Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) How much power thru stock auto?

[enes]

I am curious how much safely can i push thru the stock auto trany before i need to start upgrading.



reason i ask is because i want a bit more power but i dont want to spend a lot of money on the truck yet until i finish my race car. Funding one project at a time



And a second reason, i want to be able to come home from the racing if my race car breaks



-E

 

[johncameron]

I don't think they'll take more than an EZ or so. I'm a sticker but most auto people seem to have trouble higher than +50HP or so safely!

 

[Bob4x4]

That is a difficult question to answer. The driving style is a huge factor in that equation. How you drive while towing can make or break it. Even an EZ can hurt it if you push it. I have customers with 275's and an EZ that have been ok while driving conservitively and others with just 275's kill it in a trip or two.

Best bet is to start saving for the trans,you can't appreciate the power till you get a convertor that doesn't lose it all to slip.



Bob

 

[BarryG]

Bob is right. There are a lot of variables. I have an 01 with an ez and 275s and my trans held fine but I do drive conservatively and dont tow heavy. Had 110k on it before I did anything to the trans (the ez had been on for 90k and then I added 275s about 50k ago). By the way it did not show signs of a problem I just thought best to do it on my time instead of it deciding when it was time. That and the fact that I am going to start towing heavier. As he mentioned some with those mods have problems soon thereafter. It does depend on driving style and the original equipment to start with.

 

[enes]

So all you said needs to be done to auto is torq converter?



i don't like to do too many upgrades at once. . so which of the two would you suggest first and which product?



How hard are they to install?



-E

 

[Bob Wagner]

transmission line pressures vary from truck to truck, at least get line pressure reading before adding any box or injectors.

 

[y-knot]

You ask for the impossible, for no one could predict how long your trany will continue to live. As stated, driving style makes up a large portion of wear rate. Towing I think makes up the most, not light weight stuff but heavy (over 8,000lbs) towing, it is very hard on the stock torque converter. This is the week link in the system, it suffers from low oil pressure and a undersized clutch area. Towing heavy will accelerate it's wear to the point of slippage, once this starts (usually starts as a shutter) it is not long till replacement is necessary. Hard driving habits as well as difficult driving areas, like mountainous terrain, well also accelerate wear.

The truth is the stock transmission is capable of destroying itself at stock power levels. It takes very little abuse to start the cycle of accelerated wear in the TC, adding additional HP without strengthening the TC and or transmission will only create more problems. Guy's that simply commute to work everyday with their trucks will experience less wear and longer life then those that use their trucks to it's fullest potential. The Cummins is usually ordered by people that need it's torque to tow or haul heavy items, but this is also the group that will experience eerily failures. It's ironic, but also sad. Maybe Dodge will one day get around to addressing the problem?

 

[bmoeller]

I haven't had the nerve to hook a trailer on my truck since the turbo and injectors upgrades. But, it is holding fine so far, as a commuter. Was hoping to get a BOMBed transmission in by harvest, but that won't happening yet.



As said before, it is a hard question to answer. Even some new trannies don't meet the specs for internal leakage, but still get installed. Some won't make 50k miles, some will make it to 200k and beyond. Depends on useage and driving habits, proper maintanance and how good it was made in the first place.