1997 47RE reliability

[ILIANBG]

Hi everyone. I am trying to learn more about the 47RE transmissions. I might be able to get a 1997 truck, 4x4, auto. Truck has over 220000 miles.
So I wanted to ask anyone that has experience with it, how are these transmissions holding up, and what are the items that need to be addressed? What is important? What to look for? How long do they last before needing rebuilding?
How do they handle a good payload, a 2 axle utility trailer, ot a slide-in camper? It’s getting hard to find a manual trans. trucks.
Thank you all.
Ilian

 

[Timd32]

Here is a good thread.....

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...automatic-transmission-with-no-issues.267458/

 

[Ozymandias]

Buy it - best Engine ever.
And for the Trans- it all depends how it was used and serviced in its first life.
But there are tons of good solutions out there to beef it up.

 

[SAndreasen]

All it takes is money to rebuild one the last one I had done was about 5000$ . They will handle light loads like you are looking at fine . I don’t think I’d ever buy another one but I haul pretty heavy all the time and the 5 speed Is Easy to work on .

 

[Timd32]

Sounds about right $4k-$7k is what I've noticed people post.

Mines in the higher end of that range.

I think I would hard pressed to pay top dollar for a truck that has no history then drop +$4k into it. But $10k range, you can put like $7500 all in over a year or three and have a really nice truck. If it's not all rotted out to nothing.

But yeah they are still pretty good little work horses.

This picture is a few years old was 205k on my all original 47RE, never maintained by PO, very neglected. It worked for 2+ years.

Get some gauges installed, freshen the fuel system up with quality filters and replace the rubber lines, keep the stock airbox new quality filter, do the battery cables and if needed some of the ground wire mods and you.got a nice little ride.

Check out Genos Garage for specials, ask folks if they have spares lying around if budget is an issue.

 

[ILIANBG]

Thank you guys. Yes, I miss my 02 truck, but need a 4x4 now, so I’m looking. First I was seriously considering a 3 Gen truck, but after reading all those injector stories, I am thinking about going with a 12v. It’s really hard to find a 12v manual trans.
I know nothing about the auto transmissions though- maintenance or service. What is the recommended maintenance on these? I am a carpenter, so it’ll be a work truck too, probably with a shell, lumber rack and a tool/ utility trailer behind. Also a bigger 2 axle dump trailer will be used.
Thanks again!

 

[Ozymandias]

No problems with the injectors today on the CRDs, these are long gone.
First batch was problematic, then Bosch revised them several times till today.
I think there are not a lot trucks out there that still runs the factory injectors.

All truck have one or other problems, some can be dealt with, some not so much.
For example Gen2 has horrible bad brakes, where Gen3 is state of the Art.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I looked HARD for a NICE 01.5-02 Sport, LongBed 6 speed in GOOD condition. Just not out there with all the criteria I mentioned.

I finally gave up and bought this clean one owner Sport with auto and 123k on odo. I have ran it for two Summers adding about 14k. Went thru it relocating the overflow bottle to the bumper with a PEAK model and removed radiator and cleaned everything up along with all fluids and belts/hoses.

So far very happy especially like how well the trans shifts compared to my 98 12V.

The pan was spotless when I removed it on the trans. It had 25k or so on the fluid so I would have expected much more on the magnet and fines in the pan. Did a full fluid exchange with AMZ/OIL Universal Sig Series fluid. Actually truck is 100% AMZ/OIL even the brake fluid!

 

[SAndreasen]

If I bought one it would have to be the bottom end of the scale or known history with maintenance records if it was in perfect shape otherwise I’d think about getting one . Those automatics can be expensive to play with by the time you get it diagnosed and then rebuilt I don’t have much of a desire to go through it again

 

[DonFitzwater]

If I bought one it would have to be the bottom end of the scale or known history with maintenance records if it was in perfect shape otherwise I’d think about getting one . Those automatics can be expensive to play with by the time you get it diagnosed and then rebuilt I don’t have much of a desire to go through it again

Auto's are easier to repair and beef up to handle big power, that's why manual transmissions are a thing of the past.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Auto's are easier to repair and beef up to handle big power, that's why manual transmissions are a thing of the past.

sad but true

 

[SAndreasen]

Just not for the dodge automatic! I can build 5 or 6 nv4500 for the price of one 47re and have a lot more reliable rig

 

[SAndreasen]

Auto's are easier to repair and beef up to handle big power, that's why manual transmissions are a thing of the past.

 

[DonFitzwater]

View attachment 120308 View attachment 120309 Just not for the dodge automatic! I can build 5 or 6 nv4500 for the price of one 47re and have a lot more reliable rig

Are you aware they make far more capable trucks now a days?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Don I agree, But there is something about a truck that you hear and feel!!!

 

[DonFitzwater]

Don I agree, But there is something about a truck that you hear and feel!!!

Oh, I know what you mean. I keep my cherry old 1995 around just to make me appreciate the new trucks. If feels so good when I leave the house but by the time I'm done putting in a few hundred miles I'm ready for the new truck again.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I bought my 01 Sport to be used as my summer Truck when at our home base. I did not like taking the DRW to the Boat Launches where people have no clue how to park!

But I also Missed the Second gen after putting 300k my self on my 98 12V.

So my 15 sets unless we tow the RV somewhere in the summers now and the Sport is then the Daily Driver!

This is my entertainment along with MC Riding in the Summers going out on the San Juan Islands.

 

[gcorron]

168k on my 97, 47RE still going strong. I did add a mag-hytec pan, but other than that bone stock. have always used Amsoil fluid.

George

 

[SAndreasen]

Are you aware they make far more capable trucks now a days?

I’ll take that bet

 

[SAndreasen]

I bought my 01 Sport to be used as my summer Truck when at our home base. I did not like taking the DRW to the Boat Launches where people have no clue how to park!

But I also Missed the Second gen after putting 300k my self on my 98 12V.

So my 15 sets unless we tow the RV somewhere in the summers now and the Sport is then the Daily Driver!

This is my entertainment along with MC Riding in the Summers going out on the San Juan Islands.

View attachment 120333

I do love the sports ! Did they make them in duallys