8 speed swap

emjohn4 · Jun 7, 2022

What was the firmware that was flashed (i.e. what was changed in Russell's new file)?

1SLwLS1 · Jun 7, 2022

I'm not exactly sure, possibly changing from the charger shifter to the dial shifter, enabling start with TCM, and I think he started with the latest firmware.

1SLwLS1 · Jun 9, 2022

I am glad the TCM is not working as it forced me to open the pan and discover this deliciousness. This definitely wasn't flooded. /s

I believe some of the factory pans had drain plugs, as this one did, with FILTRAN filters. Can anyone confirm?

Evguy1 · Jun 9, 2022

That's nasty looking. Maybe time to bite the bullet and have it rebuilt? Can you get some money back from the seller?

1SLwLS1 · Jun 9, 2022

Probably go for rebuilt, I was going to see if I can find corrosion or somewhere on this TCMA and get it working because the aftermarket remanufactured valve bodies that come pre-flashed, are sold out and then I would have to pay extra for a MOPAR remanufactured TCMA + core and then it still wouldn't be flashed and have to figure something out for that.

If I can get this one working by some miracle, then I will probably just get the entire transmission flushed and get it up and running, then it will cost me nothing to drive it for a bit and get it rebuilt down the line. I really just need a working truck for a bit and to stop putting DD miles on my mustang.

I am going to text the guy I bought it from but I bought it last September and if he's a weasel selling bad parts, there is no way I am going to convince him that nothing happened in the past 9 months, even though, nothing happened in the past 9 months. Maybe he's honest and didn't know, but I doubt it.

Evguy1 · Jun 9, 2022

Send him a link to this forum if he questions you. You have spelled it all out on here. What did the oil look like that came out? If you have "tuned" the TCM with HP Tuners then changing to a new TCM would cost you the credit for another TCM so I hope you can get that one to work.

1SLwLS1 · Jun 9, 2022

Most of the fluid that came out of the drain plug was good, every now and then was a goopy drop but the lip on the inside of the pan acted as a weir and kept all of the emulsion mostly within the pan. I never had this transmission tuned as I have never been able to get a response from the TCM to get it working in the first place.

emjohn4 · Jun 9, 2022

I thinks that's a key observation that is important. Not getting a reading from the TCM indicates something.

When I did my swap, before I removed bolt #1, I plugged in the 8HP70, the SGA harness, and pulled the calibration file from the TCM. Pulling takes no credits

Just to be sure, you're using the OBD2 connector on the SGA harness to pull the TCM file?

1SLwLS1 · Jun 9, 2022

Yes sir, whether it is the scanner or the editor, I receive the “Detect Protocol Failed” message. I ran a continuity test from the transmission connector to the PCS connector and all is good. I checked power and ground at the transmission connector, all is as it should be with key on and key off. The TCM is just dead and not responding.

I am hoping I can find some kind of internal short to ground, possible corrosion, indication of a fried electrical circuit, something. I know I am reaching at this point, and even though it is likely I will not be able to rectify this TCM, it is try anything or tow it off to some transmission shop of unknown repute (hard to find honest and timely reviews these days), where they will probably follow the book to a T and just flat fail when I tell them the TCM OBD is the port under the driver's seat.

1SLwLS1 · Jun 13, 2022

I purchased another 8HP70 from a 2016 ram with ~65K miles for $430 + freight, with a 6 months parts warranty and return policy if defective so I am going to first swap the TCM once I receive it and go from there, hopefully all will be resolved.

Evguy1 · Jun 13, 2022

Considering the sludge that was in the last one I would be just dropping the new trans into the truck after dropping the pan for inspection. I suppose you are wanting to prove the system works before that extra work? Very interested to see how your test goes. I get my TCM back from Russell today after being flashed for the Charger manual shifting.

1SLwLS1 · Jun 13, 2022

I want to prove the system works but I also don't have my shop and I am in a rent house (building process) so dropping the transmission in my semi-sloped driveway in this record level Texas heat really doesn't sound appealing, especially considering if it does go to crap, I can swap it down the road because I will still have the transmission that I just purchased. I am only going to swap over the TCM to the original valve body, then have the transmission flushed and go from there, at least that is the plan, until life happens.

I didn't even know he could could do all of that. You're using the charger shifter, yea? or Dial?

Evguy1 · Jun 13, 2022

The more I talk to Russell (and he does like to talk

the more impressed I am with what he can do. I'm using the Charger shifter. I'll put a bit of a description on my build page today.

smoothee · Jun 13, 2022

^ a clean install right there!

1SLwLS1 · Jun 21, 2022

Anyone with a rotary dial able to turn it without power or under any circumstance? I cannot turn the dial and I don't know if that is normal or maybe something is messed up with the shifter.

I swapped the TCMA from the latest 8HP70 and it did the same thing as the original - no response, transmission fluid shows -58F, etc. Was wondering if maybe something in the shifter is screwy. I am going to possibly send my computer out to Russell and let him double check it before I try to exchange this transmission.

Evguy1 · Jun 21, 2022

Until the TCM is happy you wont turn the shifter. You have no codes in the TCM or ECM?

1SLwLS1 · Jun 21, 2022

Okay, that makes me feel a little better as I cannot turn it at all in any state.

I cannot read either of the used TCMs, "detect protocol failed" through the SGA harness OBD and the ECM has the same codes as before. I am going to connect the harness to the TCMA that is out of the truck, the first one, and make sure the connector is perfectly seated and making contact with the pins. It should be, it clicks and locks into place, but maybe the tolerance is off just a bit and the pins are not seated with the harness.

I do know why that ZF fluid is so expensive, once it makes contact with a surface, there is no amount of abrasion that will remove it, only chemicals to break it down. All of the tools I have been using are super slick and I have to use a cleaner to get the fluid off, impressive.

Evguy1 · Jun 21, 2022

1SLwLS1 said:
I cannot read either of the used TCMs, "detect protocol failed" through the SGA harness OBD and the ECM has the same codes as before.

Did you try "resyncing the HP interface? I found that worked for a few errors when I could not connect to a TCM or ECM.

1SLwLS1 · Jun 21, 2022

Hmm, I'm not sure I know how - is it in a menu or something? Or are you talking about the interface with the dongle - I usually get a different error when those don't detect.

Evguy1 · Jun 21, 2022

Yes, its in the "Help" drop down menu of the HP Tuners program.

8 speed swap

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