I have a 04 1500 4 dr Hemi. Does anyone have info about upgrading to an aftermarket torque converter or has done it?? My buddy works at TCI, Inc. He has been on me to buy one. Something about the difference in the stater. I'm kind of lerious of doing it.

 

I'm unsure about the TC that comes with the 545RFE, it could be the same as what I do know that comes with teh 48RE.

as long as everything is stock the stock converter is aight. but as soon as you start adding the power it quickly becomes the weak link and will balloon. the truck wont launch as hard or at all, lowered acceleration and the lock-up mechanism will hit with a violent thud at times.

if you are still stock and do upgrade to an aftermarket dual or tripple disk lock-up converter you WILL notice a huge improvement in performance, plus with the aftermarket being a billet piece the chance of it ballooning like the stock one isnt there.

it isnt hard to do. drain the fluid, remove the drive shaft(s). remove the inspection plate, unbolt the converter from the flex plate, unbolt the tranny support and unbolt the bell houseing from the engine and pull the tranny out. next with the tranny out you just pull the stock converter out by hand, then push the new one in by hand and repeat the process in reverse and your done. once you have everything buttoned up fill the tranny up with a good new ATF +4 fluid, put the shifter in neutral and make sure the pan is full and off you go. . .it seems complicated but putting in a clutch is harder