So my Trans is acting wierd like it has since I got the truck but I've finally decided it's time to do something about it. Since I currently live in albuquerque I don't truct any of the Trans shops around here , thus I've decided to go with odering a PATC Trans (Viper should be enough since mega viper would be overkill and I don't want to drop everything I have into a Trans). My question now is, what would I have to do to get their 46re to work in my truck ( I have a '96 318 4x4 1500) I guess that means I have a 44re.

I also think I'd like to do a little work to the engine while I wait for the perfect set of dana 60s to come up for sale. I was thinking a very mild cam from Hughes performance their $850 heads and a Hughes air gap intake. I'll admit I'm not as smart on this engine as the last I worked on but the. 318 is a bit different tan the ls1. So is this a decent parts list and with the future engine mods what would be a goo stall for this set up for basic use and occasional relatively heavy pulling?

Thanks in advance

 

You have a 46re so little work would be needed to make the PACT tranny work. I personally don't own one but I've heard good things about them.

As for engine mods, start with fixing the plenum. While you are doing the plenum, install a double roller timing chain. After that get an SCT tuner, 1.7 rocker rollers and a less restrictive y pipe. At the same time, do a tune up (Plugs, wires, cap/rotor) These mods alone with wake the truck up.

By the way, I love your winch trans4mer brush guard. Been thinking of getting one myself.

 

Well if he's going with the Hughes Airgap then I would put off the plenum to save a bit of money. I personally have the Megaviper in my truck and love it. I probably didn't need it, but there's always room for upgrades! I also have a 2300 stall, that's what PATC suggested for my usage I guess. Otherwise it shifts great and works well with my current mods which are similar to what you're looking at.

 

How do you like that high of a stall?

 

I honestly can't tell the difference when driving normal. The truck doesn't get a lot of miles these days either. I'm also not paying attention to mileage, so I don't have a lot of input there either haha. When it was my daily driver, and before engine upgrades I don't think mileage changed that much, maybe from 10-9.5 but who knows.

 

Drive it more.

That seems rather high for a truck....

 

That's what I thought as well, but I haven't had any complaints yet. And money is a little tight to be driving around the 9mpg truck versus the 25 mpg car haha

 

Yeah, I can see that......

 

Ok I was thinking around 2300 I drove an lt1 camaro with a 2800 stall and it was fun but wasn't sure what a truck with a stall would be like. I've read all about the plenum and have been very lucky with 276000 miles (I think warming the truck up before driving has saved that) does anybody have input on the heads? Would I see any extra power out of them? From my understanding they are better about not cracking but the heads on my truck have been shaved down before from overheating and still don't leak so I'm more looking for power there and if I could just get mine ported some I'd go that route instead.

I know I'll have to get a tuner but one think my Trans am taught me is there's no mods more important than the ones gettin air in and back out of the heads. Is anybody here running longtube headers? I can't imagine they'd be too hard to instal but even eBay wants a good bit of $ for them

 

I can't look up the heads on my phone right now, but I have Iron Rams with 2.02 intake and 1.6 exhaust valves. I didn't get them ported and polished, just slapped them on, and my cam is .512 lift int/exh... 210/220 cam from compcams
.. with my M1 and 52mm TB... it definitely moves! I still need to get the air/fuel gauge badly as it cuts out at higher rpms... pretty sure it's running lean with all the new air that's getting sucked in there