A518/46RH Trans Rebuild

[rebootej]

Hi guys,

I've got a 46RH transmission that i pulled out of 93 Dakota. Going to put it behind my 318 in my 74 Satellite Sebring with a shift kit. Has any one rebuilt one of these on their own?

Both PATC and summit have kits for rebuilding. I've never done any kind of transmission work before besides changing filters. How much work is it? More difficult than doing an engine?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I highly recommend the ATSG Service Group manual. The 46RH is the early hydraulic shift version and it ain't too tough. It's basically a 727 with an OD crammed in it. No electronics.

 

[rebootej]

Thanks found the book. So if i can do an engine i should be able to do the transmission?

 

[RustyRatRod]

I would say so, yes. The biggest thing is the valve body, but the book breaks it down pretty good. Also, if you use a shift kit, those instructions will be precise too. As for the case and guts, everything separates as assembles as subassemblies. Such as the direct clutch, front and rear planetaries and such. Just watch how it comes apart. Because unless somebody had been in it boogerin with it, that's how it goes back together. The book explains it very well.

 

[rebootej]

Thanks, well i guess ill have to give it a shot then. Appreciate it.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

I did the same thing. Pulled one out of a 95 ram van. Vans are good donors being 2wd and all. Course the one I pick was shot and needed hard parts. No biggie though cause like these guys said, its the same as a torquflite. Got plenty of them around for parts. The only major differences are in the valve body and obviously the overdrive unit. That it where care must be taken. That doesn't just come apart. There are special tools required to get it apart and back together. And you need a press too. So be mindful of that. GO

 

[rebootej]

I just watched a video on rebuilding overdrive unit, Need a press to relive an 800 lb spring? Ill probably have to farm that out to a local shop? Rebel which part was bad the main or the overdrive portion? What type of car did you put it in to?

 

[Hemi Rebel]

I have an 87 ram that i had a 440. Yanked that and dropped in a 360 out of a ramcharger with the 46rh behind it. Typically the overdrives are what goes up in these things. The one i nabbed had been gone through already and the overdrive was ok. What wasnt ok was the missing thrust washers that the previous person to be inside the thing had left out. I had to replace the rear planetary gears. It had a broken 3-4 accumulator spring as well. Other than that, i just cleaned the hell out of it and put it back together. Works good. I used the overdrive kit from patc. I went to a local trans shop and talked to a guy there about the converter. Being a 360, the tq converter has weights on it. The la 360 and the magnum 5.9 use different weights. I told him what i was doing, he looked it up, and actually had what i needed in stock. It fits and works good. Engine runs smooth. But im already wanting to yank the 360 and put in a 5.7 hemi. It will bolt to the 46rh so it should be a relatively easy swap. I hope

 

[racedodge]

there are specific tolerances on your overdrive unit's clutch discs that will need to be adhered to and require special tools to measure the clearances. If you cannot do that by yourself, farm the entire OD unit to a transmission shop. Secondly, the VB is a 3 plate system that requires perfect alignment of each separator plate in order to allow for appropriate pressures to be applied to the front and rear housing. It is always recommended to replace all internal solenoids mounted to the valve body. Shifts kits do require modification of the VB itself. You "should" replace your rollerized bearings found in the transmission and in the OD unit. There is a wearable part that should be replaced within the OD unit if there is too much scoring.

There is much more, but if you do not plan on doing the OD unit, I will not get into those details.

Lastly, if you have never overhauled a transmission before you are going to need:

transmission break-in grease
liquid pipe thread sealant
front clutch drum press
in/lb torque wrench
8 pt 1/4" socket

there is alot involved with this.. let alone getting a new reverse band (not needed but recommended), new set of sprag springs/rollers (highly recommended), and a master rebuild kit from O'Reillys.

The OD spring in the valve body often breaks (made of terrible material) so it would be advisable to replace that with a newer unit.

Hope this helps, and yes, I have done around 15 46RH/A518 and A500/42RH as well as numerous 46RE's (not to mention the 50 or so 727 and 904 overhauls I have done). Mentioning that just so you do not think I am blowing smoke up your ***.

 

[rebootej]

Sounds like a cool ride, that hemi will be lot of fun! Good luck.
Im gonna get that OD kit from PACT too. Would you recommend i let a shop do the rear and i rebuild the body my self? or is it just the pressing of the spring that i really need a shop for?

Im anxious to get started on this, the cars getting body work done now so id like to put it in after that.

 

[RustyRatRod]

We do business with two main parts places. Dacco and Transtar. I wouldn't get transmission parts from a big box store if my life depended on it. Also, get the ATSG book. All of the clearance info is there. Everything. Get the book FIRST. Read it more than once from front to back. THEN if you think you can do it, knock it out.

 

[rebootej]

I will definitely be ordering that book, i think i found it on summit.

Between my dad and i we've got a pretty good collection of tools but no press. Thank you for all of the tips and suggestions guys. I really appreciate it.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Sounds like a cool ride, that hemi will be lot of fun! Good luck.
Im gonna get that OD kit from PACT too. Would you recommend i let a shop do the rear and i rebuild the body my self? or is it just the pressing of the spring that i really need a shop for?

Im anxious to get started on this, the cars getting body work done now so id like to put it in after that.

its just a beat up old work truck, nothing special.
If you plan on doing the trans, leave the od to someone with the right tools. I would go to a dealer, grab a tech walking by and ask him who the trans guru is. Then go ask that guy. If hes any count, he will knock it out for you on the side. Just bring him the od and the parts for it. You can go through the front door but it will cost you more, and they might not wanna mess with it since there is no car around it.

 

[383man]

there are specific tolerances on your overdrive unit's clutch discs that will need to be adhered to and require special tools to measure the clearances. If you cannot do that by yourself, farm the entire OD unit to a transmission shop. Secondly, the VB is a 3 plate system that requires perfect alignment of each separator plate in order to allow for appropriate pressures to be applied to the front and rear housing. It is always recommended to replace all internal solenoids mounted to the valve body. Shifts kits do require modification of the VB itself. You "should" replace your rollerized bearings found in the transmission and in the OD unit. There is a wearable part that should be replaced within the OD unit if there is too much scoring.

There is much more, but if you do not plan on doing the OD unit, I will not get into those details.

Lastly, if you have never overhauled a transmission before you are going to need:

transmission break-in grease
liquid pipe thread sealant
front clutch drum press
in/lb torque wrench
8 pt 1/4" socket

there is alot involved with this.. let alone getting a new reverse band (not needed but recommended), new set of sprag springs/rollers (highly recommended), and a master rebuild kit from O'Reillys.

The OD spring in the valve body often breaks (made of terrible material) so it would be advisable to replace that with a newer unit.

Hope this helps, and yes, I have done around 15 46RH/A518 and A500/42RH as well as numerous 46RE's (not to mention the 50 or so 727 and 904 overhauls I have done). Mentioning that just so you do not think I am blowing smoke up your ***.

Its to bad I dont live near you as I have done many over the years as I was a Dodge tech for 24 years. As was said about the special tools they are needed to determine the shim size in the overdrive at the roller bearing and the shaft also has a shim on it. Also you will need the spline tool to center the splines as it goes back together. It would be a big help if you know a tranny guy to give you a hand and lend you the tools. As was said there is no electronic gov in the 46RH but it does use a solenoid for the overdrive thats on the valve body with the lock-up solenoid if it has lock-up and they are controlled by the PCM. The early A500's were hard on the center bearing and the anulus gear it rode on so just check everything real close. One thing I can tell you if it needs alot of parts many times you can get an overdrive unit cheaper then some of the parts. When I did my own I needed the overdrive spring and the planetary with a few minor parts and my dealer employee price was close to $500 dollars ! I called a trans shop in NY we delt with and got a new unit for $275. It was for a 4x4 but I just changed the output shaft and housing to my 2WD parts as they were out of 2WD units. Also if you can it helps to lay everything in order on the bench as you take it apart. They have thrust washers and all that many times fall out and then you have to be sure where they go so laying everything in order can be very helpful sometimes. Good luck , Ron

 

[RustyRatRod]

A computer is not required with the 46RH.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm

We do a similar mod at our shop. We've done two since I've been there and they work real good.

 

[rebootej]

Thank you for all the advice guys. Laying every thing out makes a lot of sense, i will definitely have to do that. Rusty, glad to hear they worked well, I am excited for this, to turn the car in to a real nice cruiser.

 

[383man]

A computer is not required with the 46RH.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm

We do a similar mod at our shop. We've done two since I've been there and they work real good.

What does your setup use to operate the overdrive solenoid ? Ron

 

[RustyRatRod]

Did you not see the link? Charles devised a very similar system to part number 727518.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

What does your setup use to operate the overdrive solenoid ? Ron

Power goes though a vacuum switch to pressure switches that are tapped into the governor pressure port. A 48psi switch and a 52psi switch. Gov pressure is 1 psi for every mph. So the 48 is connected to overdrive, and the 52 is for converter lock up. The vacuum switch opens when manifold vacuum drops, when opening the throttle blades. So it kicks out of lock up and overdrive in a passing gear situation.
All you really need is a couple of toggle switches if you dont mind flipping them constantly.

- - - Updated - - -

Can you believe they charge 20 bucks for the 3 pin solenoid connector? Wtf

 

[RustyRatRod]

Thanks. I didn't know exactly how to explain it. I run the office. I can build a three speed, but after that, I let others take over. I know this though. Charles made a mod where you don't have to flip them constantly. I don't know exactly how it works, but it's nice. I'll try to find out......but he's kinda a propriatary dude.

Power goes though a vacuum switch to pressure switches that are tapped into the governor pressure port. A 48psi switch and a 52psi switch. Gov pressure is 1 psi for every mph. So the 48 is connected to overdrive, and the 52 is for converter lock up. The vacuum switch opens when manifold vacuum drops, when opening the throttle blades. So it kicks out of lock up and overdrive in a passing gear situation.
All you really need is a couple of toggle switches if you dont mind flipping them constantly.