DTT vs others

[n4hwl]

This is not to start a big argument or anything like that . I just want to get the members opinion on different shops that upgrade our automatic transmissions to actually hold up and work like thay should have been designed in the beginning. I have heard a lot of good comments and testimonies by many members praising DTT and their products and customer service. What about other transmission places out there? The comments I have read during the past year of two have seem to be quite heavily weighted toward DTT. Am I wrong and have read the postings wrong ? Is there other dealers out there that make just as good of products as DTT.

To make the responsed fair I dont think any of the transmission dealers should toot their own horn here. I just want the opinions of the working members of TDR with the experience of upgrading their transmissions. Thanks if advance for your help and opinions. I have learned a world of stuff about my truck from being a member of TDR. .



Thanks agn

Ken Tenpenny

 

[24V-DSL]

Ken... . looks like your question is sincere, so... .



Approx. 36K on my DTT. Absolutely love how my transmission works, and Bill and his crew/family are just flat good people. I drive 375 miles once a year to change filter/fluid..... also sneak over to see Piers, too.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I think doing a search would serve you better. there is very lengthy threads about this subject. whatever upgrade you make is better than stock. How much power you intend on running is a major factor. Good luck.

 

[StakeMan]

Do a search, there is more than 1 good transmission builder.



If Swamp Donkey posts, don't listen to him!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

What Steak means is that he want's to experience many different trannies. We are working on a deal for my used BD TC & VB as I write this. Off to answer all of Steaks questions via PM. :-laf:-laf









I have had good luck with DTT. My PCM on the other hand... ... ... ...

 

[rrausch]

Bill K was the first, I believe, to solve the 47RH and 47RE's weaknesses, and bring this relatively strong stock transmission to a point that it would transmit the h. p. & torque the Cummins can deliver. His approach was to build a better stator, so that the fluid coupling was much stronger than stock.



Another company, ATS of Wheat Ridge, Co. , has also solved the stock transmission's problems. ATS got their start in the early 1990's as Dodge/Cummins owners started hauling loads of livestock, pipe etc. back and forth over the Rockies in the Denver area. Well, these hot-shotters soon started melting/tearing up the linings on their Torque Converters. ATS was at the time (and still is) the biggest manufacturer of racing and high H. P. Torque converters in the West, so it seemed natural to try to solve the Dodge 47RH's problems. Part of their approach was to come up with an absolutely solid Torque Converter: the TripleLok. The TripleLok has 3 times the clutch area of the stock TC. It is just bombproof! In addition, they take the stock stator and go at it with a 4-axis CNC machine. This improvement in the stock stator makes the truck go like heck in non-lockup. They also do a number of other improvements to the stock trans, like adding extra clutches & steels to the 3rd/Rev and overdrive clutch sets. They add a strengthened band strut, better bearings in several places, and make improvements to the Valve Body so the transmission will lubricate itself in park, (stock won't), and shift locked if you want. Time will tell all tales, of course, but ATS seems to have come up with a most powerful, reliable, simple system.



Don Ramer & Clint Cannon, the owners of ATS both drive Dodge/Cummins trucks, and are members of the TDR. They are great guys, and own a great trans. shop. The ATS number is 800-949-6002

It is a family operation with Clint's wife Renee, and his father-in-law Fred, (A retired Gates fluid drive engineer) also working there.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

n4hwl



You will get opinions on the board cause that's the way people are and I'm no different, I like my transmission and would do it again in a heartbeat. Do your home work, talk to the companies and get price quotes from them all but decide right now what you will do with the transmission in the future... am I going to tow, race or just drive and at what power level and how often am I going to use that power level..... Do you need croed shafts, billet ect. The one thing I will add about DTT is I have heard what the converter count is for production to date... . Quadruple digit.



Jim

 

[Koa Man]

DTT, ATS & Goerend are all good transmission builders and you should be happy with any one of them. Features and price can vary a lot. I've also heard good things about BD's newest TC. Call each one and talk to them. Get a feel of what each offers and go with your gut feeling. They are all good.

 

[RichB59]

DTT

I have the DTT 89% Torque converter VB and the rest of the upgrades includeing the smart box. Expensive but good. I wish the hell I had bought a six speed but this makes the auto a strong link to the rear wheels. LOL on your choice.



RichB

 

[amsoilman]

N4HWL,

Many things have been said about the "stock" TC in the Dodge/Cummins application. The "stock" TC is ok as long as you do not increase the power! I have seen several of the Dodge/Cummins automatics with well over 100,000 miles and still going. The problems come about from "upgrading" the power! If you stay stock power, your transmission and TC will most likely hold up very well. I personally have a friend who has over 175,000 on his 94 Dodge/Cummins, and he hauls a 5th wheel all over the place. He was the one that origanlly came up with the "mystery" switch. This was way back in 95! My Grandson also has a 94 with over 110,000 on his as well... ... ..... no problems.



Bottom line, if your going to increase the power, then you should get some kind of modification on the TC.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[MD500E]

I have the DTT setup in my truck and love it! However, I do like what I have been hearing about the tripple lock converter. I cringe when, by accident, I floor the truck while merging on the interstate and the tc locks up under full power. Can't be a good thing! Maby the tripple lock would be a little better for that.

I will admit, the main reason I picked DTT over the others, was because of all of the praise from soo many TDR members. So far, I am very happy with my choice!

 

[rrausch]

I agree Amsoilman, my stock trans lasted over 105,000 miles and most of that was bombed! But the last 30,000 I couldn't floor it in low RPM lock-up or it would slip. It was OK around town, but I couldn't have towed with it. It was only a matter of time before the stock TC disintegrated and then the debris from that would have choked/ruined my trans. Knowing that, and loving any excuse to take the Dodge on a trip, I went to Wheat Ridge.



krussel, the TripleLok IS better for that. I floor mine under those conditions all the time and just sit back and enjoy the ride.



Also, I forgot in my earlier post the ATS also gives you a cyroed input shaft, a billet TC cover, a reinforced dampener, and some other strengthened parts I can't think of just this second.

 

[Jetpilot]

Here is my $. 02 worth... .



I have used DTT in my 01 Dodge with great success. I have no personal experience with ATS, BD, or any of the other after market manufactorers. So far I have put over 750RWHP through my transmission with no breakage, TC slippage, or problems! In Muncie I made 12 back-to-back passes with no damage. DTT offers many upgrade options besides TC's & VB's, Cryoed or billet shafts and hubs, are just an example.



Most members have an opinion on which brand is best... . Do some research and choose what you think will work best for you. My personal vote is for DTT and the Kondolay family.



Good luck,



Doug

 

[JR2]

I too have a DTT TC/VB in my transmission and I am completly staisfied with there performance. Billl K and his staff/family were and still are noting but helpfull when I had questions. They even called me about a month after I had the install to make sure I was happy with my parts and that everything was okay.



As for how I made my choice on upgrades, there was no choice when I went with DTT. Now there are some other choices and alot of what you decide should be based on what you plan to do with your truck. I will say this, DTT is not a one size fits all solution. They custom design your set up to meet the needs you give them.



Good luck and happy bombing.

 

[SlyBones]

rrausch you make it sound like DTT only added better fluid coupling and thats it. Where ATS added all these great things like cyro'd shafts, clutch pack upgrades, and all that. Seems to me that DTT has been the one leading the way with most all these upgrades.



n4hwl,

I believe that DTT, BD and ATS ( there are prolly others ) that offer complete transmission upgrades, not just TC and VB. They have electronic controllers, and many, many tweaks like rrausch has mentioned. They are all doing these things. Each has their own thing they are best at. None of them are weak.



I vote for call them and do your homework. Compare the info you get against what YOU want and think YOU need. Then make the right choice for you.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

The best advise I can offer you is to do your homework. Do LOTS of homework and be careful.

Chris

 

[rrausch]

Slybones, when I was researching which trans upgrade to get I e-mailed Bill K. , and Stefan K. , and I spoke with a DTT installer, James, I believe, and that was the impression I got, that the DTT upgrade was mainly a 89% or 91% or 93% fluid coupling.



I understood that the DTT TC clutch was a little better than stock, and adequate since the fluid coupling was so strong. I got the feeling that DTT didn't feel they needed an extra strong TC clutch. And yes, I understood they included a cyroed input shaft. But I didn't understand that DTT included extra clutches & steels in the clutch packs, or all the extra parts that ATS does.



Maybe all the good trans builders do, but none but ATS told me about every one and explained why and what the strengthened part did.



For me, the ATS package just covered more bases.

 

[Lynn_Schwartz]

I like my DTT stuff

Ken. I don't have any experience to pass on to you about other tansmission builders but I can tell you Bill Kondolay and crew did my transmission, TC & VB and I am very happy with the results. My goal was to have some trouble free towing of my travel trailer and the power to cruise up hills without strain and to go down the other side safely (I had Bill & Piers install a Pac Break exhaust brake also. Bill and Piers really know their stuff. It will not hurt to call them and discuss - they are easy to talk to.



Regards, Lynn schwartz

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I spoke with Shanti (sp?) at DTT and she said that they have found the cryogenics to be unreliable so they don't deal with it any more.



I was playing with lockup and fluid coupling on the freeway again today. I am just not impressed with fluid coupling. Every time the tc locks the response and pull is much better imo... I guess I am just hard to please. I can't see why everyone raves about DTT fluid coupling. Stock fluid coupling is to DTT fluid coupling as DTT fluid coupling is to lockup.



I just need a manual and the ambition necessary to put up with shifting it.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Originally posted by Cummins Corvette

I just need a manual and the ambition necessary to put up with shifting it.

Maybe you could get Peter from Southbend to sponcer you a switchout!



Andrew