Due to losing a 200 mile old tranny rebuild to a freak broken clip and having an empty bank account, I had get outside the box to get the CRD running again. I sourced a low mileage 545rfe from an 06 Dodge 1500 with a hemi, and we swapped the tranny in lock stock and barrel. It all is completely interchangeable except for the tranny to transfer case adapter housing. The Jeep housing is clocked about 5 degrees different than the Dodge housing, so we had to keep the one from the Liberty so that the crossmember would bolt up without hitting the tcase. It's all in and running great now, and I fully recommend the Hemi TC to anyone who is on the fence.

I look forward to any further experience you have with the hemi transmission as you add more miles. Did you swap the transmission ECM too or keep the CRD's?

About a year ago I swapped my OEM TC for a Euro TC and was happy with that for a while but now with a 1st stage Nick tune/egr delete the shudder is back and occurs anywhere between 50 to 65 mph in 5th OD and light throttle, particularly when I'm rolling flat or slight decent on the highway. No problems at all when I going 75 mph or better. One thing I might try before going "Hemi" is to add a lift pump to the fuel tank. I have replaced the fuel head and the fuel system seems tight but maybe I'm getting fuel starved in the 50-65 mph range with the 1st stage tune. Or I may go back to the stock tune with no egr and see what happens. This is with 16 inch 245-70 tires.

The KJ TCM will need to learn the new parameters set by the tighter Hemi TC, so best to wait till after you acclimatize to the improved response of the new TC

You can use the Hemi TCM, but that heavier vehicle is also gasoline-fueled, so the learning curve may be different as the TCM adjusts to the lower-rpm Diesel power and lighter vehicle weight

While the auxiliary lift pump mod will improve the overall driving experience, I wouldn't posi-tively count on it doing anything for the shudder - that's just a more or less noticeable problem with this unibody-mounted drivetrain

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'05 CRD Limited
Pricol EGT, Boost
GDE Hot '11; EDGE Trail switched
SEGR; Provent; Magnaflow;
Suncoast T\C, Transgo Tow'n'Go switch;
Cummins LP module, Fleetguard filter, Filterminder
2.5" Daystar f, OME r; Ranchos; K80767's, Al's lifted uppers
Rubicons, 2.55 Goodyears
Four in a row really makes it go

This proving to be an ordeal. The new/old hemi trans has low line pressure at idle causing the torque converter to stall, so needs to come back out for the upgraded oil pump. Should have done that from the outset. We now can get the tranny out and back in in less two hours with both of us working on it, but who wants to?