DTT transmissions

[Turbo Terry]

So I have a 1999 with injectors and box running 100 hp over stock. Transmission has a 89 percent torque converter. Transmission has a smart controller and a bd exhaust brake Transmission has been serviced regularly. Normal driving and haul a heavy truck camper a bit in the summer. 170 k miles. Transmission was built at 57 k How many more miles will this transmission go. What’s been your experience that have this transmission ????

 

[SnoKing]

According to Bill when I broke a hard part around 85K, the 89 percent single disk TQ was nearing end of life. transmission was built at 32K.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/dtt-torque-converter-question.255645/#post-2477271

 

[Turbo Terry]

According to Bill when I broke a hard part around 85K, the 89 percent single disk TQ was nearing end of life. transmission was built at 32K.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/dtt-torque-converter-question.255645/#post-2477271

 

[Turbo Terry]

So was this truck raced ? How much horsepower ? I suppose the input shaft broke. I have twice that mileage. I guess that’s my concern. I figured maybe 100 k ?

 

[SnoKing]

No, a machined retainer in the second gear drum/clutch pack broke, if I remember correctly. Retainer was machined down to get extra clutches in the pack. I was at around 325/650-700. Towed a 5th wheel with a combined weight of around 20,500. Lock to lock shifts with the DTT controller. I was going to have it rebuilt and talked to Bill and he said to NOT try to use the old TC. TC had nothing to do with the hard part failure, it was just Bill's acknowledgement that the TC did not have that long of a life span. I opt'd for the upgraded input shaft on the original build. SnoKing

 

[Turbo Terry]

No, a machined retainer in the second gear drum/clutch pack broke, if I remember correctly. Retainer was machined down to get extra clutches in the pack. I was at around 325/650-700. Towed a 5th wheel with a combined weight of around 20,500. Lock to lock shifts with the DTT controller. I was going to have it rebuilt and talked to Bill and he said to NOT try to use the old TC. TC had nothing to do with the hard part failure, it was just Bill's acknowledgement that the TC did not have that long of a life span. I opt'd for the upgraded input shaft on the original build. SnoKing

Very interesting. I have no place here in Alaska to rebuild it back to some good form to hold the horsepower

 

[Turbo Terry]

We have transmission shops but nothing that will do custom builds etc

 

[dieselshadow]

When I lived in Alaska, Bill sent me the parts needed and I built it myself in the garage. It’s not all that difficult, but not for the non-mechanically inclined folks.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Yep Bill sent my parts up all those years ago. There was a shop back then by Wasilla that did the build They did a great job. Actually calling Bill a few times but now shop is gone. Truck still shifts good now but for how long. Need a plan

 

[SnoKing]

Your biggest issue most likely is if the torque converter starts to fail, it sends "stuff/junk" throughout the transmission. When mine was rebuilt the second time it got a triple disc TC. I put an old style headlight switch on the floor next to the kick panel to turn the DTT smart controller on and off. A manual shift from second to third created an extreme harsh shift. So I would turn the smart controller off via my left foot if making the shift. That shift may have been what broke the hard parts. SnoKing

 

[Cummins12V98]

My first DTT went 150k, it internally bled to death! Second one has a bit over 150k.

 

[BarryG]

I had mine built by bill and crew at their shop at 101k. It is still going well at 375k as my bil now owns it after I sold it to him about 10k ago and it is still going strong.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I still like my truck and it still does what I need it to do. It’s a regular cab 8 ft box and fits perfectly in my garage. In 20-21 years I have rebuilt or had rebuilt the entire front end and many other things. I understand it and really don’t want a new truck.Besides a new regular cab and 8 ft box is 6 inches longer. Almost killing keeping it in the garage when I’m not using it which is why it’s still in pretty good shape. Also the slide in truck camper 3000 lbs and the truck fit together and I would have to remarry truck and camper again. Or sell together who knows. I see the transmission becoming my new weak link and I once unplugged my edge box a while back trouble shooting and lost 50 hp ? and the truck was so dead it wasn’t even fun to drive. So I need this power level and a transmission to hold it. No going back to stock

 

[Timd32]

Sounds like you have a decent trans now, so a refresh with some of the more consumable internals might be all you need.

Maybe just find a decent shop to get your parts kit from in the Lower 48. Then have a local builder do the tear down and reassembly. I worked with Goerend for my internals, if you needed VB work they might have to ship that out to a place in the lower 48.

There were some decent sounding shops around Fairbanks on Google anyway that seemed like they do HD builds. But I'm sure someone on here would have some real world reference for a shop up in AK.

 

[Turbo Terry]

That’s my goal now to maybe find a good builder in the state of Alaska. Torque converters and valve bodies can be shipped. My sister lives in Omaha where MTS /Goerend is maybe it’s time for a road trip down the ak hwy and a visit and a transmission rebuild. Wonder how long it takes to put one of there $4000 plus transmissions in if you had it all scheduled out first. Couldnt be more than a couple of days Better $4 k than the price of a new truck. I will keep working on it

 

[BigPapa]

So, your truck and trans are performing fine, but your going to drive from Alaska to Nebraska/Iowa to get a $4K transmission because yours has 113K miles on it?

 

[Cummins12V98]

That’s my goal now to maybe find a good builder in the state of Alaska. Torque converters and valve bodies can be shipped. My sister lives in Omaha where MTS /Goerend is maybe it’s time for a road trip down the ak hwy and a visit and a transmission rebuild. Wonder how long it takes to put one of there $4000 plus transmissions in if you had it all scheduled out first. Couldnt be more than a couple of days Better $4 k than the price of a new truck. I will keep working on it

About 4 hours!

 

[SnoKing]

If you really think you are ready to refresh it. Find someone local them knows how to tear down a 47RE and put it back together, and knows about triple disc TCers and lower stall speeds. Have them go through and clean it up and replace any worn parts with high quality replacements. The plate between the valve body and transmission has DTT's mods to flow fluid in park I believe. On my second rebuild the triple disc TC had way to high of stall speed and they had to pull it and put in a different one. My guy on the second rebuild had a local guy in Marysville, Wa that built the TCers.

You might call Mike at Northstate Auto Clinic if he is still there. He is an old horse that really knows 47REs. (360) 659-3333 He let me watch him tear down the transmission on the bench.


My first clue was strange shifting when cold. Here is a picture of my second clue.

It was the piece on the right in this picture of the direct drum that had been milled down to add additional clutch plate that broke.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Im retired ten years now. My family lives there sisters grandkids cousins and my wife has never been down the Ak hwy. I came up it exactly 30 years ago this month so a road trip we be ok

 

[Bob Wagner]

Nice to see you around Terry.