Hi

Sorry to drop this weird topic on you guys, but here it goes. If its out of line or inappropriate, please feel free to delete it. But I've been reading here for a while, and thought someone might be able to help.

I have a 1939 Plymouth coupe I'll be building into a hot rod. I bought a 2001 Dodge truck 5.9L & 46RE trans with PCM & harness. I was going to use it complete in my car. I've been talking to a PCM tuner in the Denver area, and reading about using tuners here too.

I recently had the chance to buy a classic hemi Chrysler motor for my hot rod. It was on a very short list of motors that would make me abandon my 5.9L motor. Plus it has a 2x4bbl ceramic coated 60's Weiand intake w/2 64/65 Corvette carbs. Super cool!

I can use an adapter to fit the 46RE to the 331 hemi. But I don't know if the PCM will run the trans without a motor. What sensors does the PCM require to run the trans?

I contacted SCT via email. I figured their tuner may allow this to happen, but haven't gotten a clear answer. I thought someone here might know what it would take.

I live in the sticks, my town is 2+ hrs from a junk yard, shipping is super expensive, and I don't have a pick up truck. So before you say, just go find a 46RH, understand its just not that easy, and I'd really like to use the trans I already have bought & paid for.

Thanks in advance.

Chad

 

I can't answer the tuning aspects of your question but if you want a good hot rod you need to ditch the thought of using the 46RE.

Even if you could bolt it to the 331 Hemi and get it all to work it probably won't survive, the 46R series barely survives what the 5.2L and 5.9L put out.

 

Thanks, I guess I hadn't read that much bad about them.

The little 331 hemi won't be a gangbusters motor. From what I can tell, the dual quads are going to outflow the heads by a mile. I'm not trying to squeeze a ton of hp, I just want a fun, driveable car. I thought the electronic controlled, overdrive trans fit the bill. Plus the car only weighs 2200 lbs.

I thought the 46R was a descendant of the Torqueflight 727, and that is considered a very good trans.

 

Yup, the 46R is pretty similar to the 727. The overdrive units are kinda weak among other things.

If using a 46RE is a feasible option and since you have one handy it may not be a bad idea to beef it up a little, you don't have to go MegaViper crazy to get a solid transmission.

Upgraded solenoids, clutches, maybe a shift kit would be a step in the right direction.

 

It is. But something happened along the way and it got castrated.

I would look into the mega viper transmissions. Or even putting a manual behind it.

 

Thanks

If I don't go with the 46RE, I have nothing specific in mind right now. There are adapters to go to about any trans.

I'll check out the Mega Viper trans & other options to strengthen them.

 

The MegaViper is one hell of a transmission, but it demands a hefty price tag as well.

A manual transmission would be cool if you could get your hands on one.

 

PATC has a variety of trannies... and several levels of viper trans. You don't necessarily have to go with the megaviper.... but, that one would certainly be bulletproof.....

The 331 is a HEAVY hunk of cast iron though. Granted, it is WAY up there on the "cool factor" scale, well beyond the 5.9. Getting the PCM to run just the trans though..... It is going to need some flavor of input to tell it engine speed. Usually gets that from the crank sensor. Doubt you are going to be able to manage the same thing, without some custom fab work. Being as how it is an 01, real possibility it will want to know wheel speed as well, and that is going to be FAR more interesting, as that sensor is usually in the rear differential....

There *might* be an aftermarket solution somewhere, but, I sure haven't found one yet. (but, I haven't looked real hard either.)

 

The 331 is still probably lighter than the straight six that came in the car. That thing was huge.

Yeah its going to depend on what the PCM wants to see.

I talked to a guy familiar with swapping OBDII 5.0 Explorer motors, trans & PCM into early Broncos. He said the Ford PCM needs to see RPM to control the trans. He flashes the Explorer PCM to only use the sensors left from the swap, and ignores all the other sensors that are not used.

IF the Dodge PCM can use the flex plate sensor & IF the flex plate trigger could be transplanted onto the 331 flex plate its possible.

IF the PCM needs the info from the cam sensor, or a ground speed sensor, I don't think I can make it work, and will move onto a different trans choice. Unless a tuner could remove them from the programming.

I guess there is a slim chance the PCM could work without tuning. I thought SCT might know, or know if their software make the changes to make this happen. One of their email replies makes me think they don't even know.

There is something called the Baumann Optishift that is a stand alone trans controller that can control some electronic Ford & Chevy transmissions without using the stock PCM. But currently they don't support the Dodge transmissions.

 

To operate the transmission you need the harness for the trans, to include neutral safety switch and output speed sensor. PCM. You will need the "input" speed sensor aka crank trigger. You also need a throttle position sensor and the TV cable (dodge gave it another name but that's what I call it) hooked up. Certainly can be done. MSD has ignition systems that have programmable outputs for this reason. The TPS would need to be mounted to one of the carbs so that it would get a full sweep from closed to wide open, likewise the TV cable would need a full sweep.

I did some reading on the 331, torque wise I don't think your in any danger of overstepping the 46re, especially considering the weight of the vehicle. Overdrive can be a blessing that is for sure. The one thing you will want to do for sure is pick the right converter, the stock stall speed is probably too low for a 331.

Likewise, if you do go after more power, the megaviper is the best of the 46re transmissions bar none.