My transmission blew up - Ram swapped

omaharacer · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 1:42 pm

My 2-3 shift was hitting hard under light to no throttle for a few months before it just went out completely. I'm assuming the front pump went out. Clutch pack debris everywhere. Still shifted into R/N/D/1/2 - but wouldn't shift into 3rd, so couldn't go faster than 30mph or so. Original transmission had 168k miles. Beware - picture heavy post.

Anyways - after some research on 545RFE transmissions, I found a 545RFE in a 2WD 2009 Ram 4.7 V8 w/ 35k miles locally.

Both next to each other.

Both torque converters

OEM Euro

4.7 V8

Swap the tail/4x4 adapters
New Transmission cleaned up

Transfer case adapter plate all cleaned up

Both transmissions next to each other without the rear half

Had to use the skid loader w/ forks/chains to lift the trans back onto the high-lift jack. Not terribly fun with only one person.

PML deep pan cleaned up ready to go back in. New filters in the transmission before replacing.

All back together again. 15 quarts fill w/ a drained torque converter and deep pan.

The brackets on the side for the shift linkage need to be swapped over, both the one that holds the linkage, and the other that is on the splined shaft on the side that actually moves the gears around. The Ram splined shaft bracket is off by about 1 1/2 tooth. Once swapped both over to the new transmission everything will work correctly.
I did a test drive around the neighborhood and got up to around 60mph and all gears shifted great. Once I got back I used my Autel Maxidas DS708 from harbor freight and cleared all old codes and put the transmission into learn mode to reset everything. So far, so good. No shudder with new torque converter. Wouldn't expect any since the 4.7 V8 is rated at 310hp @ 5,650RPM and 330 lb.-ft. @ 3,950RPM.

tomasnc · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 1:56 pm

Thanks for sharing. Excellent work !!!

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun May 03, 2015 9:47 pm

Good info!!!! Love that deep pan.... :wink:

thermorex · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 11:54 am

WWDiesel wrote:

Good info!!!! Love that deep pan.... :wink:

Too bad it won't work with the factory skid...

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 12:17 pm

Great swap one question the deep pan is part of ram tranny or aftermarket upgrade ?

omaharacer · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 12:20 pm

Deep pan is from PML. I had it before & kept it.

olypopper · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 12:21 pm

It's an aftermarket pan and the brand is PML. They are a good pan and a cheaper option than May-Hytec or others known to be more expensive.

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Sat May 09, 2015 1:06 pm

Thanks for the info one more question does this pan have a drain plug or some thing ? I did see a bolt on the side so is it a drain plug if it is that is so cool and should have been there in the first place.

I am having occasional shudder or hiccup in my tranny and this swap is on my future upgrade list. what is your review about it so far?
Ram TC sure looks a better option than OEM / Euro for handling stats, way better than Suncoast in terms of money, as 800 bucks would pay a large chunk of locally sourced reman Ram tranny with 2 yrs warranty on it.

JHolm · **Joined:** Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:05 am **Posts:** 45

I've got 2 questions. Are all 545rfe transmissions the same ratios? Can I use a Ram torque converter in my CRD with the original transmission.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:15 pm

All 545rfe transmissions have the same gear ratios.
For the most part, all the torque converters are the same. But one from a Hemi V8 or the newer "Euro" torque converters are what's recommended for the CRD.

gmctd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:35 am

JHolm wrote:

I've got 2 questions. Are all 545rfe transmissions the same ratios? Can I use a Ram torque converter in my CRD with the original transmission.

Two answers: yes..................

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:17 am

this is a very interesting swap. I'm actually wonder is this is essentially what was done to my CRD. My Transmission died on the way home from a camping and Kayaking trip just over 100 miles from home last September. Got towed to a shop with my camper and all. they said the next day the transmission was gone. I had no gears forward or reverse and it just quit suddenly on the turnpike at 60 mph, as if i shifted to neutral.

I ended up with a Jasper Re-manufactured Trans. I can't imagine they had a 545rfe from a CRD sitting ready to build out and ship to the shop to swap. I'm sure its more likely from a truck or a Durango. only thing is I asked Jasper a few times about the torque converter specs for what they used since they provide the shop with a fully built unit converter and all ready to bold up and fill with fluids. All Jasper will tell me is we rebuild our torque converters in house to meet or exceed most OEM specs. and it will preform as its supposed to. not sure if there is any other way to know what is in there with my new transmission. I have a GDE ECO tune and would like to have the full torque version, but not sure its a good idea. So far mine has been working fine. I did have the fluids and filters changed around first 5000 miles, Jasper requires that for their 3 year/100,000 mile warranty.

orbanator7577 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 12, 2015 11:38 am

This answers my question. I have had a Dodge Ram transmission sitting in my ebay shopping cart for a while and now after seeing this, I am ready to pull the trigger. In my research, we can put up to a 2011 ram transmission in our CRD's. In 2012, they changed the gearing so that all 6 gears are used in sequence, but everything else is the same. I wonder if we can get the TCM programmed for this. I will have to email GDE.

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 1:15 am

My transmission also went kaput so fun and games begin.

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:56 am

how much transmission oil should i get for it 13 or 14 quarts for complete Re & Re and what kind?

Steevo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:31 pm

My 2-3 shift has started being a little hokey in the last week or so. Looks like its time to drop my pan and look for debris, but it is nice to know that there are good options for donor transmissions if I end up replacing it.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:02 pm

My 2-3 shift has been hokey for 2 years. I put transgo kit in vb and front pump. Replaced solenoid pack. New Mopar filters x 2 with valvoline atf+4. None of that helped. I just drive around with selector on 2 and shift to drive when rpms are over 2500. Then she will shift like butter. I can't wait for mine to break so I can do this swap.

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Sat Jun 20, 2015 9:48 am

finally got my :JEEPIN:

if only I knew about this swap earlier it would have saved me a bundle and got her done so long ago. Thanks for pointing me this way.

lars0247 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:09 am **Posts:** 98

omaharacer,

Is your transmission still shifting good?

My 2-3 binds, and 3 - 4 binds really bad. I'm gonna do this assuming your shifting problems have not redeveloped.

Thanks.

omaharacer · **Posted:** Wed Sep 16, 2015 11:35 am

I still haven't had any issues w/ the transmission. I'm not sure why all the photos disappeared, weird.
In no particular order, here they are again -

My transmission blew up - Ram swapped

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