First post for a former lurker who has learned alot from this site. I have a Y2k, at, 3.54 QC 4x4 with 44,000 miles that I use to tow a 8k-10k horse trailer. I tow with OD off, usually at 65mph, and have had no trouble at all, ever. I'm tempted to buy an 04 6sp but $ (and wife) resist and I have no reason to do it(whatever that may have to do with anything) so I'm wondering about tranny upgrades. I've called several of the national guys, talked to my local experts and consensus is locally to stick with what I have and keep up the maintance that I do yearly(flush, and filter) and wait for something to happen that may not for years and many thousands of miles. Talking to the national shops and reading the forum suggests the upgrades, of a new TC and VB may prolong the life of my tranny and actually improve the driving and towing quality. I'm not interested in more power, I use it almost exclusively to tow, I've had no problems, my buddies with duramax engines I hang with are jealous of my rig, so my question is-is the @2500-3500 worth it to do it now? Did you who did this wait til something happened to make you upgrade? Is the improvement in quality of driving and towing worth it to you who did this? Thanks for your time-I enjoy this forum. Bill Nissen

 

First welcome to the site.
I didn’t wait for trouble I took care of mine before it happen and glad I did. I don’t know about you but the kind of luck I have I would be in the middle of nowhere when I’d have trouble.
I did a lot of research before doing mine and found that most all of the big guys have a quality product. Here are a few links to them:
http://www.suncoastconverters.com/dodge.html
http://www.atsdiesel.com/products/products-dodge.html
http://www.dieseltrans.com/dodge/index.htm
http://www.gbtransmissions.com/default.htm
You will not believe how much of the power you are making now, that is not getting to the ground. The stock 47re shifts at the end of the torque curve and needs to shift earlier. With a reworked valve body and new torque converter this will happen. It will help you put the massive torque the Cummins is capable of to work. It would be a good idea to call these guys and talk to them they will be very helpful, and help you make an informed decision. As you can see in my signature I went with Suncoast and was very pleased with the treatment while there and the performance of their tranny. It has made a world of difference in the way mine tows. I tow a 8080 lb 5th wheel. I was able to tow from Florida to Virginia in overdrive with no problems. The tranny temps were good all the way home and I was really pushing it (trying to out run the snow/ice storm the end of Jan). We were doing 75+ most of the way and had an average of 12.8 mpg.
If you have any questions please feel free to pm me. I’m sure some of the other guys with the other trannys will be glad to help as well.
Good luck.

 

Bill, when you upgraded your tranny did you also install a aftermarket flexplate? Can the factory one handle all the extra torque? Did suncoast recommend a change or not? Sorry for all the questions but I really like what you have done with you tranny and it sounds like it is something I would do to my rig soon.

 

wilnis
I would drive what you have. Unless you are BOMBING, and pulling the weigh that you are, your tranny should last a long time.
My first tranny went about 215000 miles, and was still reasonable. I did no maintenance, drove it hard, towed in OD all of the time, and had a plate and lock up switch for about 20,000 miles.

I didn't encourage the slip, however.

Results may vary

george

 

I will be putting in an ATS transmission tow package into my truck in a week or so, I will let you know the difference.

 

I would stick with what you have for now. It could last a long time as long as you keep up the maintance. But if you think you are having problems get it fixed, and get it done right so you won't have to worry about the tranny again. ANother thing is guys say they can feel alot more power getting to the ground when they put a good tranny in.
dave

 

If you aren't going to add anymore power, I'd leave it till it started acting up. You'll sink about the same amount $$$ in now as you will when it goes out later. Might as well get as many miles out of the one you got before you worry about another one. But when the time comes, do it right!! I went the cheap route on my first replacement (local guy we knew). Lasted less than 30K, then went with the DTT, and I wish I had done that the first time.

 

Ditto on stay with stock. Your not towing that heavy. At 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year you could have several years of useful life left.
You aren't adding power so chances are good you'll be ok for 4-5 years.
Just remember, factory trannys are a crap shoot! Wide variations in quality (internal pressures) between identical models. Your close to Goerend Bros., who claim to be able to evaluate tranny status by doing a dyno. Have you talked to them? I Have heard nothing but good things about their reputation.

When the time comes - I would do a DTT before I switched to a 6 speed, but that's just me. Don't do just a Valve body & a T.C.. That's a bandaid approach that doesn't usually last long. I would walk away from anyone willing to sell you just these two parts. A DTT tranny and maybe a small box for a little added power will feel like you just bought a new truck and cost a lot less than an 04.

In the meantime, changing fluid (ATF+4 or Amsoil ATF only) and filter every 10-15,000 miles, just like your doing, is best insurance you can give yourself for longest useful tranny life.
Rowland

 

Be careful of all the marketing hype out there these days!! If your not going crazy on Hp or crazy with extreme towing weight with alot of Hp, you do not need every little gadget stuck into a transmission that every transmission after market producer says you do. They like to offer alot of these extras for their reputation and extra profit margin. This is purely my opinion.

If your happy and satisfied with what your truck is doing and the transmission has no indication of problems stick with what you have. You put on 44,000 miles in four years, you could go another 12 years or even longer before you have any problems and by that time most people would have traded it off. I have all kinds of upgrades done to my truck and with what I have invested there is no way I could trade this truck off and live with myself for spending all that money just to give someone else a good truck. I intended to keep this truck until the DOT says it's a road hazard.