Moparts

Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds

Posted By: mgoblue9798

Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/26/18 06:25 AM

One is in my 2002 Dodge Ram Van 1500, has 185,000 trans has flare out between 2/3 guessing it is the lip seal problem.

Other is from 1993 Dakota going to retrofit to my D100 Ext Cab long bed that will be used for towing occasionally. Was running when parked but fluid and probably clutches are burnt.

I have built several 727s but these will be my first with O/D trans.

Any advice on parts, upgrades, things to look out for in hard parts, etc is welcome. I know about the special tools for the O/D and have them on the way. I plan to keep both of these vehicles for as long as I live so I don't mind putting money into these. Would like to do extra clutches, towing shift kit, good bands, etc as both vehicles will tow at least my boat and probably cars occasionally. One will be behind a 408 stroker and the other behind a 440. Both will have around 475 to 500 pound feet of torque.

Also who makes good a/m converter with upgraded lock up for these?

Thanks in advance for the help.
Posted By: calrobb2000

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/26/18 07:44 AM

hi

get a transgo shift programing kit !
Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/26/18 06:15 PM

Originally Posted By mgoblue9798
...One will be behind a 408 stroker and the other behind a 440....


How are you going to get a 4RH to bolt up to a 440?
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/26/18 11:24 PM

can be done with a JW Ultrabell or with a bellhousing adapter, I have the adapter
Posted By: cudaman1969

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 12:44 AM


I'm doing my 01 Van trans this week. I would take the overdrive part to a trans shop to release the spring, install new clutches then re-install the spring aligning the splines with their line up shaft.
There is an updated pressure solenoid you should get too. I'm sure more of the experts will chime in on this.
Mine had nothing in the pan, but the magnet was about the size of a donut, a full 1/2 inch of very fine metal particals and what looked like moly lube. Haven't got it apart yet. I bought the factory complete overhaul kit less bands. Don't go cheaply on this.
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 02:39 AM

You won't need to do a lot to the trannies to get them to hold the torque you are planning to throw at them.

I would suggest that you take the OD units to a shop familiar with them. Their experience alone would be worth the price of admission.

A&A Transmissions is the go-to source for parts and info. PATC is another good one.

Good parts, good advice, good line pressure, a good valve body kit and you're good to go.

Lenny at Ultimate Converter fixed my PTC problems, so I would recommend a conference with him on the converter..
Posted By: rhad

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 06:16 AM

when i overhauled the A500 in my dakota i used a hydraulic press to compress the od spring,did i do it right?,im not sure,but it works perfect
Posted By: moparx

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 04:31 PM

Originally Posted By mgoblue9798
can be done with a JW Ultrabell or with a bellhousing adapter, I have the adapter


what adapter did you use ?
beer
Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 06:31 PM

As you mentioned, need the OD alignment Tool and the OD Spring Compressor tool to use in a press.

I see PACT sells a stiffer OD spring. Not sure how much difference it would make? All I have done was stock type rebuild with shift kit.
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 08:30 PM

I used that heavier OD spring in the tranny behind my 540 Hemi. It was kinda expensive for a spring. But if I understand the OD correctly, that spring holds the clutch pack that all 3 forward gears go through. So, I figured it couldn't hurt.
Posted By: Guitar Jones

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 08:57 PM

Originally Posted By DaveRS23
I used that heavier OD spring in the tranny behind my 540 Hemi. It was kinda expensive for a spring. But if I understand the OD correctly, that spring holds the clutch pack that all 3 forward gears go through. So, I figured it couldn't hurt.



I wonder about it's worth as well because when that spring is compressed all the pressure rides on a torrington bearing that has been known to fail even in stock applications.
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 09:24 PM

I have heard about OE bearing failures, too. Seemed mostly in high mileage units.

I asked around some but did not find anyone that has installed one of these heavier ones and then had problems.

Besides, I doubt that I will ever put 10,000 miles on this combo. Maybe it will last that long.
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 09:41 PM

Wasn't there a mid production revision of this bearing? Any idea what year it changed, or if there is an upgrade availabe?
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 09:44 PM

smr transmission, I would post a link but the website isn't working.
I have not installed it yet or even checked fitment so I really can't comment about the product.
Posted By: A727Tflite

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 02/27/18 11:33 PM

The early overdrives had a powder metal spring seat - that was changed to a forged part early in the program - plus this new bearing seat had lube grooves added to it.

Keep ATF + 4 level fluid in it and it will last you hundreds of thousands of miles. You will break the wavy snap ring before you fail the bearing with this new seat.

A higher spring rate is a waste of time in a race car or passenger car.
Posted By: mgoblue9798

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 03/01/18 03:41 AM


Thanks Transman, I was hoping you would chime in.

I Knew I had read something about it had changed. I have a 518 I bought directly from Mopar Performance in 1994. It is a non lockup trans. I am guessing it is probably an early run trans. Will the new seat interchange? Is the bearing itself the same?

If you don't mind me picking your brain sir, how would you build these trannys if they were going into your own ride? I plan to get the sonnax kit to make them oil in park. I have read something about drilling the output shaft to get more oil to the o/d unit?
What a/m parts or upgrades would you recommend?
Posted By: A727Tflite

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 03/01/18 04:07 PM

Mgoblue9798 - let's start with the PK number off the pan rail.
Let's see what it was built with.

Drilling the oil holes in the intermediate or output shaft isn't necessary.
Adding the Sonnax regulator valve is a good addition to keep the converter charged in park (lube flow).
Posted By: moparborn

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 03/03/18 05:17 AM

I will be rebuilding my 46rh as well for my truck.
Will the convertor work from an older lockup, non od 904?
Posted By: A727Tflite

Re: Advice on 46RE and 46RH rebuilds - 03/03/18 03:31 PM

904 and 727 converters are not interchangeable.
Lockup and non-lockup are not either even in the same family - there is one spline difference between the two to prevent that in service.
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