TC & VB Upgrades

[AWise]

How much power should a 48RE be able to handle with a new TC & VB (and flexplate) from Suncoast, ATS, DTT, etc? I do not drag race it or sled pull, just towing and playing on the street. My goal is to be running 500-550 HP. I want it to be reliable and last a long time, i realize it depends on how I drive it, but I wont be racing at the track.

 

[raychem]

My suggestion would be to rebuilt the whole transmission. Reason being that for anything over 450 hp you need to run a billet input shaft and you should consider a front drum upgrade. The stock will not live at that power and since your already there with the trans open; an master kit should be added to increase the clutch capacity throught the transmission. Its pay now or pay later but will eventually catch up to you. :-laf



Richard

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

Richards speaking from experience. :-laf

 

[n7gxz]

Stefan,



A friend of mine has a 04. 5 3500 dually, 4. 10 rear end, 325/610 engine, and 48RE transmission. He's getting a Smarty and he tows a 3 horse trailer. What would you recommend for transmission upgrades?



Kevin

 

[CPittman]

AWise - what gears are you running in the diffs and are you running stock tire sizes? With your low miles I might consider trying just the VB and TC. Your valve body will support higher line pressure for better holding power and the stock TC is a compromise by DC. The modded VB will also pump fluid while in park - so that's a good...



If you have 4. 10's you will probably be able to tow without being in TOW / HAUL mode without any problems (depending on the weight) with the new parts, but my guess would be that you'll end up killing the overdrive clutches eventually. At which time you can go back through the whole transmission front to back and add the billet parts if you want.



I don't buy the flexplate idea though, unless you'll be running high power while towing heavy. I would do the two mods (VB & TC) and pull with it a while. Save up the coin and call your favorite builder / supplier once you get 140,000 or so on the clock. I went with DTT after considering Suncoast, ATS, and Goerend - my rebuilt 48RE has about 20K on it now and it still punches you in the back with every shift... nice! I did go with the "livestock" VB so the shifts in my truck don't shake your teeth loose. :-laf

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I've been running my Goerend Bros TC and VB for about 30000 miles with no probs, and I tow about 10000lbs occasionally. No new flexplate, no new input shaft. I just turn it down when I tow. No issues. I had about 20000 on it when I upgraded. If I decide to race, or sled pull, I will upgrade everything then.

 

[RobertP]

suncoast, nadp, and hts are all good transmission companies- thats what we use. billit input, and tc, vb and drum, clutches are a must for anything close to 550hp.

 

[AWise]

I have 3. 73s with stock tires for now, planning to go to 35s. Once I finish my car and start racing again I will be towing a 6-8000# trailer with a 3500# car. Not crazy heavy but not real light either.



:-laf