dexron! Or if the OD selenoids were replaced. Do you have a shift kit? How about a guage? DO you tow? What size tires and gears do you run?
BTW, you have a 12 year old truck with how many miles? FYI...Its gonna be a bit of a money pit?

The next thing is to find a rebuilder who does a lot of Dodges. Not one a month but a LOT. The guy who throws up his hands and sends your truck to the dealer would NEVER get my business. Find people who race or own vintage muscle cars and ask who they use.
With the right rebuilder, you should be able to get a good tranny built locally. I have found the best tranny guys by word of mouth. I believe good ones never need advertise.

A bit off topic...but how do you guys blow a transfer case?

 

I m in your same place with tranny trouble. I agree with dsertdog56 find a dodge guy, to do a rebuild on your tranny. The thread (best aftermarket tranny) is all over the place. But do some research, you will find that dodge trannys have some problems. They dont pump fluid when in park, bands arent great, and check valve into cooler goes bad. Find a guy to fix these, rebuild the tranny, get a good aftermarket torque converter. Get a hughes kit. Upgrade drums to disc. Yes your truck is getting older. I have decided to keep mine, I figure if I get a new one I will never get a return. I like the body and evently any truck will need work. I would rather put money in to mine to make it how it should have been and make the truck work for me. Where do u live take it to monteC, if u live near.

 

most issues I have seen with the 46re tranny is when they get old the Over drive snap ring brakes and that is a total rebuild. Had to rebuild quite a few for that then normal wear in tear. TC going into and throwing all there inside guts into the tranny and acts like sand paper to everything in there,