545 RFE replacements

[ShortBed]

Just wanted if anyone else has decided to get rid of the factory 545RFE transmission and replace it with something that can take the additional horsepower from modifying our trucks. I have installed a supercharger, and sent the stock transmission for a custom rebuild. Seems as if the stock transmission with all the bells and whistles cannot keep up with the added horsepower that the 5.7 can put out. My transmission has been built, rebuilt, rebuilt, and I just cannot see rebuilding it again. The time has come to go to the pros, and have a L460E GM transmission built to take the power that the hemi can put out. Has anyone else with this many modification had thee problems with the transmissions after heavily modifying their trucks?

 

[Burla]

The builds are built by HP, how much HP are you spitting out?

 

[Pull Ya]

Paramount seems to be pretty popular, but they ain't cheap. I think they built the trans that Matt is using with his stroker with the Whipple. It's an 8 speed however.
Jay

 

[Wild one]

Just wanted if anyone else has decided to get rid of the factory 545RFE transmission and replace it with something that can take the additional horsepower from modifying our trucks. I have installed a supercharger, and sent the stock transmission for a custom rebuild. Seems as if the stock transmission with all the bells and whistles cannot keep up with the added horsepower that the 5.7 can put out. My transmission has been built, rebuilt, rebuilt, and I just cannot see rebuilding it again. The time has come to go to the pros, and have a L460E GM transmission built to take the power that the hemi can put out. Has anyone else with this many modification had thee problems with the transmissions after heavily modifying their trucks?

Search on here for posts by Charonblk/Kurtis Holland,he's got a good write up on installing a 4L80E in his truck,i don't think you'd want the little 4L60 behind your 5.7.I'm to lazy to hunt up his article,so you're on your own to use the search function,lol

 

[Burla]

Suncoast

Also this is a great VB post, of course if you go all in with sun coast transmision with drum upgrade, the valve body is part of the deal.

 

[Burla]

Worth a Watch to see exactly what the weaknesses are with the rfe and possible fixes...

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I am a Mopar guy through and through. My only choice to replace the 545RFE would be an A-518. It is basically a 727 with an overdrive unit bolted in place of the tailshaft. The 518 can be built to handle high horsepower and torque and still be a reliable unit. With the difference in gear ratios between the two units it would be advised to go with a lower rear axle gear ratio. Our trucks have 3.55 or 3.92 gears. If you have the 3.92 you may be okay but I would suggest a 4.10 or a 4.30 gear. The 545 has a 3.00:1 1st gear and the 518 has a 2.45:1 1st gear. The lower rear gear will help you out of the hole and you will still have the .69:1 4th gear to keep the RPM down while cruising at highway speeds. The 4L80E has almost identical gear ratios compared to the A518 and the A518 will bolt directly to the 5.7 HEMI. The only thing you would need is the GenIII HEMI to 727 Flexplate to bolt up to the convertor. That would be my idea.

 

[huntergreen]

Worth a Watch to see exactly what the weaknesses are with the rfe and possible fixes...

Tks for for the videos, good stuff.

 

[Wild one]

I am a Mopar guy through and through. My only choice to replace the 545RFE would be an A-518. It is basically a 727 with an overdrive unit bolted in place of the tailshaft. The 518 can be built to handle high horsepower and torque and still be a reliable unit. With the difference in gear ratios between the two units it would be advised to go with a lower rear axle gear ratio. Our trucks have 3.55 or 3.92 gears. If you have the 3.92 you may be okay but I would suggest a 4.10 or a 4.30 gear. The 545 has a 3.00:1 1st gear and the 518 has a 2.45:1 1st gear. The lower rear gear will help you out of the hole and you will still have the .69:1 4th gear to keep the RPM down while cruising at highway speeds. The 4L80E has almost identical gear ratios compared to the A518 and the A518 will bolt directly to the 5.7 HEMI. The only thing you would need is the GenIII HEMI to 727 Flexplate to bolt up to the convertor. That would be my idea.

Used to be a 2.74:1 first gear set available for the 904 and 727 not sure it still is,but put it in a 727 /hang a Gear Vendors overdrive unit off it,and you'd have the ability to split gears and turn the 727 into a 6 speed.Just throwing it out there.

 

[Wild one]

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/how-to-4th-gen-ram-gm-transmission-4l80e-swap.112665/

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Used to be a 2.74:1 first gear set available for the 904 and 727 not sure it still is,but put it in a 727 /hang a Gear Vendors overdrive unit off it,and you'd have the ability to split gears and turn the 727 into a 6 speed.Just throwing it out there.

The 2.74:1 low gear ratio originally came from the A-998/999 transmission which could easily be put in the A-904.

I know of a few companies who produce the 2.74:1 low gear for the 727. If I was going to swap an A-518 in place of my 545RFE I would be very tempted to use the 2.74 low gear planetary for the heavy 1500's. It would definitely make the truck more streetable without having to change the rear axle ratio to get these heavy b*tches out of the hole.

If you are curious about the A-518 capabilities, check out the A-518 Hellephant Transmission that is being built by CRT (Cope Racing Transmissions from Indiana. They seem to have put together a nice setup with their own reverse pattern valve body, shifter and dipstick to be used behind the GenIII 426ci HEMI.

From personal experience, I ran a 518 on the street in a 3700lb B-Body with a 915 horsepower 496ci RB stroker motor that also saw double duty at the track every weekend. The car ran 10.05's and my 518 never missed a beat. They can handle the GenIII HEMI just fine. Stick with the Mopar.

 

[Wild one]

The 2.74:1 low gear ratio originally came from the A-998/999 transmission which could easily be put in the A-904.

I know of a few companies who produce the 2.74:1 low gear for the 727. If I was going to swap an A-518 in place of my 545RFE I would be very tempted to use the 2.74 low gear planetary for the heavy 1500's. It would definitely make the truck more streetable without having to change the rear axle ratio to get these heavy b*tches out of the hole.

If you are curious about the A-518 capabilities, check out the A-518 Hellephant Transmission that is being built by CRT (Cope Racing Transmissions from Indiana. They seem to have put together a nice setup with their own reverse pattern valve body, shifter and dipstick to be used behind the GenIII 426ci HEMI.

From personal experience, I ran a 518 on the street in a 3700lb B-Body with a 915 horsepower 496ci RB stroker motor that also saw double duty at the track every weekend. The car ran 10.05's and my 518 never missed a beat. They can handle the GenIII HEMI just fine. Stick with the Mopar.

I ran the 2.74 set-up in an AMC 998 behind an 11 sec 401 30 years ago,it actually made for a nice street set-up.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I ran the 2.74 set-up in an AMC 998 behind an 11 sec 401 30 years ago,it actually made for a nice street set-up.

I totally agree. The 2.74 gear set would really help an A-518 survive longer with heavy street and track use by putting less stress on the internal components of the trans and less stress on the rest of the driveline. If you are spending the money to build a high horsepower snd torque capable transmission it only makes sense to spend the extra money to do this upgrade.

 

[michaelrc51]

I just purchased an ATS stage IV trans but haven't received it yet so I don't have any info to share as of yet.

Mike from L&M customs seemed to be the go to guy but I couldn't get a hold of him when I was ready, and I tried for at least 4 months.

 

[RLJ10X]

I looked at the ATS web sight. I am kind of surprised how reasonably priced a 545RFE stage 3 is. That's good to know.

 

[michaelrc51]

I looked at the ATS web sight. I am kind of surprised how reasonably priced a 545RFE stage 3 is. That's good to know.

Yeah, when pricing an OEM trans replacement and all I thought $2k for just the built trans is pretty cheap. I went for the Stage IV which comes with the co pilot, converter, and billet pan for $4200. Considering what you get for the money and what is done to the trans, it seems like a hell of a deal.

 

[RLJ10X]

Mike do you have an RC51?

 

[michaelrc51]

Mike do you have an RC51?

I did. Bought one new back in ‘01. I’m rocking a RSV4 now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[RLJ10X]

Man, that RSV4 is too much motorcycle for me. I was at Commonwealth in Louisville. They had a couple of those on the showroom floor. Beautiful. I'll stick to my little 848 Duc.

Keep us posted on how the tranny works out and how ATS is to deal with. I seriously doubt that I'll ever break my 545, I just don't run my truck all that hard. But if it does break, I'm going to change, and get something that's built much more stoutly.

Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll keep getting what you got. Hope the new ATS works out.

 

[michaelrc51]

Man, that RSV4 is too much motorcycle for me. I was at Commonwealth in Louisville. They had a couple of those on the showroom floor. Beautiful. I'll stick to my little 848 Duc.

Keep us posted on how the tranny works out and how ATS is to deal with. I seriously doubt that I'll ever break my 545, I just don't run my truck all that hard. But if it does break, I'm going to change, and get something that's built much more stoutly.

Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll keep getting what you got. Hope the new ATS works out.

View attachment 171613

That 848 is beautiful!

My RSV4 is a 2012 Factory APRC. I've modified just about everything on it. Motor is about the only stock thing, it's a trackday/ street bike. I'll post pics when she is 100% complete.

I'm getting the trans installed on Friday!
I'll report back later.