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545RFE or 45RFE Shift Kit - Dodge Hemi Truck, Durango, Etc

9K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  dline 
#1 ·
Hey,

I thought I'd share my thoughts of a shift kit I installed on my Hemi TJ that has the 5 speed auto. This tranny is behind most hemi trucks and durangos.

The stock tranny is smooooth and nice, otherwise mushy!! I wanted my tranny to have firmer shifts and to hold the gears alittle longer on heavy acceleration. I installed a Transgo 545RFE-HD2 kit today. It was suppose to do just that.

After the install the trans is alot firmer and shifts much faster. For the $70.00 kit I would say that its a great deal for what you get. A much improved tranny if thats your thing.

I would say wait until your going to do a tranny oil change. Its not worth wasting clean tranny oil doing the installation. I was bored and I did it anyway. I was able to recover most of the oil. It was super easy to install. Took me about 1 hour.

Before when accelerating, the auto would shift early and slow. Now its fast and firm. 3rd to 4th is also way better and holds the gear longer. My TJ is really really fun to drive around and now its much better.

:beer:

 
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#3 ·
carfull with those hard 3 to 4 or hard downshifts into second prime. The drag strip guys over on dodgetalk have a hell of a time keeping those trans togeather even when built up if they don't lock out the overdives when running them. pushing a little jeep around probably will not be nearly as hard on it though. Stock motor?
 
#4 ·
Really? Hmmm I am definatly not on the strip running it. The motor is mild compared to the hemi guys really doing alot. Ive got a big cam and springs, computer tune, CAI, free flow exhaust, stall converter, and some other little bits. Im about 400 HP compared to the 345 of a stock Hemi.
 
#5 ·
overall the trans is pretty stout. I guess the problem is the overdive clutches are weak compared to 1st-3rd and don't hold up to repeated wot shifts. The 2nd prime passing gear also works off those clutches. that causes the most problem from what i hear. say your rolling along at 55-60mph and you jump on the throttle hard, it will downshift under full power into that gear that is normally not used that runs of the overdive clutches. it will eventually burn up those clutches. i don't think you will have a problem running around in a little jeep offroad. just letting you know it was one of the minor issues with that trans that i ran across when doing reserch before buying my new hemi ram. i had all kinds of trouble with my old dodge 46re trans so i looked into it before buying the new truck.
 
#8 ·
Comp Cam XFI 273 -

Bascially the biggest cam Comp Cam has for the 5.7

Lowend is about the same as stock, but mid-to-top end is insane. Also the idle is lumpy and sounds awesome. Definalty need a computer tune and new valve springs. Im running Manely beehive style springs. This motor loves to rev!!

Running around the street, I stay out of wot because its so violent. The acceleration and torque at lower speeds overwelms the soft springs in the suspension. Its a handfull but super fun.
 
#13 ·
cool should work good for me, 3000 stall converter, 4.56 gears, and lots of torque from the stroker will get me going, and 6600 rpm rev limiter for now

jm 5.7 cylinder heads

6.1 callies crank, i have a 6.1 aluminum oem intake manifold waiting to go on. i've been using a pretty good cold air intake for now with the plastic oem 5.7 intake

do you have a ram computer in there?
 
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