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j-mac
Dodge Dakota
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7/05/2004
01:53:18
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 Subject: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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If you have 4.10 gears installed, would you still need overdrive off when towing? If so, why?
It seems 4.10 gears in overdrive would be better than stock 3.55 w/ overdrive off.!
Is there something different in the final overdrive gear that prohibits towing?
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
 
7/05/2004
02:17:33
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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I have 3.55 gears and the 5-45RFE and I leave mine in OD most of the time unless I'm on some BIG hills that never end. On the flat highway or mild hills leaving it in OD will let it use that 4th gear at times. Running mine with the OD off totally dropped my MPG from 12 to 9 on this one trip we routinly make! DAMN!
I'd think 4.10's would make it all the easier to stay in OD most of the time.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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7/05/2004
19:29:11
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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Off or on depends on a variety of factors. Load, gearing, altitude, grade, etc, etc, etc. When you tow, if the transmission is hunting, the engine is well below it's power band and struggeling, downshift. Otherwise, don't.
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/05/2004
21:13:33
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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In general, DC doesn't want the overdrive to overheat, and the stock deal doesn't tolerate heavy loading well. It's intended for cruising. However, when built with aftermarket clutches etc, it does much better. My '89 Shelby went through overdrives an average of every 12,000-15,000 miles, and all I hauled...was ASS down the interstate.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
7/06/2004
01:55:50
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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But that was the 46RE wasn't it? That's mostly mechanical as far as shifting gears in concerned (valve body). Compared to the 5-45FRE that tranny has a retarded brain in compare to the 5-45RFE! Not to talk smack, but as far as sensing loads go, etc.
My bro in law has a 2000 RAM with the 46RE, etc. We had to fix the front pump already. He has a bitch of a time adjusting his downshift cable. If it is set too far the damn tranny will shift into 2nd then back into 1st and hit his rev limiter! All while just holding it floored from a dead stop! That's crappy!
They also are more prone to hunt on mild hills. That was normal for those tranny's and others like it. The fully electronic 5-45RFE harldy hunts at all unless you play with the throttle a lot. Other than that it seems to downshift when it really needs to and stay in that gear for a while.
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2004
20:23:37
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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No, it was the A500, later known as the 42RH...based on the 904. The 46 is based on the larger 727. Thing is, the 904-part of the tranny was always fine. It was the overdrive (designed by eggheads and lacking the overbuilt guts of the torqueflite) that always fried. The overdrive unit is the same on A500 through 46RE with the exception of some updates to try to improve lubrication. As for the electronic units, I'll stick with mechanically controlled/hydraulically actuated trannys-1995 and earlier. There's no hunting season with them. The best one I've had so far was a 1969 727 Torqueflite with a B&M kit.
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j-mac
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2004
21:27:45
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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the tranny is a 44re
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
7/06/2004
22:03:20
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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Whoa a sec. You are saying OLDER OD tranny's have no GEAR HUNTING???
IMO I think the OLD mechanically ones are the WORST at gear hunting! The new electronic ones (the 46 is NOT fully electronic, I'm talking the 5-45RFE ) don;t hunt NEARLY as much as when I've drove 46RE, 700R4's, etc. I leave mine in OD and when going up a hill and MILDLY holding enough gas to get it to go out of OD or at least out of 5th, it STAYS out for a while, usually until I've finished the hill or let off the gas by quiet a bit and STAY there. It NEVER shifts right back into OD like the mechanical valve body controlled ones do.
Hell. I drive a 2000 GMC for work with what is the newer version of a 700R4. Can;t remember what they called it but I was told it is based off of that tranny.
If I give it enough gas to come out of OD and then back out of the gas just slightly it jumps right back on OD. Going up slight hills it goes back and forth.
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99Dak5.2L4x4
Dodge Dakota
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7/07/2004
10:54:11
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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I'm putting in 4.56 gears and 33 inch BFG A/T tires next week on my 99Dak 5.2L 4x4.
I do a lot of towing right now with my 3.55 gears and 32 inch Procomp all terrain tires and I always have turn off the OD. and in general I turn off the OD when I'm in the city.
Currently at 70mph I run 1950 RPMs which sucks.
If you email me around July 18th I can tell you exactly what my new RPM levels will be and how well it tows my boat.
bill_rosenfelt2004@yahoo.com
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AndrewM
Dodge Dakota
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7/07/2004
13:54:14
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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It depends on what you're towing. I put 4.10s in my 02 QC 4.7 auto. Even with the HO cams and 4.10 gears, I can't really hold overdrive too well towing my 19' travel trailer. On flat land I can hold overdrive, but the slightest incline will downshift into 3rd. Gas mileage doesn't really improve when towing in OD, so I just tow in 3rd. At 65 mph, my rpms are around 3200 in 3rd gear. Right at peak torque for the 4.7.
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Kowalski
GenIII
7/07/2004
15:20:19
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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Thats why many of us with the 45RFE type tranny tow with overdrive left on - when you get into a high load situation it drops back out of overdrive on its own; so we don't feel we're stressing the overdrive part of the tranny.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/07/2004
17:54:45
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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Have to admit my reference to gear-hunting was based on the experiences I had with the Shelby. While it routinely melted overdrives, the programming was actually very good. It is said they were programmed to be more responsive, and maybe that has something to do with it. The 3.90 gears probably made it less prone to hunting, and then there's my driving style, which tends to still be very deliberate.
Not sure what you mean by "fully electronic" though. The 46RH has a hydraulic valve body. The 46RE has an electronic valve body that is computer-controlled.
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OldSchool
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2004
10:46:52
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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basically they just want the trans to avoid hunting. i'd leave it on if your cruisin' down the freeway. if its in the hills, kick it off and forget it.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
7/09/2004
21:44:27
| RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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Oh. I didn't realize they MADE a fully electronic 46 tranny.
When we opened up my bro in laws 2000 RAM with the 5.2 that tranny had a valve body with just a few sensors which was probably just a lock up and OD switch, etc. Basic shifting is all mechanical on that pig, and you can TELL.
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Raymond
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2004
04:03:23
|  RE: 4.10 overdrive gear/towing
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I have a 98 dakota w/ k&n , gibson headers , 3" exhaust , with 4:10 gears. I tow a 18' toy hauler loaded w/ 3 quads. I cruise at 65 mph at 3200 rpm w/ od off. I will climbs hills and wont slow down below 55 mhp. I love it. Truck pulls great.
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