Pele

So I'm in the market for a used Diesel pickup and I've been shying away from the Dodges simply because I've been looking at Automatics... We all know Dodge is synonymous with blown transmission... Or is it? We all know the reputation the wankel has for reliability... And we also know that it's due to misuse, neglect, abuse, and owner ignorance. I've seen lots of blown Dodge automatic transmissions and not a single one of them was cared for. Caravans used to haul a literal ton of crap around, every day... Other cars and trucks where the fluid hadn't been changed ever and the sludge is the only thing holding the box together... Is the Dodge Automatic transmission the Rotary Engine of the gearbox world?

rotaryPOWAH

Automatic transmissions are inheritably flawed in the first place, add in the chance that a company were to make shortcuts to lower production costs and they're even more unreliable pieces of **** then they were designed to be.

Why are you looking into automatics?

SpeedOfLife

Inherently*

Yes, Dodge auto transmissions kinda suck ***. I worked in a rebuild shop and the Dodges caught a lot of flak around there. Tons of them came in with blown differentials, meaning an expensive rebuild because aside from any other issues they'd need a new diff AND casing.

thejallenator

if your lookin for a diesel id stay away from an older dodge, like the 90s all those are **** trucks. all my friends that have them have had to replace all the pumps in the fuel system. they are just a pain,

Pele

For towing and plowing... You unload the engine when you push the clutch to shift and therefore lose boost and momentum up a hill.

Also, when moving a stationary object like a tree stump of pile of snow or something, you can put the entire torque of the engine on the load without slipping the clutch.

As much as I like manual transmissions, I learned automatics have their place... I hate the manual in my current tow rig (ZF5 in a Ford F350) and I burned up a clutch in a smaller pickup towing cars and pulling logs out of my yard.

Differential is different than the transmission. The Danas in the larger pickups are pretty stout.

You're joking right? The Cummins 6BT 12 valve is damn near bulletproof. It's found in commercial trucks and industrial equipment.

rotaryPOWAH

Thank you, I knew that was the word I was looking for... It was too early for me to care.

red_ricer

The 6bt is an extremely reliable diesel engine and a fantastic platform. They came equipt with a stout injection pump both the VE, on the 1st gens, and the P7100 on the 2nd gen. 12V. The P7100 being the most common pump for performance modifications.

As for their transmissions, now thats a different story. The second gen diesel trucks had the 47RH in the 12V trucks and the 47RE in the 24V VP trucks. I personaly have the 47RE in my 2001 24V VP truck. The transmission did last quite some time even with the Edge Drag Comp box. It lasted because of all the highway miles that I put on it. When it did finally go, I had the stocker build from Goerend in Iowa. The bill came to around $5500 for a built tranny and a built torque convertor. When I say the tranny is built, it is built; everything has been gone through along with billet shafts and the converter is a billet 3 disc style. Dave Goerend told me I should never have to worry about another transmission in the truck again. He said infact, if you do get another truck take that 47RE out and put it in your new truck, assuming you get another 24V VP truck. Now, the truck is a whole different animal.

From factory the stock dodge diesel trannys are built loose. Shifting is loose and even when the convertor is locked you still feel as if the engine is revving faster than the truck is accelerating.

Pele

^ +1

I was looking for a P7100 equipped 12 valve.

red_ricer

Thats a good choice. I just had to replace the VP44 injection pump in my 24V; it now has around 165K on the ODO and it still runs, drives, and pulls like it did when it was new. The 12V is a better choice IMHO unless you don't want the hassle of turning the pump up mechanically. The 12V trucks are known for going many many hundreds of thousands of miles without any significant work. The only major flaw off hand I can think of is the KDP, the killer dowl pin, and obviously the automatic transmissions, unless the truck stays 100% stock. The KDP is an alignment pin for the front case on the front of the engine. Over time, and with the vibration of the engine, it can work itself loose and fall into the cam gear of the engine or between the case and the gear causing the case to crack and oil going everywhere. Luckily the solution is a longer bolt and a tab to hold the pin in place along with a couple hours to put it in.

banzaitoyota

400K on my 92 VE Pumped Auto 2wd

280K on my 99 VP44 Auto

Yup real pieces of **** LOL

SpeedOfLife

fcdrifter13

What happens the most is the bands are not adjusted as they should be and the front pumps get weak. For about 700$ you could have a manual valve body and a stronger front pump with a lock up switch installed.

Personally I would have put a 47re in my 79 ford im building but it wouldn't work with the np203 to make it awe.

mastawyrm

My mom's caravan went 160k and needed a 3rd rebuild on the tranny. My dad's Grand cherokee went about 110k when the tranny broke the second time. I had a rental magnum once with just a few thousand miles and the transmission started sticking in gear and even forced the engine off(I guess it didn't unlock).

None of their other cars had so many transmission problems and I've never owned an auto so I can't comment. Then again, the big trucks are likely different.

Pele

When it does finally **** the bed, I will be going with an overkill, bulletproof transmission...

In order of importance, I will be getting:
1.) Triple clutch Torque Converter
2.) Manual Valve Body
3.) Kevlar clutches and bands
4.) Billet input shaft
5.) Billet output shaft
6.) Billet intermediate shaft

galvatron10000

i have a 2006 sebring with the 40TE in it. 220000KM on it, about 130000 miles and i never have a prob with the tranny. knock on wood, but i'm planning to give her a lil tune up this summer and it should last me an other 5 yr easy. i need repairs there and there, its because i spend more time on my FD, but after 6 winters, i don't have a spot of rust on and in it.

from what i seen.. most company will put a 4 cylinder transmission in a V6 or bigger and the tranny cannot take the torque. also don't drive that weak tranny like you drive your FD. cars and tranny like that were not made for the track.
my friend had to change is transaxles in his Accord 2 times, because the tranny is weak and its for a little 1.8l and he have a V6 in it

bouis

I had a shitty car with a shitty automatic transmission. It failed at about 100k miles. I said, why did it fail. Someone with one said you have to change the ATF every 25k miles.

Every 25k miles!?

Yes, that's what the maker says.

Why? The fluid fails early because the transmission runs too hot. They knew it when they designed the thing and didn't care.

seandizzie

Pele- if you ever do get the dodge... I know the builders at suncoast, I can hook you up with a fully built tranny and a triple disk converter out the back door for half the price you'd pay out the front.

Pele

I do have the Dodge... 2001 Cummins with 47RE.

So far at 179K it's running great. I'm gonna wait till the transmission dies, then I'll look you up.

Thanks for the offer.

banzaitoyota

My 99 is still running strong at 315,000

kompressorlogic

get a chevy with the Allison ?

Pele

Original transmission?
Any heavy towing?
Do you have an exhaust brake or torque converter lockup controller?

Then I wouldn't have a Cummins engine...

Ideal truck would be a Cummins engine, Allison 1000 transmission, and a Ford body.

banzaitoyota

Tyranny rebuilt at 68K under warranty,tows my 35' goose neck race car trailer and the 20' equipment trailer. VP44 blue chip special, air dog lift pump, rv275 Bosch injectors, glacier big line kit, bhaf

Pele

Nice...


My truck's got 180K on it currently.

I had to do the VP44 at 165K. I put on an AirDog, Vulcan big fuel lines, and ISSPRO Gauges at the same time.

No injector upgrades, but I hear the changed spray pattern and pop off pressure of the RV275 injectors both increase power AND fuel economy...

I do have a Smarty tuning programmer and I have it on the mileage setting.

I gotta pitch the K&N air filter that's in it currently and put on a BHAF.