Moparts
a 500/a518 or 545re
Posted By: cudadan
a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 01:31 AM
ok doin the 5.7 hemi swap in my cuda and hear ppl using all 3 of these transmissions, what issues did you guys have with doin the swap?, i talked to Bouchillon and they said to use the 545re cuz it would be cheaper to do. cuz it already plugs into the Ram harness.. or do i just do the 500/518 instead?, i can get all 3 of these transmissions very cheap, then rebuild.i know there is some fitment issues with the 518 and the 545re, but nothing major,, any help would be great so i can keep gathering everything i need
Posted By: 67plymouthman
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 03:44 AM
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 04:14 AM
Quote:
Me too haha
Posted By: BDW
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 04:34 AM
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 05:31 AM
I am pretty sure you have to do some cutting in the tunnel for the 545RE to fit. For the a500/518, you just notch the trans housing. I know the newer trans has the extra gears but if you don't want to cut the car, then I don't think it is going to fit correctly.
Here is a thread over at forabodiesonly talking about the different transmissions. Hope it helps...Looks like the trans to use, if going 545rfe is the truck/suv version; it has the speed sensors inside.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=202413
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 07:34 PM
Damn i. So torn on what to do
Posted By: racealittle
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 07:54 PM
If it was me it would be the 545re. I would do what it takes to fit it into the car. When you are just driving it as a car, it puts you right into the power band you are supposed to be in. Also an electronic transmission allows you to put a programming/diagnostic tool to it and do some programing, set pressures to clutch packs etc.
If it cam with an 8 speed trans like the newer engines, I would like that even better.
There is a guy on forbbodiesonly, lxmodguy, who knows a lot about the nag1 trans and I believe put 1 in his car. He may be just the guy to ask. Here is a thread where he is talking about tech.
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?33754-So-it-begins-5-7-and-Nag1-install
Posted By: Dragula
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 09:47 PM
I know nothing of the 545, but I have a A500 behind a small block which is what the 5.7 is essentially. Now there is one other choice, and that is the shorty 727 Gear Venders set-up from SMRE, but most do not like the price.
So if you looking to decide on the other three, the A500 is a really good choice when built properly. Mine has been flawless with SMRE parts in it and I can hit OD while at full throttle. I have 4.56 gears, and they are very streetable with it and mine has the low gear set to boot. The bad is it looses a little horse power because the OD is always providing a little drag unlike a GV unit. Love how it works, and should just about fit in your Cuda with just a modded cross member and it should bolt right up to the 5.7...
Now if I were to do it for my Cuda, I would go with the SMRE 727 shorty deal. I know it fits, I know my 727 will handle +700hp, and I know it won't drop the rwhp....I have an Ultra bell and can swap small block to big block without even pulling the trans...Did it last year, and they are easier to build.
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/26/13 11:30 PM
i hear mixed stuff about the 545, some say only a lil mobs to an ebody tunnel while others say the had to cut it all up
Posted By: Dragula
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 12:40 AM
Quote:
i hear mixed stuff about the 545, some say only a lil mobs to an ebody tunnel while others say the had to cut it all up
Well knowing your intended purpose would help too because convertors and valve bodies can get real pricey for some of your choices there...
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 01:14 AM
just a cruizer,, done racing , now i wanna enjoy it
Posted By: Handygun
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 01:17 AM
I have a 518 in my 58 Ply wagon, It works great, lets me run a 4.10 and cruise on the freeway at 70 with low revs which my long stroke 392H likes. As it's based off the 727 and needed 1 wire to work it was a no brainer for me.
Posted By: patrick
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 02:27 PM
545 will integrate better with the engine controller, the 518/46RH/RE will probably fit better in the car....
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 06:44 PM
Quote:
I have a 518 in my 58 Ply wagon, It works great, lets me run a 4.10 and cruise on the freeway at 70 with low revs which my long stroke 392H likes. As it's based off the 727 and needed 1 wire to work it was a no brainer for me.
Sweet what year did the trans come from?
Im lookn for simplicity
Posted By: Handygun
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/27/13 11:59 PM
It came out of a 91 350 van. You just hook the pwr wire up to keyed on.
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 12:56 AM
Awesome think thats gonna be the easiest way
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 01:05 AM
Quote:
It came out of a 91 350 van. You just hook the pwr wire up to keyed on.
Can u use a 727 converter in the 518?
Posted By: Dragula
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 03:01 AM
Quote:
Quote:
It came out of a 91 350 van. You just hook the pwr wire up to keyed on.
Can u use a 727 converter in the 518?
Yes if its the non-lockup type. If its the lock-up type, you need to swap the front pump out and the input shaft. Then your good.
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 03:17 AM
cool, but how do i know if its a lock up or not?,,
Posted By: savoy64
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 05:20 AM
lockup/od has a 3 pin connector-- 2 pin is od only---this pin connector is to the rear of the neutral switch....bob
The lock up will give you a little better mpg and is not that much harder to wire in. PATC has kits and other items (http://www.transmissioncenter.net/) for the swap. The newer trans 93-95 are definitely lock up and have all the up to date fixes in them (up to that year at least) before they went to the electronic version.
Posted By: patrick
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 06:18 PM
used this type of setup to run the 42RH (A500) in my 5th ave...worked good....
but if you're planning on installing a 5.7 and keeping the OEM EFI, from a transmission control/drivability standpoint, you'd probably be miles ahead sticking with the 545RE that came behind the 5.7....
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 02/28/13 06:51 PM
Quote:
used this type of setup to run the 42RH (A500) in my 5th ave...worked good....
but if you're planning on installing a 5.7 and keeping the OEM EFI, from a transmission control/drivability standpoint, you'd probably be miles ahead sticking with the 545RE that came behind the 5.7....
im gonna have the compute . Flashed and can eliminate the trans from it. So it wont know what trans is in there.. The 545 seems like its gonna take alot of work to the trans tunnel
Posted By: JDMopar
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 03/01/13 06:17 AM
In the link posted above, to the FABO thread....that pic of the 545RFE is my transmission that's going in my Duster with a 5.7 Hemi. I had to take the sawzall to the floorpan and torsion bar crossmember to make it fit. I'm making a new transmission mount that will attach to my subframe connectors. It's a lot of floorpan surgery, but to me, it will be worth it in the end. It's not a swap that's for everybody, but it didn't bother me a bit to lay the
to an old 6 cylinder 70 Duster.
Good luck with your swap.
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 03/01/13 03:34 PM
Quote:
In the link posted above, to the FABO thread....that pic of the 545RFE is my transmission that's going in my Duster with a 5.7 Hemi. I had to take the sawzall to the floorpan and torsion bar crossmember to make it fit. I'm making a new transmission mount that will attach to my subframe connectors. It's a lot of floorpan surgery, but to me, it will be worth it in the end. It's not a swap that's for everybody, but it didn't bother me a bit to lay the to an old 6 cylinder 70 Duster. Good luck with your swap.
nice ill have to check it out. I sure the e body has much more room but still wouldnt wanna cut to much of the floor. I still have a ways to go for everything. So ill keep reading up and askn questions. Hahah. Thx everyone for the input it really helps
Posted By: JDMopar
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 03/01/13 04:07 PM
I have a 74 Cuda 360 that is triple black, like the one in your pic. I wouldn't ever consider cutting the floor and crossmember of that car like I have the Duster. I'm going to use a 518 in my Cuda, because there will be no hacking if I go that route.
Posted By: patrick
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 03/01/13 04:40 PM
Quote:
Quote:
used this type of setup to run the 42RH (A500) in my 5th ave...worked good....
but if you're planning on installing a 5.7 and keeping the OEM EFI, from a transmission control/drivability standpoint, you'd probably be miles ahead sticking with the 545RE that came behind the 5.7....
im gonna have the compute . Flashed and can eliminate the trans from it. So it wont know what trans is in there.. The 545 seems like its gonna take alot of work to the trans tunnel
yeah, you can get your hemi's computer flashed to a manual tranny flash to eliminate the transmission out of the equation, I think you'll still need a vehicle speed sensor to get everything on the engine to work right, but don't quote me on that....
I have a feeling the 518's kickdown/throttle cable or linkage will be a real PITA to try fabricate and get working properly, and you are somewhat limited on control options/flexibility using the vacuum and pressure switches like I did. drivability won't be as nice running a jerry rigged, non-electronic tranny vs. the 545 which is integrated into the control of the engine...up to you if it's worth doing to save cutting up your floorpan/crossmember....
another option that I bet would work well with the 5.7 without floorpan mods would be an A833OD....the 5.7 in my '11 charger has an extremely wide powerband, and the A833OD in my duster (behind a slant6) has somewhat wide gear spacing, but I think would work quite well with a stock/near stock 5.7's HP and torque curve.
Posted By: cudadan
Re: a 500/a518 or 545re - 03/02/13 12:29 AM
They do make kits for the kickdown.. Theres a few guys running the 518 with good luck. Best part is its one less thing tk run on the computer hahab