New to me 2003 Ram 3500 with automatic i have Q??

[E7mack96]

Hello everyone,



I sold my 2003 manual a few months ago, and just replaced it yesterday. I bought a 2003 Quad cab larimie 4x4 with auto.



What do I need to know about the Auto trans, are they a 47re, or a 48RE?



The truck has just 59,000 miles on it, and is stock.



Other than auto, it is identical to my old one. (except the bombs part)



Are the autos bomb-able?



Tony

 

[JJPage]

Hello everyone,



I sold my 2003 manual a few months ago, and just replaced it yesterday. I bought a 2003 Quad cab larimie 4x4 with auto.



What do I need to know about the Auto trans, are they a 47re, or a 48RE?



The truck has just 59,000 miles on it, and is stock.



Other than auto, it is identical to my old one. (except the bombs part)



Are the autos bomb-able?



Tony

Look on the left / drivers side valve cover, if it is a 305 hp motor you have the 48RE. If it is the 250 hp you could have either one, but most likely the 47RE. Do not worry about that, they are both great, in fact, when I was at DTT having mine "bullet proofed", Bill K told me he preferred the 47RE, less mass it what he said.



If you are going to add anything over 60 hp/100 tq, you should do at least a valve body upgrade.



Congrats on your new truck.

 

[E7mack96]

update: it is got 54,900 miles on it, and it is the 305 motor. That ensures a 48RE ? I think the trans is slipping a little in 2nd gear, but that 4th gear lockup is harsh (firm)

 

[CurtLee]

update: it is got 54,900 miles on it, and it is the 305 motor. That ensures a 48RE ?

That does mean it was the 48RE. The 47RE's were put behind the 250 Standard Output motor and the 48RE was put behind the 305 High Output motor. I believe it was the first time Dodge stuck an auto behind a high output motor. And from what i've heard mostly all the stock auto's have a very firm 3-4 shift.

 

[E7mack96]

thanks for the clarification, now on to making it bulletproof!

 

[CurtLee]

Go into the search forum and search for "48re Upgrades". It gives lots of good companies for making the transmission "bulletproof".



Have fun.

 

[amsoilman]

When I ordered my 03', in order to get the 305 HP engine, I had to have the NV-5600 6-speed! The Automatic was not available with the 305 HP engine, just the 250 HP engine.



Wayne

 

[CurtLee]

It was a mid year introduction. I'm guessing it depended on when you tried to order the truck compared to the date they started puting them in the trucks. I'm not to sure about the whole thing, maybe there's someone that can set it straight?

 

[E7mack96]

my first one was built jan 20th 2003, and you had to get a 6 speed to get 305 hp; this one was built may 5th, 2003 and is the auto, so somewhere in between these 2 dates?

 

[CurtLee]

my first one was built jan 20th 2003, and you had to get a 6 speed to get 305 hp; this one was built may 5th, 2003 and is the auto, so somewhere in between these 2 dates?

Sounds right to me. But i dunno, i'm not one that was looking at a slushbox when i bought my truck.