46RH (A518) Conversion project

[TerryH]

Sasquatch, I hope you realize that is has been a while since we have seen Rick - particularly - and many others so interested and intrigued in a member project!
You can't quit now!

[Rickf1985]

OK, OK, I will stop pestering you. Just hope I don't trip over a 671 Detroit laying around anywhere. That and a Road Ranger and MY wheels will be turning!

[srosa707]

Those are some great plans, Sasquatch!

[Sasquatch]

The last time I listened to the voices it ended up very badly for me.  So, I shall resist.  Diesels are more efficient, but I really do not want to do that.  I simply do not put the miles on the coach to make that worth it.  One could argue the same for the overdrive, but it is so much more quiet and relaxed at 2100 rpm vs over 3k.  That in itself makes it worth it.  As it sits, my mileage is not bad at 7-8.5.  I am still curious what it will do with the transmission working properly.  Even if I only pick up 1 - 1.5 mpg I will be happy.  I tend to drive hard, so my mileage will suffer.

But bottom line is that I am going to take the next year and just work on details.  Continue on really jazzing her up.  People are so blown away when they walk inside her, I just want to finish that.  Some new modern back splashes, LED puck lighting, and a bunch of small details that have been neglected.  And bottom line, use her.  Go camping.

[Rickf1985]

Listen to the voices! Diesels are efficient. The trans will bolt right on with a class three bell housing (or #3, I can never remember which) All you need is a hole in the floor. No electronics, No 50 gallons of lost transmission fluid. Listen to the voices!!!














Boy am I glad I live a LONG ways away from you!! At least right now anyways. :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao

[Sasquatch]

The 13 speed is not going to happen Rick.  I went through hell with this conversion, although most was my own fault.  I really want to focus on enjoying the coach.  My last major upgrades will be a new modern AC unit for the roof with a wall thermostat (I travel with animals), and a full repaint and window rebuilds.  Some minor upgrades as well like new dash and modern insturments and switches, modern lighting, etc., are also planned, but they are not huge changes.  Other than that, nothing major is planned.  At some point the motor will need a full rebuild and I will plan that one carefully and build it the best I can for how I use it with lots of low end torque and efficiency (yes, I said efficiency regarding a 440) in mind.  No diesel swaps, no flux capacitors, hybrid drives, warp generators, or cloaking devices.... sorry.

[chicknnhead]

Yeah i read about that unit over on another site, of a guy doing something similar to yours..the reason he went with that was because he wanted his wife to drive and it was hands off sorta situation....so far so good has been reported

[Rickf1985]

You know I am just busting your stones. I am waiting for my suggestion of the 13 speed to get the best of you, it is going to happen. The voices are getting louder.

[Sasquatch]

I looked deeper at it.  It could be a neat product.  I am going to keep that one in mind.  I want to prove the transmission out for a while first with my switch.  I need to feel confident all the issues are put to bed.

[tmsnyder]

No excuse needed for doing a cool combo like this one though.

[Rickf1985]

It has the option of no converter clutch and they can supply a TPS for a carburetted engine. You are running out of excuses. :)rotflmao  Looks like a decent unit. I would like to see one like that for the 4l80E GM trans at that price.

[Sasquatch]

Ok, I just looked closer, it will work on an RH, but it also wants to see a lockup torque converter and needs a throttle position sensor that it can access.  I could rig one, but probably not worth it.

[Sasquatch]

That would work on an "RE" transmission that is electronically shifted.  Mine is all hydraulic and does not have a lock up torque converter.

[chicknnhead]

maybe i missed the reason, but why not go with something like this
https://www.hgmelectronics.com/compushift-mini-for-chrysler-a518-46rh-and-chrysler-a618-47rh/

[Sasquatch]

Feeling better, just gave her a bath.

[Rickf1985]

A friend of mine bought a Rousch Mustang, brandy new with the 600 plus horsepower supercharged engine and the ten speed auto. I was busting his chops about the auto until he let me drive it. Around town it is like driving the family car and out on the looong highway when you lay into it............................................... Lets just say it is real close to sexual experience!! Just solid pulling power and the engine is in the right power band the entire time. Ten speeds! I used to drive tractor trailers with ten speed road rangers. They are the size of a mustang! Now they put ten speeds in an automatic in a car. Got to love modern tech.

[Rickf1985]

The autos out there now are just amazing, 5, 6, 8, 10 speed. I was in the motorcycle shop getting parts and I was looking at the new Gold Wing, 7 speed automatic!!!!

[Sasquatch]

La la la la la la la la..... I hear nothing.....

[khantroll]

The 6 speed allison is a good match to the cummins as well, and gives you double overdrive. Just sayin

[legomybago]

That gives me an idear! A Cummins conversion and a 13 speed Fuller transmission. Plenty of room for it. I know a guy who had that combo in a Dodge pickup. Matter of fact I have his injectors and exhaust brake. Come on, get them wheels spinning in your brain.

You could do a double overdrive conversion to that 13-speed and that motorhome will be a triple digit rig....

[Sasquatch]

Darn it Rick.... Stop it.  I am already a slave to the voices in my head (and they are all engineer gear heads that slam race gas and snort tire rubber...)

[Rickf1985]

That gives me an idear! A Cummins conversion and a 13 speed Fuller transmission. Plenty of room for it. I know a guy who had that combo in a Dodge pickup. Matter of fact I have his injectors and exhaust brake. Come on, get them wheels spinning in your brain.

[Sasquatch]

I want a redo on my vacation for sure, but that will have to wait until next spring.  I am going to take a couple of shorter, closer weekend runs in the coming months around here.  This will give me the chance to fully test the transmission much closer to home.

I need to address the emergency/park brake issue asap.  I also need to clean up the mounting for the second transmission cooler I installed and install the aux fan on it.  I want to have no cooling issues no matter the temps outside.  Then a bunch of clean up.  Oh, I also want to come up with a better switch for my OD.  Thinking about a push pull switch mounted to the front of my shifter like a two speed rear end switch in older semi-trucks.  I dont know yet how I want to do that one.

[Rickf1985]

Well, It sounds like in the name of research you need to do that same trip all over again at the same speed and route to include the trip to the trans shop to say hello, and back home. That should pretty much do it.  So lets get packing!

[Froggy1936]

Yipee  OK to send thank you gifts, Sounds like you got it whipped, But how long before you will trust it probably never, Every hiccup, burp will bring you to full attention . Frank