Frankenstein Transmission Swap???

nickpohlaandp · Aug 1, 2016

So it seems to me that the consensus with the 1500 series auto transmissions is that they won't hold a lot of power for long, they are sensitive when it comes to shifting hard, and there aren't many aftermarket options out there for hopping them up to make them stronger.

GM transmissions have always (IMO) been able to take some pretty extreme abuse and keep on trucking, and even the new Ford autos are pretty stout. Heck, the autos in the new Mustangs are holding up to serious boost and are said to be as fast as or quicker than the manual trans option.

What I'm searching for in this thread is info. Hopefully I can find some people who can chime in with some real knowledge, not guesses. What would it take to swap in an auto trans that can really hold some HP/TQ and remain reliable, all the while being able to maintain driveability and creature comforts, such as cruise control? There has to be something out there.

I know Advanced Adapters can make an adapter to mount damn near any trans to any engine in the world if you ask them to, so the mounting isn't that big of a concern. I want to know what would need to be done to the computer, and who knows how to do it?

Does the trans operate off of a stand-alone PCM, or is it integrated into the ECM? These are the types of things I'm hoping to learn. Lets have it guys.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

There's been 82 views on this thread and not a single response. Is there seriously no good solution to getting a "bulletproof" trans in these trucks? That's effn crazy?! WTF RAM! Why would you do this. I can remember back in '96 having trans trouble with my 2500 Cummins. Can't you get your **** straight and build a damn transmission that can take some abuse?

tmletourneau · Aug 3, 2016

Maybe people aren't having the problems you mention in everyday use? I have had no issues with the transmission in my truck towing (around 7K pounds) or not. I'm not trying to be confrontational, just offering an opinion.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

No worries, I'm not taking that as confrontational at all. It's just that all I've heard about the 65RFE is that it can't take big power, you're going to have issues, it's a weak spot. That's fine. These issues exist with every vehicle I've ever built. Where these seem to be the odd couple is the fact that there seems to be no solution to the problem. GM and Ford have tons of aftermarket support and "hop-ups", but I can't get anyone to tell me about anything for the Ram.

Not that I'm going to do it today, but what if I felt like doing a full on build, twin huffers, pushing over 1000 rwhp, and wanted it in a driver? What trans is going to hold that in my Ram?

tmletourneau · Aug 3, 2016

I understand, maybe a 7 or 9 G-Tronic.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

G-Tronic? There's something nobody's said anything about.

I'm just thinking about my old Duster that I built a bulletproof 727 for pushing 630 rwhp and never had a hiccup out of it. A big block Malibu pushing 650 N/A with 250 shot of nitrous that I ran TH350's and Powerglides behind (yeah, those trannies didn't hold up long, but it was usually a bellhousing that broke, not the gears, I could still run low 10's/high 9's). I understand that these are old transmissions that I'm talking about, but what happened to stuff being built robust, or at least having an aftermarket to make it robust? I can't find anything for the 65RFE. It's just so damn frustrating.

Crazy thing is, I'm letting this get under my skin and I have zero issues with my trans, but I probably never will because I read these horror stories of people who push their stuff and the trans ***** the bed. It makes me not want to go overboard on my truck.

tmletourneau · Aug 3, 2016

Well, I don't imagine they are cheap but the MCT versions are used in Mercedes AMG cars with over 500hp so they should be tough and it's either a 7 or 9 speed. Could it be adapted? I have no idea but it would be neat.

I don't really push mine, I'll light it up occasionally but otherwise I'm pretty mellow with it.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

It just surprises me that nobody has broken into 10's with one of these trucks (at least not that I've seen or heard of). It seems that the trans is the weak link in the combo. The engine can be built as bad as you want it to, and a rear end is a rear end, you can swap in whatever you want. The trans needs to work though. If there was a way to do it, someone would've done it by now.

BlownGP · Aug 3, 2016

nickpohlaandp said:
So it seems to me that the consensus with the 1500 series auto transmissions is that they won't hold a lot of power for long, they are sensitive when it comes to shifting hard, and there aren't many aftermarket options out there for hopping them up to make them stronger.

GM transmissions have always (IMO) been able to take some pretty extreme abuse and keep on trucking, and even the new Ford autos are pretty stout. Heck, the autos in the new Mustangs are holding up to serious boost and are said to be as fast as or quicker than the manual trans option.

What I'm searching for in this thread is info. Hopefully I can find some people who can chime in with some real knowledge, not guesses. What would it take to swap in an auto trans that can really hold some HP/TQ and remain reliable, all the while being able to maintain driveability and creature comforts, such as cruise control? There has to be something out there.

I know Advanced Adapters can make an adapter to mount damn near any trans to any engine in the world if you ask them to, so the mounting isn't that big of a concern. I want to know what would need to be done to the computer, and who knows how to do it?

Does the trans operate off of a stand-alone PCM, or is it integrated into the ECM? These are the types of things I'm hoping to learn. Lets have it guys.

I know you are new here and seem to be on a post ***** rampage but like I just quoted you in the whipple thread. The mopar PCMs are a PITA enough to tune good luck trying to get another tranny to operate with it. lol

What trans do you have BTW, because the 8 speed is rated to handle some power we will see how much when a bunch of people start adding FI or 6.4L swaps like Matt plans to do.

The 5/6 on the other hand is very weak, but they make built ones so there's really not need to swap another tranny.

I would love to do a 8 speed swap in my truck but like I said with the PCM/ECM I don't it would be possible.

Hemi450hp · Aug 3, 2016

There is only 1 Hemi truck that has run 10's. He has an '05 with a 438" aluminum Hemi with an F1 Procharger and a 150 shot of nitrous. He went through many built 545RFE transmissions before switching to a G56.

Fastest I know of that still runs a 545RFE is Jerry with SuperStreet Performance. He has gone through his fair share of transmissions, but ran a best of 11.02 at around 120mph. He also has an '05 with a forged 392 with a procharger and nitrous. His truck is an 05 that only has about 5000 miles on it though, so it does not see much time on the street.

There are a few that have gone to a 727, a few running a 4L80 trans, and I am going to go with a TH400 myself.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

Hemi450hp said:
...There are a few that have gone to a 727, a few running a 4L80 trans, and I am going to go with a TH400 myself.

This is what I was thinking. If you wanna go real fast, you gotta go old school.

Edit: With this in mind, maybe I won't give up on the Ram. It's a sexy beast. Maybe I'll leave my 4 door alone and use it to haul my camper and pick up a RCSB to bastardize the **** out of.

Hemi450hp · Aug 3, 2016

nickpohlaandp said:
Edit: With this in mind, maybe I won't give up on the Ram. It's a sexy beast. Maybe I'll leave my 4 door alone and use it to haul my camper and pick up a RCSB to bastardize the **** out of.

Exactly what I decided to do...

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

Hemi450hp said:
Exactly what I decided to do...

That's a beautiful sight.

nickpohlaandp · Aug 3, 2016

Found one!

ATI Racing Transmissions - TH400 Drag Racing Transmissions

Ram Man · Aug 3, 2016

Hemi450hp said:
Exactly what I decided to do...

Diggin the headlights!!!

Hemi450hp · Aug 3, 2016

Ram Man said:
Diggin the headlights!!!

Hit up Jeremy at RetroShop. He built them for me. Color matched, clear side reflector, FXR projector upgrade, and 5000K HID's. I think they are my favorite mod so far on that truck.

charonblk07 · Aug 3, 2016

Geez, that ATI T400 really bends you over on the price; I didn't pay half that for my L&M 545 and it's been holding up to daily driving for 3 years now. I realize I don't take the truck to the drag strip but I don't baby the truck by any stretch of the imagination with the F1-A driving 5900lbs. Mike says he's got a few turbo'd build over 1000hp running his 545 and tuning with no issues so there are options out there for building a stout 545 that don't go through the headache of a trans swap. That said, if I ever toast this one I'll probably be going the same route and play with a T400 or if I decide to get crazy I'll send the truck to Mike to get the GCSRT drive train swap and run AWD with a Paramount built Nag1.

Hemi450hp · Aug 3, 2016

Kurtis, its been a while since I talked to Mike, but he had mentioned a few turbo truck builds he was doing that were making upwards of 1000hp. I have never seen anything about them though...dyno sheets, track times, street videos, etc... I would love to see 1 of those trucks actually putting that power to the ground.

RLJ10X · Aug 3, 2016

I looked up the TH400 at Wikipedia. That is a serious piece of equipment. That's the tranny the military put in the Humvee. I remember hearing about those trannys when I was a kid. I guess they were yet another victim of mandatory fuel economy, and cost cutting.

Frankenstein Transmission Swap???

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