Randy Rayes DIY 68rfe

the trans will need to support roughly 700 hp after i increase my fuel more.
its paid for, so i'll keep it as long as i mechanically can keep it running. only 163K miles on it. i'll only haul 10-15K lbs with it in the spring/fall for farm stuff, then its a DD.
i expect 5-8 hooks to the sled and probably 4-5 nights at the local drag strip a summer

$4,000-$5,000 roughly in finding/building a 48 for my abuse, he knows that since he pulls his shop truck 20-30 times a year.
 
Older thread but, I think some of you need to watch this.

Kinda debunk some of your theory’s.

The 68 like stated is partly still unreliable beyond stock, therefore why would they warranty something that is well known to be a finicky piece that has flaws that can’t be fixed.


68RFE - THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY - YouTube


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Not saying any company has “fixed” the “mini van transmission” as Lavon calls them. But for what a upgraded 68 trans cost from companies who offer those at units, I would hope that their R&D is worth the investment.

I’m still torn between a. Upgraded 68 or just a NV swap
 
Cloverleaffarm said:
Not saying any company has “fixed” the “mini van transmission” as Lavon calls them. But for what a upgraded 68 trans cost from companies who offer those at units, I would hope that their R&D is worth the investment.

I’m still torn between a. Upgraded 68 or just a NV swap
Click to expand...

45rfe/54rfe/68rfe....

All the same case, definitely not a one size fits all kinda deal.

68 has come a long ways, they will never be perfect.
 
And I bet your right, but I don’t want perfect, I want 650-700 hp to the ground that can DD, hook to sled and tow 15k

Still up in the air as to what’s the best route for the $. With owning/servicing 10 semis, I’ve got plenty of tools/shop space to drop/install trans whether that’s auto or manual swap
 
Cloverleaffarm said:
And I bet your right, but I don’t want perfect, I want 650-700 hp to the ground that can DD, hook to sled and tow 15k

Still up in the air as to what’s the best route for the $. With owning/servicing 10 semis, I’ve got plenty of tools/shop space to drop/install trans whether that’s auto or manual swap
Click to expand...

650-700 a 68 can last for a good while.
 
That’s asking too much out of a 68 in my opinion if you want any kind of lifespan out of it.


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Cloverleaffarm said:
And I bet your right, but I don’t want perfect, I want 650-700 hp to the ground that can DD, hook to sled and tow 15k

Still up in the air as to what’s the best route for the $. With owning/servicing 10 semis, I’ve got plenty of tools/shop space to drop/install trans whether that’s auto or manual swap
Click to expand...

Not gonna happen. Period.

48RE or NV

Do not waste your money on anything else.

At 400-500 HP maybe you will get a bit out of it. Never at 600 plus. The transmission design was not ment for that type of power. Forget HP and think TQ capacity which is how transmission are rated.

I know you may not believe what I am telling you but call all the bug guys.

It is not only that but the cost for parts are astronomical on the 68 vs 48. Just a waste of money of you ask me and I build them.

One of the trucks I have serviced when thru 3 68's built before he went to a 48 swap which I did not do. He is now making 950 HP on stock bottom end (soon to go boom the way he has been pushing it). He spent 25K on three transmissions before he went to the 48 and he was at 790 HP at the time. He has since gone to slightly bigger sticks and a larger primary to get that 950 hp. All that is done to the 48 is refreshed every year. Rebuild runs him between 1500 and 2K for everything which I do.

Look at the money he spent on that 68. Just flat out crazy to spend so much money in which he should have done the 48 swap at the beginning and saved himself the 15k.
 
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