2nd Gen 6spd to ZF 8HP95 conversion

[RHocker]

I bought my truck new and absolutely love it. For an '01 it's got low miles @174k. However, I'm an old fart and the knees are wearing out so I've researched automatic transmissions. Here's what I have found and what it means to me:

Dodge transmissions don't seem to do what I want. Spend a buncha money and use them but there are compromises.

Allisons... great gearbox. Programming is the BIG snafu. My example is even after 5-6 years of professional conversions I still talk to owners who have real issues with shifting.

Aisin... again, a great transmission but literally no way that I've found to electronically connect it to the non-electronic '01 Cummins. It just requires so many inputs I don't have.

ZF 8HP95... It's installed behind the Hellcat hemis. Looking at the hp and torque limitations my stock engine won't turn it inside out.
Two stand alone transmission controllers are made and they work, one better than the other. the one that works the best replaces the in-transmission controller and has SUPER customer support.
Advance Adapters will have an adapter and spud shaft for my transfer case to the 8HP95 by the end of the year.
That's the good. Now the bad.
Nobody makes a torque converter for a Cummins diesel for the 8HP95. All the diesels the ZFs are fitted to are high rpm engines. One outfit flat told me it couldn't be done. ATS should be testing theirs after the first of the year. (Guess)
The block adapter can be made. ATS is making one as part of their conversion. I can get a Precision 3D scan and have one made also.
Overall cost is projected to be similar to the Allison.

As you can tell I lean toward the ZF.

I just put the first clutch, pressure plate and flywheel in the Dodge so I figure I'm good to 300k if my knees hold out. Just looking at alternatives to spending $80k+ on a new truck!

 

[BigPapa]

In MY opinion, you'd be much better served with a Goerend 47RE. Much less expensive, no need for controllers, and very dependable. I had one in my '98 that had at least 200K on it when I sold it and it was still strong and never gave me a problem.

 

[AnonEd]

I'd a pal with an old square-body GM dually and a blown 496" big-block, who put a Cummins 5.9 in it...he said the TH400 was built for the blower engine and would be fine. Three weeks later he was gathering parts for a transmission swap...in a Hellcat the tires are usually the fuse. If 4 gears as BigPapa suggests aren't enough you could probably add an OD or splitter and still be less $.

 

[BarryG]

I agree with Big Papa. While I never ran a Goerend as they didn't become mainstream until later I did run a DTT built 47re in my 01. When I sold the truck to my BIL with 375k miles on it in 2017, 275k miles of it were with the DTT trans. I dont recall ever having an issue with the trans in those 275k miles. My BIL is still driving it today though I do not know the current mileage.
DTT is long gone at this point. I knew a couple DTT installers/shops that when DTT started giving up the ghost they switched to Goerend and were quite happy with the product. I would think that unless you really want more gears the 47re transplant would be easier and less expensive, probably much less expensive