Im doin a swap into my 93 crew chevy dually 2wd with a blown up 6.5 diesel and a 4L80e trans. I bought a 96 dodge cummins 2wd with a 47re. The trans is completly gone and needs a rebuild. I have about $2500 left in the budget. Im tryin to build this trans for under $1500. What can I do and how strong is it gonna be? Its gonna be a DD and pull some 15,000-20,000lb trailers once every couple of months. Please educate me...

 

I am not a transmission expert by any measure but I can pass on some personal information. I have a 1994 RAM with 5.9 diesel and the 47RE automatic with 3.53 (I believe that's the correct notation) rear end. The truck has 210,000 miles on it and the transmission has been rebuilt 3 times.
1st time by the Dodge dealer in Charlottesville, Virginia on December 28, 1999 with 111,566 miles and a cost of $2,463.00.
They didn’t do it right and it tanked again on April 28, 2000 with 116,619 miles and was rebuilt on warranty by Dodge Dealer in Jacksonville, FL.
Again on July 13, 2002 I had to do it again and I took it to an independent Transmission shop and the guy used after market parts and charged me $1,605. I’m still going at 210,000 miles today.
I was pulling a 10,000 lb (empty weight) 5th wheel that probably weighed close to 12,000 lbs fully loaded during these years. I have to admit that the original rebuild was probably my fault, as I believe I overheated the transmission out west in the mountains. I did not have a Transmission Temperature Gauge which was plain dumb.
Now hopefully the guys who really understand transmissions can add some advice for you and good luck. But if you pull any weight at all get a Temp Gauge.

 

I got a big tranny cooler for it but i didn't even think about getting a guage. Thats prob a really good idea. Thanks man.

 

hi
get a transgo tfod-diesel shift kit and install it !
firmer shifts , cooler running , higher load capasity !

also use atf+4 fluid !

 

Why don't you call Goerend and ask? I would personally look to a better Valve Body and get a good Converter, past that a good rebuild seems to suffice for mild builds.