47RH/47RE Info/Do it yourself thread

b4ctrooper

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I want to start a thread for you hardcore DIY guys that want to tackle an auto Transmission. I am recovering from surgery right now, so my 47RH build is on standby. I have done a crazy amount or research online though, and want to post the links I found helpful here for everyone to see. Took me a long time to find all this info, so I wanted to save others the trouble in the future. If you have any useful tricks or mods that would help in building a 47RH/RE, or the link to a page or site with some info, please contribute! Anyway, here it goes:

ATSG Online manual for the RH:
http://documents.scribd.com/docs/2j34q2oiw38tf9meafox.pdf


Rebuilds with photos:
BC's Transmission Overhaul (updated as it occurs) - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums
Rebuilding the 46rh aka 518 - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums
There's 2 people that did a great job of taking photos and helping with a step by step narration.

TSB info:
Transmission1994-2002 Ram TSB index

Here's some links with some great 47RH/RE info:
building my own trans - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums
Rebuilding a new/old 48RE - Dodge Diesel - Diesel Truck Resource Forums
Trans overhaul - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
Which drag racing tranny for street/strip? - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
47re rebuild questions??? - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
47RH Transmission Tech - Budget Build Up - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
Moving Transmission Clutch-Pacs Around. - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
47re planetary upgrade - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
95' Junker Drag Truck - Competition Diesel.Com - Bringing The BEST Together
i want to build my own 47RH ??? - Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum
Build your own transmission? - Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum
 
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All I can say is go for it. I rebuilt my first one about 3 years ago. Not that hard and you really don't need special tools. I used a piece of pipe in my press to get the overdrive section apart.
 
Nice job, I did my 47rh last winter with all DTT parts and it was'nt to bad but this info will be real nice to have.
 
Home made alignment tool for assembling the overdrive unit. It started life as a 47RH/RE intermediate shaft. Cut it so that both of the sun gear bushings can still be fully engaged, and then weld half of a washer to the end for a handle.

DSC00190.jpg


DSC00191.jpg


Let me know if anybody needs to borrow it. Just pay shipping.
 
for you guys who have built your own trans how much have you spent to build a full billet trans in parts? Wondering how great the savings are doing it yourself to having someone do it
 
for you guys who have built your own trans how much have you spent to build a full billet trans in parts? Wondering how great the savings are doing it yourself to having someone do it

About $300 for build labor and $300 for taking it out and putting it back in the truck.
 
for you guys who have built your own trans how much have you spent to build a full billet trans in parts? Wondering how great the savings are doing it yourself to having someone do it


I only bought a billet input for my trans. As far as saving by doing it yourself, there's the labor part, then there's also the parts markup. Unless you provide the parts, the shop usually buys them for you at their cost, and you get charged the list price which is sometimes a good amount higher. I personally think it's better to do it on your own because:
1 Bragging rights. It's great to drive it around everywhere and be able to tell everyone you redid the trans yourself. I take great pride in building my own stuff.
2 You know what's in it. I bought a performance TH400 from a trans shop that custom built it for another racer. He wanted to go for a Powerglide, and the TH400 lasted 3 passes in my car before the Sprag went. When disassembled, it was all F'd up inside with the way it was put together (they tried a grind here and there to put a torrington bearing in where it originally was not)!
3 I work hard for my paycheck and have a family to support!

There are tons of posts on different transmission threads that have a guy who wants to build his trans, and then you get the killjoy that comes on and says NOOOOOOO! :soap: Only a certified trans guy should build a trans! WAAAAAAAAAA! Not you in your backyard! WAAAAAAAAAAAA! It's impossible! WAAAAAAAAAA! All those complicated parts! WAAAAAAAAAAA! 137% of my customers tried to do it themselves and messed up royally! WAAAAAAAAAAA!

Well, here's a box of tissues, go somewhere else. :bs: This is not rocket science. If you look though the ATSG manual in the first post (GO BACK IF YOU MISSED IT) and are still intimidated, check out the FSM also. If you're still lost, buy a transmission rebuild video for the trans you're doing. I have one for each trans I've done and they are great. Remember the first time you did drum brakes? Looked complicated right? I know I was intimidated. Not anymore though. Now they're a joke. (If you're asking "what are drum brakes," I definately feel old)

If you tend to be all thumbs, and can mess up a wet dream, call a friend over that is mechanically inclined that can give you a hand. Most guys are eager to learn, I know I am. If you don't want to tackle the OD spring because you're intimidated by it, or don't have the tools to do it, bring that part to a trans shop and have them take care of just that. Some trans shops are great and are more than happy to talk shop with you. Others are all "time is money" and won't be as friendly (don't know about you but I'd spend twice as much at a friendly shop on principle). Besides, chances are you will need some parts. If they get hard to find, the trans shop may be able to get them for you.

I know there are some guys that need the truck back on the road right away also. Throw a junkyard trans in there for the meantime, and redo the original while you have the chance. Twice the labor, but still saves you a boatload of money. You could also drive the junk trans till it dies, or pull it to install your rebuild, and save it as a spare, or resell it to get your money back.

Will I outbuild the true pros out there on my trans? Not in a million years! Can you and I build a respectable trans that will last a long time and fit a low budget? Absolutely. See, there is no excuse. Call some friends, buy them some drinks (I LOVE SCOTCH!), do the research, get some manuals and/or the rebuild video, and get crankin!
 
What about valvebody modifications? case modifications? all that super shiiiitttt that gets touted & denied!
 
What about valvebody modifications? case modifications? all that super shiiiitttt that gets touted & denied!

Unless someone has some other recommendation, I would say go with a quality shift kit and follow their instructions to a T.
I'm hoping others with experience in building these will chime in with some case mods or other passages to drill out.
 
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