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Before next summer vacation, I'm going to rebuild the 46RE in my 98 Dodge Class B motorhome, B3500, 5.9 engine, 3:91 rear, weighs 9000 pounds.
It already has the TransGo TFOD kit, GM solenoid kit, Magnetek pan. These mods got me from 32,000 miles when I bought it, to now around 55,000 miles, and I can tell from the way it slides in to third, and the extra junk in the pan, that it needs a rebuild before it totally smokes itself.
I am trained to do this kind of stuff...not an active mechanic, but I've done a few three speed automatics.
I'm shopping for a rebuild kit and new torque converter. Any recommendations for brands of parts? Any brand to stay away from?
Gerald, I noticed your rear end is dually wheel? Was this a difficult conversion? Our 1995 B3500 had a rear end swap and the mechanic could not find a replacement. They managed to locate a 2003 rear end with low mileage and put it in place with minimal alterations. Just disabled the ABS and the lug nuts were just a wee tight fit on the wheel hubs. Our original diff had a 'spun' bearing which they tried to weld but broke off again, so mechanic said have to replace the whole thing.
Gerald, I noticed your rear end is dually wheel? Was this a difficult conversion? Our 1995 B3500 had a rear end swap and the mechanic could not find a replacement. They managed to locate a 2003 rear end with low mileage and put it in place with minimal alterations. Just disabled the ABS and the lug nuts were just a wee tight fit on the wheel hubs. Our original diff had a 'spun' bearing which they tried to weld but broke off again, so mechanic said have to replace the whole thing.
On the 99-03 Xplorer 230 XLW motorhomes, it's an aftermarket kit from Arrowcraft: http://www.arrowcraft.com/products.php#kits The rearend is a non-full floating unit...does not have the big hub sticking out.
Also on these vans, the body is split like a pizza wedge on both sides, from the top of the front wheelwell to the back of the Dodge. It starts at 0 and ends at 4 inches, giving the back end an extra 8 inches in width in the fiberglass addition. XLW = Xtra Long & Wide. Then, they add the flares, and it looks somewhat normal. The rear mattress in ours is a King, 76 wide by 80 long, or convertible to two twins, making ours an XLWT.
There's a really good thread in the ram truck forums that lists specific kit parts, bands, etc... and suppliers. Worth checking out. was very helpful when I ordered everything to do mine...
98 B3500 46RE Kit & TC recommendations?
