Dodge 48re transmission recommendations

[Fastass350]

Looking at buying a reman for my 04 Cummins. Little back story… got 200k from the original trans, about 60 when rebuilt from a shop I know with a good rep, took it back when a planetary gear broke a tooth and locked it up twisting the intermediate shaft. He didn’t do a full rebuild just replaced the parts and new converter. Now 30k later reverse is toast. I could tear it apart and replace the band but I use it to tow for my business and need to rely on it.

That said, I’m looking at either BD or ATS. Anyone have any recommendations for one over the other?

[Born2late]

I have a bd in one of my 2nd gens and hate it. I tow with my truck daily and can only tow with that truck in cool weather or it heats up. I had to put a tranny cooler on it also. It is in a 98-1/2 Cummins.
I had a local guy build my one for my 96 and it is awesome, runs cool shifts good and hasn’t given me a single problem. I have a 96 megacab that I’m building that he will be building my transmission for.
I would check out ats out of your 2 options and talk to them and be very specific in the conditions you’ll be running it in and what you want out of it. That way they understand your expectations.
Good luck and let us now what happens, I always like to here feed back on dodges, we have 6 of them.

[baker5150]

Firepunk
Hands down best there is.
You won’t regret it.

[Fastass350]

Thanks for the info I’ll cross BD off my list. What’s the name of the shop in Spokane maybe I’ll take mine into him.

I looked a little at firepunk but hadn’t heard of them before so I didn’t look much. I’ll look into them more.

[Buckhunter24]

I got great service from Louies in Spokane years back. The owner really knew his stuff and was out in the shop both times I went in. Rode in the passenger seat up and down I90 with me after he rebuilt it to make sure I was happy

[raydog]

Just installed a BD in my dad's 05 a few months ago. I think it's well built. I wanted him to try firepunk, but he wanted a name he knew of.

We just towed a 10k machine yesterday. The transmission did great, very nice solid shifts. But I'd bet anything feels better than that factory slush box.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Hopefully this thread gets traction about these 48re's. I love real life talk about these trucks. Got 150 thousand out of our 03 slush box. Had a Goerend rebuild with input shaft and triple disker converter. 8 grand on it now. Smooth, locks up good and solid. When shopping them I couldn't find anything bad about them. If I didn't go Gorend probably would  be a BD. Goerend website and you tube has alot of info.

[grimace]

I have a '05. The stock trans got a soft rebuild at just under 70k (front pump, converter, misc parts). Since the warranty was almost up, the dealer was willing to put in after market parts for me. I purchased a BD converter, valve body and their OD lock out kit. That trans made it to 375k always ran cool, towed all over WA, ID, MT. The converter was a little lower stall speed than stock, it made a big difference when towing. During covid the tranny finally started to go, BD didn't have anything for parts/transmissions so I had a local shop build HD towing trans with all the options.   I sure miss that BD converter....

[spin05]

i second the Firepunk transmission. Thats the route im going if mine ever takes a dump in my 04'

[Tim in Wa.]

I had a ATS on my 03.Still had the same over heating issue as the stock trans.The problem is that even with an over size trans cooler the fluid wont circulate unless the torque converter is locked up.

[Fastass350]

All this talk of getting warm is interesting, what temps are you all talking about?  Mine has an Isspro gauge that never has been above 200

[Tim in Wa.]

It was over 220 a couple of times.It was fine as long as I could get it into 3rd or 4th gear and would drop fast to about 160

[Born2late]

If I’m towing on i5 in traffic in the summer I always have to have the tranny cooler running if I’m not doing over 50. Temps would go well beyond 220 if I let them. With the cooler on I can usually keep it at about 190.i will only use the truck to tow in cooler weather. In comparison my 96 will tow at 170 no problems.

[Special T]

So I have have an 04 dodge with 208k miles on it. It was my father in laws 4x4 purchased new. He didn't tow a lot with it.  I've always had 2wd sticks and I'm starting my research now. This isn't a daily driver and probably will put less than 10k a year on it. Mostly towing 10k lbs or bobtailing.  I'm in the process of thinking my dodge fleet and this will likely be my only truck in a year or so. I'm not afraid to throw some decent cash at this. I was thinking a new or complete rebuild, bullet  proof cooler set up and banks came out with a ram air transmission cooling pan.

Any suggestions on a performance shop up in the NW corner of the state?

[Boss .300 winmag]

🤔

[Joyce]

I don't have first hand experience but I know some folks who have had good luck with Dynamic Transmissions in Newman Lake.

[Fastass350]

Well it’s finally coming back to life soon. After a very busy summer with no time or extra change to make the repairs, I finally sold my snow plow truck setup and ordered a reman from WP developments. Did a lot of reading over whiskey in the evenings and after talking with them I felt like they were a good choice. I was even contemplating an Allison swap at one point 🙄
So in a couple weeks we should be testing it out 🤙🏼

[Special T]

What aftermarket oil pan should I get?  Banks doesn't make one for that transmission. I need to replace the 2nd gear solenoid  so I'm thinking a deeper pan with the drain plug at the same time as servicing.

[92xj]

They are all pretty much the same.  I believe ATS make one for the 47/48 tranny.   5 extra quarts really helps the temps.   I had one on my last 68tranny and will be putting one on the “new” truck I just picked up.    It helped temps when towing by 30 degrees when pulling 9k up cabbage hill in the summer running 73 mph, hammered down out of the hairpins to get back up to speed.   Was pretty impressive. 

[Fastass350]

Lots of options for pans, but depending on what you do you might look into ones that help add rigidity to the case if you pull hard. The little I know about them that’s one thing I’ve read anyway. This one I just bought came with a cast aluminum pan that is super deep.

After getting into my swap, they sent me with a new mishimoto trans cooler that I put in today, it’s way larger than factory and the top portion is exposed above the intercooler so it’ll see a little bit of direct air. It also claims it holds more fluid which is always good.

[Tim in Wa.]

I had an entire ATS trans. plus a Mishimoto oversize cooler in my 03
the temps still spiked on uphill grades regardless of towing or not.I think its a design flaww in the tranny.It won't circulate fluid through the cooler unless the torque converter is locked.Several thousand $ down the crapper
FYI it had the oversize pad and the cooler had more capacity and a much larger cooling surface

[baker5150]

I had an entire ATS trans. plus a Mishimoto oversize cooler in my 03
the temps still spiked on uphill grades regardless of towing or not.I think its a design flaww in the tranny.It won't circulate fluid through the cooler unless the torque converter is locked.Several thousand $ down the crapper
FYI it had the oversize pad and the cooler had more capacity and a much larger cooling surface

The 48re cycle fluid anytime the trans is in gear, regardless of TC lock-up.

They CAN cycle fluid when in P or N if you modify the valve body.  A fairly easy fix if your handy and don't mind drilling holes in your valve body.

They build temp when the TC is not locked up.  Fluid coupling in the TC builds heat fast.  It's typical to see upwards of 220 degrees on long, slow pulls.
The easy solution is to add a manual lock-up switch so the TC can be locked in 2nd or even 1st gear.