DTT, ATS, or BD transmission???

[ChrisKringle]

Think I'm going with the DTT, but all I know is what I've been told on the phone.



Better fluid coupling on the DTT vrs. ATS, from what I gather.



ATS is higher in price as well.





Should I go with ATS instead? Get what ya pay for?

 

[FDavid]

transmission war!!! #ad




lol DTT is a good choice from what I hear, but don't forget to include suncoast to your research, heard lotsa good things about them too.

 

[fox]

Go find and test drive them.

Where are you?

 

[CumminsBu]

NV-5600 can't go wrong!!!

 

[AK RAM]

Go find and test drive them.

That is what I did... well, more like rode in them. Then, lots of research on what each offers and what parts do what. Look at my sig at the concoction I ended up with. It performs flawlessly, giving me the results I wanted, without the aspects I didn't want. My only beef was the high pressures in the DTT setup used to keep the single disk from slipping, and the awfully harsh shifts (to me) that come with the high pressures. The DTT update kit, servo, and accumulator piston have custom features that keep the high pressures from becoming damaging, but there was just no way around those shifts but to get a valve body that was a little calmer and a TC that would survive at the lower pressure levels. I have the best of both worlds in my mind, but then again, none of my DTT running friends ever complained about their harsh shifts either. All a matter of what you like I guess.

 

[mlockner]

DTT all the way, even the twins.

Mike L.

 

[Matt400]

My only beef was the high pressures in the DTT setup used to keep the single disk from slipping, and the awfully harsh shifts (to me) that come with the high pressures. The DTT update kit, servo, and accumulator piston have custom features that keep the high pressures from becoming damaging, but there was just no way around those shifts but to get a valve body that was a little calmer and a TC that would survive at the lower pressure levels.

Reading between the lines you started out all DTT and then made changes due to the harsh shifts?? What DTT valve body and TC did you have?

 

[AK RAM]

Negative. I did a lot of riding in different rigs, then did my research, then did my upgrades as funds allowed. ATS TC and VB was first, then DTT billet internals as money and horsepower dictated over a year later. I figured out where I wanted to be, what it would take to get there reliably, then picked my parts list and stuck with it over the years. No regrets and worked out beautifully. But like I said, none of my DTT driving friends ever complained of harsh shifts. It was just the one thing that stuck out in my mind every time I rode in one of their trucks. Personal preference I guess. All of the guys I know have their VBs set up for towing as they all tow religiously during the summer. I don’t think I ever rode in one that was setup for drag racing. I did let them talk me into trying an ATS performance VB at first……sent it back within a week and got the towing version. Much better.

 

[Cooker]

My only beef was the high pressures in the DTT setup used to keep the single disk from slipping

Personally I am not convinced that any of the performance transmission vendors line pressures are that much different from one another, but I have found it difficult to collect the information to validate this.

 

[JVolpe]

Ok, where is the experience here? I am trying to decide on which upgrade I want to go with. 48RE and I want to drag race. I am leaning toward DTT, but I know that the ATS is a very viable option. Come on somebody convince me one way or the other.

 

[Got Smoke?]

What about Dave Georend Trannies! Lifetime Warrenty on the Convertor & 100K warrenty on the valve body (if I'm not mistaken ) :-{} :-laf

 

[AK RAM]

I don't know the exact pressures either. Find a good transmission guy that has put in both and they can hook you up with real numbers. What I was able to gather, keeping in mind that this was almost two years ago so it may no longer be accurate, is as follows:



Stock VB flows 3. 5 gallons of fluid per minute.

ATS VB flows 4. 5 gallons of fluid per minute.

DTT VB flows 5+ gallons of fluid per minute.



If you can convert that to line pressure, then you are a better man than I.



For comparison, the BD-Power VB flowed 4 gallons per minute, requiring the use of their "Pressure Lock" device to keep the converter from slipping under high torque/low RPM towing. I believe BD is using a 2-disk converter now.



There are some benefits to higher pressures, but potential long term cons worry me. In the end, I'm glad I went the way I did, however, with DTT's custom internals, internal leakage due to the pressures should be a non-issue. If the shifts could have been toned down enough to suit me I may have went that route, but DTT advised against it if I used their TC.



They are all good folks. Just call and talk to them. They would rather you go with something else than buy their product and not be happy.

Ok, where is the experience here? I am trying to decide on which upgrade I want to go with. 48RE and I want to drag race. I am leaning toward DTT, but I know that the ATS is a very viable option. Come on somebody convince me one way or the other.

If raw performance and drag racing is your goal, my vote would probably go towards DTT. You can get a much tighter converter (91%), but you may not like towing with it. Also, the ATS converter is an animal, weighing just over 70lbs by itself... ... dry. Slinging that thing around will ultimately eat up precious HP at the track. My stock converter weighed 40lbs with some fluid still in it. I don’t know what the DTT converter weighs, but I'm told it is just over 50lbs.



Don't forget you have Georend and Suncoast to. Everyone has an opinion on transmissions. Make those phone calls. You can learn a lot.

 

[zstroken]

it really isn't the line pressures that make the harsh shift. It is the cleanup on the valvebody passages and transmission passages. The faster you get the fluid in and out the faster the internals work. Snappier the shift= shorter delay between release and supply of the bans/clutches

 

[Don-T]

I have an ATS Stage V in my truck. I had trouble with it not using second gear. ATS found me a good local transmission technician (instead of the people that installed it). He was able to find the problem and ATS paid the bill. ATS does stand behind their product! I would use them again. The tech also lowered the pressure just enough to make the shifts much easier. The truck now pulls the camper without feeling like it will break something when it shifts.

 

[DWMeyer]

I have used ATS for my Duramax and I will use them for my Dodge when the time comes. Clint stands behind his product very well--drove to Denver to have them work on the Chevy and they did everything they promised and more!

 

[Floor It]

I did sled pulling all last year and the transmission hasnt been out yet! It still shifts like it did the day we put it in!



John

 

[jnelson]

Factory TC out at 88,000

Installed a BD TC and VB - Went out at 288,000

Istalled a DTT TC 89%, rebuilt the VB, added a BM shift kit and 2nd gear band and when I sold the 2001 3500 QC CTD it had 433,000 and still had the original clutches and internal parts.



Truck was modded with stage 1 injectors and a PE comp box.

I used only Amsoil transmission fluid and Lubegard Additive.



Just my 2 cents from experience.

 

[CLAYTON]

I have Suncoast and man what an improvement over stock. The shifts are fast and firm. It feels great when I'm towing and when racing it feels like it's really converting the power to the ground. I am VERY happy with my Suncoast transmission.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Ats Vb

Negative. I did a lot of riding in different rigs, then did my research, then did my upgrades as funds allowed. ATS TC and VB was first, then DTT billet internals as money and horsepower dictated over a year later. I figured out where I wanted to be, what it would take to get there reliably, then picked my parts list and stuck with it over the years. No regrets and worked out beautifully. But like I said, none of my DTT driving friends ever complained of harsh shifts. It was just the one thing that stuck out in my mind every time I rode in one of their trucks. Personal preference I guess. All of the guys I know have their VBs set up for towing as they all tow religiously during the summer. I don’t think I ever rode in one that was setup for drag racing. I did let them talk me into trying an ATS performance VB at first……sent it back within a week and got the towing version. Much better.

I didn't want to feel like a dump truck just hit me in the bumper but I wanted a nice snap-like shift. My truck is an everyday driver that the wife drives from time-to-time so the performance vb was out. I believe the salesperson's name was Matt,. . but he told me that they had recently started using a vb that was inbetween the performance and towing so that is what I opted for. I love it.

 

[WDimig]

i have the suncoast transmission in mine with the racing VB, and shifts are very positive, and firm, i like it alot, and when lockup occurs im just all Oo.



wes