8 speed swap

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Evguy1

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Did you have Russell flash the TCM to enable manual mode? I'm sitting in a campground at the moment writing a new tune for my trans with HP Tuners. Every time I drive it I find one shift or another just off a bit so I re tune. Took a long time to get my downshifts where I wanted them so it provided good engine braking instead of just coasting to a stop light.
 

1SLwLS1

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Did you have Russell flash the TCM to enable manual mode? I'm sitting in a campground at the moment writing a new tune for my trans with HP Tuners. Every time I drive it I find one shift or another just off a bit so I re tune. Took a long time to get my downshifts where I wanted them so it provided good engine braking instead of just coasting to a stop light.
No sir, it just makes the EVIC think I have the 6 speed shifter in manual mode to display the current gear, of course it only works for 1-6th while 7th and 8th still show gear 6, even though I flashed the BCM setting for max gears of 8, it just doesn't work that way unfortunately.

My tuner has the downshifts setup damn near perfect, anytime the brake is applied with a certain amount of pressure, it starts downshifting, reminds me of my mustang's 10R80 in sport/track mode, really nice. The lower upshifts are all over the place, he is working on some slip/lock-up issue plaguing a few of the swap guys he is tuning.
 

Evguy1

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Who are you using for tuning? Very few have experience with swaps or want to get involved. I thought I already asked this but went back a few pages and could not find it.
 

1SLwLS1

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Did you have Russell flash the TCM to enable manual mode? I'm sitting in a campground at the moment writing a new tune for my trans with HP Tuners. Every time I drive it I find one shift or another just off a bit so I re tune. Took a long time to get my downshifts where I wanted them so it provided good engine braking instead of just coasting to a stop light.
So turns out, I misinterpreted your question. I thought you were talking about the gear display in the EVIC, but you were on to something, the truck TCMs cannot accept the shifting commands without modification. I have the digital inputs working - with the laptop hooked up to the PCS controller and the gauges/monitor open, the PCS controller is receiving the signal, I can see digital input 9 or 10 flashing from red to green when the corresponding physical rocker switch is activated, but the transmission ignores those requests unfortunately.

I tried various combinations of modes and such, but after emailing back and forth with Russell, I would either need a car TCM or send him my TCM, and then it could action those commands and enable the modes from external switches on the digital inputs. I will probably plan to send him my TCM around the holidays or early next year and go from there. I have heard the modes are amazing anyhow.
 

Wild one

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So turns out, I misinterpreted your question. I thought you were talking about the gear display in the EVIC, but you were on to something, the truck TCMs cannot accept the shifting commands without modification. I have the digital inputs working - with the laptop hooked up to the PCS controller and the gauges/monitor open, the PCS controller is receiving the signal, I can see digital input 9 or 10 flashing from red to green when the corresponding physical rocker switch is activated, but the transmission ignores those requests unfortunately.

I tried various combinations of modes and such, but after emailing back and forth with Russell, I would either need a car TCM or send him my TCM, and then it could action those commands and enable the modes from external switches on the digital inputs. I will probably plan to send him my TCM around the holidays or early next year and go from there. I have heard the modes are amazing anyhow.
Rumour mill says the Challenger 1320's tcm is supposedly the best tcm,but that's only what i've heard.
 

1SLwLS1

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Rumour mill says the Challenger 1320's tcm is supposedly the best tcm,but that's only what i've heard.
I have heard that too, but I couldn't imagine the luck required to find that specific one without paying quite a premium.
 

Wild one

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I have heard that too, but I couldn't imagine the luck required to find that specific one without paying quite a premium.
I know where there's one,but my wife might be a bit pissed if i sold it,lol.
 

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Wild one

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Ha, someone’s paying a premium!
I only get to drive it when it needs gas,lol.She races it at the track more then i do,i'm more crew chief these days then anything, happy wife/happy life :Big Laugh:
 

Evguy1

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I tried various combinations of modes and such, but after emailing back and forth with Russell, I would either need a car TCM or send him my TCM,
Yes, I sent him my RAM TCM and he flashed it with the Challenger firmware. Then I had to redo my "tune" because the Challenger uses different settings and would not shift properly with the truck file. Basically, I just copied all my truck settings to the calibration that was in the re flashed TCM using the HPT Compare feature and it was all good.
 

1SLwLS1

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I only get to drive it when it needs gas,lol.She races it at the track more then i do,i'm more crew chief these days then anything, happy wife/happy life :Big Laugh:
My wife has zero need for speed, totally doesn’t get it. My mustang “came with” the roushcharger as part of the purchase.
Yes, I sent him my RAM TCM and he flashed it with the Challenger firmware. Then I had to redo my "tune" because the Challenger uses different settings and would not shift properly with the truck file. Basically, I just copied all my truck settings to the calibration that was in the re flashed TCM using the HPT Compare feature and it was all good.
Whenever he changed the firmware, did you have to re-purchase the HPT credits? My transmission’s shift-points are great as-is, except WOT. On WOT, it shifts around 5500-5800 instead of 6500+ for every upshift except 1-2, which usually shifts about 6200-6300.
 

Wild one

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My wife has zero need for speed, totally doesn’t get it. My mustang “came with” the roushcharger as part of the purchase.

Whenever he changed the firmware, did you have to re-purchase the HPT credits? My transmission’s shift-points are great as-is, except WOT. On WOT, it shifts around 5500-5800 instead of 6500+ for every upshift except 1-2, which usually shifts about 6200-6300.
I introduced my wife to drag racing 37 years ago,in hindsight it might have been a mistake,as she's only happy when she's kicking my asss,lol.She does more street racing then me ;)
 

TheEnder

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Hey guys, been reading this thread all day but it’s been more of just quickly glancing over it. Prepare for a long post below.

As i said pretty much a year ago now, i have a 4.7L id like to do this on. My RFE is going out (torque converter clutch is pulsating, trans is just not happy in general) and i’m not going to be wasting 2K on another RFE.

I’ve spent the past 4 months researching as much as possible on this swap - i forget if my truck has the brown or white plug. It is a 2013 so i would suspect a brown plug. The 4.7L is fully compatible with the 5.7L 8HP70 flexplate, and i know the 65RFE engine/trans intermediate plate is the same of that used on the 8HP70 along with the dust shield. Torque converter stud should also fit into the 4.7L as both 4.7 and 5.7 shared the exact same transmissions.

I have noticed in AlfaOBD, in the BCM, that I have the options to change which type of transmission i have along with what type of electronic shifter i’m using. There’s a few different transmission types (i think 65RFE, 66RFE, 68RFE, Nag1, ZF 8-Speed and one other.) Reading this thread over again i see that if you have the brown plug PCM you don’t need the kit from SGA and can just run factory transmission wiring into the dash/tranny? I haven’t torn my dash apart and do not know if i have wiring for the 8HP shifter. I’m going to go and check my PCM and make sure it’s a brown plug after this post though.

Can you use the OEM 8HP trans mount? Id like to go down that route instead of butchering together something. I know it needs a 2 piece driveshaft as well. I have 500$ saved up at the moment and I am going to begin buying all the smaller parts now as i need to have the truck ready with the 8HP by mid next year.
 

TheEnder

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Hey guys, been reading this thread all day but it’s been more of just quickly glancing over it. Prepare for a long post below.

As i said pretty much a year ago now, i have a 4.7L id like to do this on. My RFE is going out (torque converter clutch is pulsating, trans is just not happy in general) and i’m not going to be wasting 2K on another RFE.

I’ve spent the past 4 months researching as much as possible on this swap - i forget if my truck has the brown or white plug. It is a 2013 so i would suspect a brown plug. The 4.7L is fully compatible with the 5.7L 8HP70 flexplate, and i know the 65RFE engine/trans intermediate plate is the same of that used on the 8HP70 along with the dust shield. Torque converter stud should also fit into the 4.7L as both 4.7 and 5.7 shared the exact same transmissions.

I have noticed in AlfaOBD, in the BCM, that I have the options to change which type of transmission i have along with what type of electronic shifter i’m using. There’s a few different transmission types (i think 65RFE, 66RFE, 68RFE, Nag1, ZF 8-Speed and one other.) Reading this thread over again i see that if you have the brown plug PCM you don’t need the kit from SGA and can just run factory transmission wiring into the dash/tranny? I haven’t torn my dash apart and do not know if i have wiring for the 8HP shifter. I’m going to go and check my PCM and make sure it’s a brown plug after this post though.

Can you use the OEM 8HP trans mount? Id like to go down that route instead of butchering together something. I know it needs a 2 piece driveshaft as well. I have 500$ saved up at the moment and I am going to begin buying all the smaller parts now as i need to have the truck ready with the 8HP by mid next year.
Also, forgot to mention, i have talked to Russel @ SGA. He has told me that since my vehicle is a 2013, and that the 8HP was an option in 2013, that his harness isn’t needed and that if i wanted to i could wire everything up myself but it’s better to buy his harness as it goes by OEM wiring diagrams. I have also asked him if Tow/Haul would work after (i tow a lot) and he said that it would as i quote “it will all work as factory if properly coded.”
 

1SLwLS1

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Hey guys, been reading this thread all day but it’s been more of just quickly glancing over it. Prepare for a long post below.

As i said pretty much a year ago now, i have a 4.7L id like to do this on. My RFE is going out (torque converter clutch is pulsating, trans is just not happy in general) and i’m not going to be wasting 2K on another RFE.

I’ve spent the past 4 months researching as much as possible on this swap - i forget if my truck has the brown or white plug. It is a 2013 so i would suspect a brown plug. The 4.7L is fully compatible with the 5.7L 8HP70 flexplate, and i know the 65RFE engine/trans intermediate plate is the same of that used on the 8HP70 along with the dust shield. Torque converter stud should also fit into the 4.7L as both 4.7 and 5.7 shared the exact same transmissions.

I have noticed in AlfaOBD, in the BCM, that I have the options to change which type of transmission i have along with what type of electronic shifter i’m using. There’s a few different transmission types (i think 65RFE, 66RFE, 68RFE, Nag1, ZF 8-Speed and one other.) Reading this thread over again i see that if you have the brown plug PCM you don’t need the kit from SGA and can just run factory transmission wiring into the dash/tranny? I haven’t torn my dash apart and do not know if i have wiring for the 8HP shifter. I’m going to go and check my PCM and make sure it’s a brown plug after this post though.

Can you use the OEM 8HP trans mount? Id like to go down that route instead of butchering together something. I know it needs a 2 piece driveshaft as well. I have 500$ saved up at the moment and I am going to begin buying all the smaller parts now as i need to have the truck ready with the 8HP by mid next year.
My 2013 with the 5.7 did have the OE 8-speed shifter wiring behind the dash - there was even a little cutout within the support structure to secure it for vehicles with the 65RFE not utilizing it.

You will need the OE 8HP70 transmission bracket (68147349AB) and the insulator (68147348AB), which gets bolted to your factory transmission crossmember support between the frame rails - not 100% sure that crossmember is the same between all models but I think so - you may need to check specific 4.7 swaps. Depending on where you buy your transmission, many from junk yards and LKQ come with those (2) parts listed above, the bracket and the insulator.

The real part you will need to fabricate is the driveshaft carrier support cross-member (680550980AB). I am pretty sure that part is now discontinued. Even if it isn't discontinued, you will need to weld it in or fabricate some way to secure it to the frame in the correct location.
Also, forgot to mention, i have talked to Russel @ SGA. He has told me that since my vehicle is a 2013, and that the 8HP was an option in 2013, that his harness isn’t needed and that if i wanted to i could wire everything up myself but it’s better to buy his harness as it goes by OEM wiring diagrams. I have also asked him if Tow/Haul would work after (i tow a lot) and he said that it would as i quote “it will all work as factory if properly coded.”
I have Russell's kit but my Tow/Haul does NOT work, but I also haven't tried to get it to work, yet. He told me in my first email correspondence with him that it would NOT work. That is a problem I will address way down the line, if needed.

I would get real familiar with sites like moparonlineparts that have the replacement parts catalogs with diagrams and PNs where you can search various vehicle configurations and compare parts to make sure you have what you need.
 

1SLwLS1

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Yes, I sent him my RAM TCM and he flashed it with the Challenger firmware. Then I had to redo my "tune" because the Challenger uses different settings and would not shift properly with the truck file. Basically, I just copied all my truck settings to the calibration that was in the re flashed TCM using the HPT Compare feature and it was all good.
Does your tow/haul work? I didn't think about if the challenger firmware has a tow/haul mode and I was going to ship Russell my TCM over the holidays.
 

TheEnder

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My 2013 with the 5.7 did have the OE 8-speed shifter wiring behind the dash - there was even a little cutout within the support structure to secure it for vehicles with the 65RFE not utilizing it.

You will need the OE 8HP70 transmission bracket (68147349AB) and the insulator (68147348AB), which gets bolted to your factory transmission crossmember support between the frame rails - not 100% sure that crossmember is the same between all models but I think so - you may need to check specific 4.7 swaps. Depending on where you buy your transmission, many from junk yards and LKQ come with those (2) parts listed above, the bracket and the insulator.

The real part you will need to fabricate is the driveshaft carrier support cross-member (680550980AB). I am pretty sure that part is now discontinued. Even if it isn't discontinued, you will need to weld it in or fabricate some way to secure it to the frame in the correct location.

I have Russell's kit but my Tow/Haul does NOT work, but I also haven't tried to get it to work, yet. He told me in my first email correspondence with him that it would NOT work. That is a problem I will address way down the line, if needed.

I would get real familiar with sites like moparonlineparts that have the replacement parts catalogs with diagrams and PNs where you can search various vehicle configurations and compare parts to make sure you have what you need.
Where was your 8HP shifter harness located? Are you talking about the wire that’s put into a dummy plug on the right side of the dash when you take off the radio bezel? Isn’t that just for the 12V optional outlet?

I’ll be the first one doing the 8HP swap on a RAM 1500 with the 4.7 too, so i wanna be sure everything is correct. Thank you.
 

1SLwLS1

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Where was your 8HP shifter harness located? Are you talking about the wire that’s put into a dummy plug on the right side of the dash when you take off the radio bezel? Isn’t that just for the 12V optional outlet?

I’ll be the first one doing the 8HP swap on a RAM 1500 with the 4.7 too, so i wanna be sure everything is correct. Thank you.
There was something on the right side but I am 99% certain there was the shifter wiring harness on the left side behind the radio/HVAC controls.
 
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