What do i need to make a stout 46re?
Professional
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 245
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From: Michigan
Here’s the link to the rebuild kits from PATC From what I know they are relatively considered the authority on quality when it comes to building / rebuilding the 46RE
https://transmissioncenter.net/produ...r-rebuild-kits
https://transmissioncenter.net/produ...r-rebuild-kits
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 475
Likes: 41
From: Imperial Beach CA
Depending on how diy savvy you are, you could do a semi-stock rebuild on the unit yourself and put 48re internals in it for pretty cheap. Here is a series that will walk you through the disassembly and reassembly in painstaking detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrZx...13nbtmmaR9sT-S
Other than that, external cooler and external filter (derale sells one that takes a spin on oil filter) are nice. Put a temp gauge on it and don't overheat it.
Other than that, external cooler and external filter (derale sells one that takes a spin on oil filter) are nice. Put a temp gauge on it and don't overheat it.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,475
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
Yep, PATC makes some great stuff.
Interesting tidbit for anyone that wants to know.... 46- 47- and 48- trans cases are pretty much identical on the inside. Only differences being the bellhousing bolt pattern, two or four wheel drive, and electronic, or hydraulically controlled. 95 and older is hydraulic, 96 and newer is electronic. All the hard parts from the 48R? case, will fit inside the 46R? case. Want to build a REALLY stout 46RE? Grab a 48RE without too many miles on it, that still works..... and use the hard parts from that, in your 46 case. You will have a trans that will last longer than the rest of the truck.
Interesting tidbit for anyone that wants to know.... 46- 47- and 48- trans cases are pretty much identical on the inside. Only differences being the bellhousing bolt pattern, two or four wheel drive, and electronic, or hydraulically controlled. 95 and older is hydraulic, 96 and newer is electronic. All the hard parts from the 48R? case, will fit inside the 46R? case. Want to build a REALLY stout 46RE? Grab a 48RE without too many miles on it, that still works..... and use the hard parts from that, in your 46 case. You will have a trans that will last longer than the rest of the truck.
Professional
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
Yep, PATC makes some great stuff.
Interesting tidbit for anyone that wants to know.... 46- 47- and 48- trans cases are pretty much identical on the inside. Only differences being the bellhousing bolt pattern, two or four wheel drive, and electronic, or hydraulically controlled. 95 and older is hydraulic, 96 and newer is electronic. All the hard parts from the 48R? case, will fit inside the 46R? case. Want to build a REALLY stout 46RE? Grab a 48RE without too many miles on it, that still works..... and use the hard parts from that, in your 46 case. You will have a trans that will last longer than the rest of the truck.
Interesting tidbit for anyone that wants to know.... 46- 47- and 48- trans cases are pretty much identical on the inside. Only differences being the bellhousing bolt pattern, two or four wheel drive, and electronic, or hydraulically controlled. 95 and older is hydraulic, 96 and newer is electronic. All the hard parts from the 48R? case, will fit inside the 46R? case. Want to build a REALLY stout 46RE? Grab a 48RE without too many miles on it, that still works..... and use the hard parts from that, in your 46 case. You will have a trans that will last longer than the rest of the truck.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,475
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
You would still want to keep your 46 core, as the 47-48 won't bolt to the 5.9.
A lot of the 'upgrade' parts PATC sells for the 46 trans, are actually stock parts for the 48, six pinion planetaries, etc. I think the 48 had more clutches/steels in it as well, over the stock 46 trans. There is like a chart somewhere detailing the differences... I just haven't found it.
A lot of the 'upgrade' parts PATC sells for the 46 trans, are actually stock parts for the 48, six pinion planetaries, etc. I think the 48 had more clutches/steels in it as well, over the stock 46 trans. There is like a chart somewhere detailing the differences... I just haven't found it.
Professional
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
You would still want to keep your 46 core, as the 47-48 won't bolt to the 5.9.
A lot of the 'upgrade' parts PATC sells for the 46 trans, are actually stock parts for the 48, six pinion planetaries, etc. I think the 48 had more clutches/steels in it as well, over the stock 46 trans. There is like a chart somewhere detailing the differences... I just haven't found it.
A lot of the 'upgrade' parts PATC sells for the 46 trans, are actually stock parts for the 48, six pinion planetaries, etc. I think the 48 had more clutches/steels in it as well, over the stock 46 trans. There is like a chart somewhere detailing the differences... I just haven't found it.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,475
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
In all reality, I well built 46 that is taken care of, and not abused over-much, will last a couple hundred thousand miles, without trouble. A lot depends on what you use your truck for. If you offroad in rough terrain, tow/haul heavy stuff regularly, or try and take your truck into truly weird and strange places.... a few upgrades would be a REAL good idea. But, for 'normal' use, a stock rebuild, with extra clutches/steels, better quality parts than stock...... and you are pretty much golden. A good cooler on there if you don't have the tow package, or heavy duty package would be REALLY good idea regardless of what you use your truck for. You can get as weird as you want here... Huge cooler, external spin-on filter, thermostatic bypass, temp gauge. 
All sorts of fun stuff.
A good cooler on there if you don't have the tow package, or heavy duty package would be REALLY good idea regardless of what you use your truck for. You can get as weird as you want here... Huge cooler, external spin-on filter, thermostatic bypass, temp gauge. All sorts of fun stuff.
Professional
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
In all reality, I well built 46 that is taken care of, and not abused over-much, will last a couple hundred thousand miles, without trouble. A lot depends on what you use your truck for. If you offroad in rough terrain, tow/haul heavy stuff regularly, or try and take your truck into truly weird and strange places.... a few upgrades would be a REAL good idea. But, for 'normal' use, a stock rebuild, with extra clutches/steels, better quality parts than stock...... and you are pretty much golden. A good cooler on there if you don't have the tow package, or heavy duty package would be REALLY good idea regardless of what you use your truck for. You can get as weird as you want here... Huge cooler, external spin-on filter, thermostatic bypass, temp gauge. All sorts of fun stuff.
A good cooler on there if you don't have the tow package, or heavy duty package would be REALLY good idea regardless of what you use your truck for. You can get as weird as you want here... Huge cooler, external spin-on filter, thermostatic bypass, temp gauge. All sorts of fun stuff.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,475
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
You ARE paying some for the name, but, I would suspect the summit kits are 'stock' parts, while the PATC kits are more performance oriented. (read that "better quality".) I think the PATC kits are also more complete.......
Professional
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
many thoughts exactly