Transmission swap, do I need to change the computer??

S

Scrambler1

Full Access Member
Joined
May 25, 2006
Messages
1,662
Reaction score
0
Location
Savannah, GA
I'm considering taking my Suncoast out and going to a turbo 400 with manual valve body and gear vendors. I know the QC computer is going to look for the transmission. Will it freak out if it can't find one? Would an 05 RC computer work in my truck? Or are there other differences between the RC and QC that doesn't allow the computers to be interchangeable?

To make this even more complicated, would the AEM system accomplish this? I'm between AEM and BigStuff3 for engine management.
 
I know the aem and bigstuff would work , and if you went with the rc puter , now not sure

text this guy, since he has his new gay phone , he dont answer jsut texts, I'll pm you the numba
 
Scrambler1 said:
I'm considering taking my Suncoast out and going to a turbo 400 with manual valve body and gear vendors. I know the QC computer is going to look for the transmission. Will it freak out if it can't find one? Would an 05 RC computer work in my truck? Or are there other differences between the RC and QC that doesn't allow the computers to be interchangeable?

To make this even more complicated, would the AEM system accomplish this? I'm between AEM and BigStuff3 for engine management.
Click to expand...

I have asked a few of the high-perf. tranny guys around here and their first question is: "Why does he want to go to a Turbo 400"?

I don't know the answer, or what your power plans are, but here is one of MANY articles to consider...

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/dodge/0669dp_dodge_48re_transmission/index.html
 
Last edited:
Well it looks like I will be changing to twin turbos. Going to build for around 1200 rwhp.

Here are the things I don't like about the 48re...
1. While it can be built to take a shit load of torque, it wasn't designed for really high hp and 6k rpm engine revs.
2. Cannot be manual valve body. To an extent the tranny is controlled by the computer and an AEM or BigStuff does not have capability to move these setpoints.
3. With a Paxton (650hp) the truck would peg the rev limiter in 1st because the engine ramped up so fast by the time the computer said to shift it had already pegged off. SCT would solve this problem but IMO isn't up to the task of turbos+nitrous.
4. No transbrake available for the 48re (that I know of)

I went with the big Suncoast because I was planning on staying around 850hp on the street. The Suncoast would be great in that application and I wouldn't be worried about it. But due to the Paxtons running out of capacity on these big motors it looks like I'll be changing to turbos (I'll know next week) and I don't think the 48re can be built to survive that much power coming on as hard as the turbos will.

There are other trans options as well. 4L80e comes to mind but again that's an electronic trans. 700r4 isn't as strong.

Right now the Suncoast is brand new, the only miles it has on it are the break in miles on the new motor. If I'm going to change I'd like to do it now while it's still worth some money to pay for the new trans.
 
As far as the computer is concerned- Sean at Roe Racing was telling me about a new stand alone computer from Vec III made just for just the engine, that's what I'm looking at for the dragster. As for the Suncoast it is awesome!!
 
I am also going to go with the TH400 on my 06RC. The TH400's are time proven and capable of handling way more power than our transmissions for a fraction of the price. I do not have all the specifics or all the details of the exact plan yet but I'm working on it.

Some people think our 6 speeds can handle 2000 RWHP.:dontknow: I for one do not have any faith in the 48RE auto at all and not much more faith in our 6 speed manuals past 1000 RWHP.

The TH400 is the way to go I.M.O. if you want proven reliability for high HP numbers for a reasonable price.
 
Great questions...this is going to be a memorable thread!

I'm all ears!!!
 
Well Brad it looks like you and I will be the first to do this in these trucks. If next week goes the way I think it will I'll begin ordering stuff before the end of the month.

Greg I can't wait to see that thing once you're done. Going to be SICK!!
 
Joe, I would think the same rules apply to this like they do your Camaro. There's been countless non electronic transmissions put in the F-Body. I would imagine whatever steps it takes to achieve this in a F-Body, would be the required steps for the truck. They're both OBDII and both have torque management.

What those rules and steps are, are beyond me. . . :eek:
 
SrtBrad said:
I am also going to go with the TH400 on my 06RC. The TH400's are time proven and capable of handling way more power than our transmissions for a fraction of the price. I do not have all the specifics or all the details of the exact plan yet but I'm working on it.

Some people think our 6 speeds can handle 2000 RWHP.:dontknow: I for one do not have any faith in the 48RE auto at all and not much more faith in our 6 speed manuals past 1000 RWHP.

The TH400 is the way to go I.M.O. if you want proven reliability for high HP numbers for a reasonable price.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you guys are pioneering this area for high-powered use. There was a diesel here with a 48RE behind it that flat-lined a Dynojet (over 2000 lbs. ft. torque)! With all the development going on for the diesel group maybe, one day, the 48RE will have the same rep as the TH400. But the 400 has a pretty good head start.

Best of luck getting the auto trans. combo just right.

Ronnie
 
Last edited:
Roz-SRT said:
Joe, I would think the same rules apply to this like they do your Camaro. There's been countless non electronic transmissions put in the F-Body. I would imagine whatever steps it takes to achieve this in a F-Body, would be the required steps for the truck. They're both OBDII and both have torque management.

What those rules and steps are, are beyond me. . . :eek:
Click to expand...

My experience with Chevy computers are that you just leave the wires that went to the tranny. The computer will throw a couple codes and a CEL but doesn't force a limp home etc. After how ever many warm up/cool down cycles the computer ignores the tranny codes and the CEL goes out. I'm just not sure how angry the mopar computer would be.

Looks like the AEM or BigStuff will both take care of my computer issues. Hell what's one more learning experience :eek: I'm going to research it a little more.
 
Its not real hard to accomplish, the viper car guys have been doing it for a long time.

the adapter usually runs between $1800 and $2500, a good 400 to hold up, $3000-$4500 depending on whom ya talk with.

then jsut smak up a driveshaft, tail mount, and ya good to go, alot of the viper guys use the AEM, the big stuff is also good.
only prob I have with the aem is the grounds, you may end up with 18 different grounding spots to keep the thing going.

but for a daily driver? depends on your situation, if like Scrambler and you just drive around town, you should be good to go, if you want a hwy driver, then a overdrive unit.

and as far as our 48re's they can be built to handle tons of trq and power, but really only work well in the oil burners mainly because the line pressure jsut doesnt ramp up quick enough.





but .........and I jsut found this today, there is an adapter to adapt another governor pressure solonoid from a gm to possibly take care of this problem;)

so Joe if you want the info on this let me know, you could try it and see who it works:D
 
I would do the 4l80e all day long... I love the 400 but life will suck with out the overdrive gear...Yes the it will need an computer but it is very simple and theres is quite a few aftermarket companies that sell puter and harness that is pretty much plug and play...I've even heard that they make conversions to make the 4l80e fully manually to do away with the comptuter...But then you will have to manually engage (via switch) converter lock up and overdrive...,NOt a bad way to go...
 
You can flash the PCM to remove the Automatic stuff. Us 5.9L guys do it all the time with the tranny swaps. AEM can control automatics just no one has figured ours out specifically yet. Couldn't you use a RH instead of a RE tranny? They also make standalone tranny controllers so you wouldn't have to try and make the AEM handle those responsibilities as well.
 
I think that the tranny would be fine. There are plenty of Diesels that are breaking the 1000 hp mark and that is typically the tranny that they use. I wouldnt worry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Support Us

Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Random Media

600r 5
IMG 1519
2012 05 05 19 33 07 754
Tito#14SRT Nov2012
Back
Top