Searched till I'm blue have not found "the" answer

Bought an 01 2WD 2500, 5.9 gas, 46RE. Kickdown band was down to metal. I'm trying to fix it to drive, and "learn something" about torqueflites, never been into them much

I have a total of FOUR transmissions torn down......this trans, one out of a junker 98 1500, and two Jeep 4wd, one is hydraulic, other is also electronic. All are 518 series, three are electronic, one is hydraulic

ALL except one has the same clutch pack setup, the older hydraulic (RH) has three frictions instead of 4 in the one clutch.

I ordered a Transtar kit which may be ill advised......it only came with 3 of one frictions and 4 of other, and is "one short" on 1 of the steels, also. None of the frictions or steels are marked as to what they are. Three frictions are thick, three are the thin ones.

THE QUESTIONS:

1.....How do you identify the frictions and steels between the two clutches? Can you interchange them in some cases to make a different stack?

2...How about the steels? Thickness? Do they interchange?

3.....I hear about increasing the disc stack in these 46/47/ 48 etc. "Just how" do you know what to put in there? What determines the "stack?" Are the steels thinner for more? Are the reaction / pp thinner? The apply piston?

In other words "how do I build this" with the maximum I can with what I have? (I can order one or two more frictions / and steels separate if I know what to get)

Thanks

 

Some of this was talked about in MonteC's Trans corner thread... but, just where..... Would have to go digging for it. (and it's a long thread.....)

There are some REALLY good resources online though, including walkthrus on rebuilding the trans, and beefing it up. (with PICS!!! ) Probably some vids on youtube as well. Look in the DIY/FAQ section, for the transmission thread by J415, some good links in there.

 

An actual link to these would be helpful. I searched "j415" as well as "j415, transmission" and got page after page of unrelated hits. Here's some I have not waded through, yet

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ke-a-look.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...sion-help.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...to-tranny.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...urus-help.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...n-rebuild.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...500-5-9-a.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...sion-woes.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...nsmission.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ion-parts.html

 

There's only four pages....... Here is the thread.

 

Thanks I did find that. However, that doesn't answer my question. What I'm trying to figure out is..........

"Anybody" LOL can take the factory drums and stick the same frictions, etc, "back in." I keep hearing about beefing these up. What I don't understand is exactly 'how' and how you know what you can put in.

Again...........what is the difference.........in the light vs heavy duty clutch stacks? Is the piston narrower, allowing more steels/ frictions? Is the snap ring groove further up? Are the steels thinner, OR DO YOU simply stack more in if you have the lighter duty clutch stacks?

The drums certainly cannot be taller.......it all has to fit the same case.................

Thanks

and by the way some of those pages DO have some very good info, I've found them in my travels.......earlier........

 

For one of them, Not sure which, there is a thinner piston. For the other, I just don't know. Automagics are not really my strong point. MonteC talks about it in his thread, I think WITTRANS.COM has some info on it as well. You could prolly call 'em, and have a chat, and they would let you know what you needed to do/buy. (and then they would happily sell it to you......)