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Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? #2655888
05/16/19 01:13 AM
05/16/19 01:13 AM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline OP
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I have a 46 RE trans in my Mopar hot rod. Both cooler lines have been replaced with new steel lines (no drain back valve), and the radiator cooler is not in use. There is a big Hydan trans cooler attached to the trans.

If the hot rod sits more then 4 or 5 days, I'm getting a trans fluid river flowing out from under the ride. It appears it may be leaking around the dipstick o ring, but it also possible the fluid is coming out of the vent. If I pull the dipstick before I start the motor, the fluid level is nearly 4" above the full mark, but returns to the full or lower once the motor has been run. With every 1st of the day start up, I need to put the trans in neutral for about 15 seconds before it will move, but then it works great, if the fluid level is OK. I suspect that between the big cooler and the torque converter drain back, I'm adding 3-4 (or more) quarts of atf to level in the pan.

I'm sure the main issue is the trans cooler drain back and the converter drain back. The trans has around 100 K miles on it. I know the reasoning behind removing the drain back valve, but I would suspect that it would probably help in my situation, if I could find one.

Short of a rebuild, does anyone have a suggestion? Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2655961
05/16/19 10:17 AM
05/16/19 10:17 AM
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Ford had a nice brass drainback valve back in the early 90’s - go to a dealer and buy one, or install a Mopar valve - ours needs more adaptation to standard lines that’s all.

Nothing wrong with the new ones. Make sure you install it correctly - check flow at the rear line.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2655987
05/16/19 12:11 PM
05/16/19 12:11 PM
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burdar Offline
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How is the trans cooler mounted? I had mine mounted with the fittings pointed "down" until I read on here that it's not a good idea to mount it that way. I changed it so the fittings are pointed "up". With the fittings "up", the cooler can't drain back.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2656003
05/16/19 01:06 PM
05/16/19 01:06 PM
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John_Kunkel Offline
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Converter drain back is perfectly normal, no way to stop it. The seals should hold the maximum amount of drain back without leaking, but faulty seals........

The so called anti-drainback valve in later trucks merely prevents the vertical-mounted cooler in the radiator side tank from draining back through the converter.


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Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: John_Kunkel] #2656055
05/16/19 04:37 PM
05/16/19 04:37 PM
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The biggest transmission related contributor to drainback has been proven to be excessive rotor face clearance.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: A727Tflite] #2656124
05/16/19 09:17 PM
05/16/19 09:17 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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Trans cooler is mounted with the hoses coming out the side, so it will completely empty. Remounting the cooler would be a pretty major project on this one, I'll look into the ford anti-drain back valve.

Sounds like I need to make another attempt at sealing up the dipstick tube, and advice on sealing that goofy o ring setup? A new o ring and a coating of form-a-gasket sort of worked the last time, much better then just the o ring the 1st round. Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2656132
05/16/19 09:52 PM
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Two choices on dipstick sealing.

The old o ring design and the newer rubber sleeve design.

The sleeve has proven to be a better design. Sleeve design requires a new dipstick tube with a smaller end to accept the sleeve.

If you use the old style o ring design make sure the tube is perfectly round and not oval. I’ve seen many tubes that were oval because someone worked the tube back and forth. Once it’s oval nothing with seal it up, not even a tube of RTV.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: A727Tflite] #2657014
05/19/19 08:31 PM
05/19/19 08:31 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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I suspect the tube on this trans may well be oval, its been in a couple of different cars, and its been pretty well abused.
Where do I get the sleeve and a dipstick tube for it? Does the sleeve dipstick tube come with a new dipstick, or do I use the old one? Have a part #? Thanks, Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2657076
05/19/19 10:57 PM
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I would look at most any Dodge pickup, large or small that has a 42/44/46/47/48 RE in it and pick one that looks like it will work in your hot rod. Then either snatch one from a scrap yard or buy a new one at the dealer with stick. They would set you up with a sleeve at the same time

If you have a deep production pan the stick would already be calibrated for that as well.

Last edited by Transman; 05/19/19 10:59 PM.
Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: A727Tflite] #2657160
05/20/19 09:38 AM
05/20/19 09:38 AM
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Could you use an extra 2 quart aftermarket pan with the extention and just under fill it? Just thinking outloud for a quick solution.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2657210
05/20/19 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by poorboy
I suspect the tube on this trans may well be oval, its been in a couple of different cars, and its been pretty well abused.


Or it could be cracked. The groove in the tube that accepts the O ring is a formed bead that weakens the tube, if the tube is wiggled when removing it, the tube can crack at the bead. If the crack is below the O ring, no problem, but if it cracks above the O ring it'll leak overboard.


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Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: John_Kunkel] #2657332
05/20/19 08:40 PM
05/20/19 08:40 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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On this tube, there is no bead or groove for the O ring to fit into. The tube has a tapper, and the trans has a taper, and the O ring just sort of suspends there and then you put the bolt through the bracket and into a bell housing hole. I was expecting to find a bead to put the O ring in, but there is nothing there for the O ring to seat against! When I put the O ring on the tube, I globed it up with the form a gasket and pushed it into the space between the tube and the trans housing and waited a day before adding fluid. This thing came with a factory dipstick, its out of a 97 Dodge Ram.

It really wouldn't break my heart if the top end was 8" shorter, it comes way out over top of the valve cover. Looks pretty dumb in my 39 Dodge truck with the side opening hood. Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2657368
05/20/19 10:44 PM
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Sounds like you already have the tube I suggested.

Just go to the local Dodge dealer and pick up the correct seal which looks like a sleeve with ribs on the outside and a slight step at the top and you are good to go.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: A727Tflite] #2657751
05/21/19 08:45 PM
05/21/19 08:45 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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Thank you Transman, I'll be seeing my local Mopar dealer soon. Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2658196
05/22/19 09:11 PM
05/22/19 09:11 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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Hey Transman, do you have a part number for the sleeve seal? My local Mopar parts guy can't find a listing for a sleeve seal on the dipstick, he says the only thing his books show is the O ring. He did say they list a new tube, but he is unsure of the seal involved, and there is no diagram for the new tube, and my cost for it is $99. He says they don't show a tube in stock anywhere.

Looks like i may have to do a pick-a-part any hope for a dipstick & tube assembly that wasn't leaking. Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2658202
05/22/19 09:26 PM
05/22/19 09:26 PM
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Sniper Offline
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Sleeve ATP TO53

Chrysler 52118629AB

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: Sniper] #2658215
05/22/19 09:57 PM
05/22/19 09:57 PM
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poorboy Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Sniper
Sleeve ATP TO53

Chrysler 52118629AB


Thanks. Gene

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: poorboy] #2658223
05/22/19 10:08 PM
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Good luck finding a tube though. Those all seem to be discontinued.

Re: Can we talk torqueconverter drain back 46RE? [Re: Sniper] #2658307
05/23/19 09:11 AM
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Throw the Chrysler part number in google and Rock auto shows the correct seal.

Sounds like you have the tube already so you should be good.

Thanks sniper for the part number.

Last edited by Transman; 05/23/19 09:12 AM.






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