ATS Diesel 42RLE transmission

[CybrSlydr]

Was looking around at transmission rebuilds and such and came across this on another Jeep forum for those of us with the 42RLE.

http://www.atsdiesel.com/ats2/productdetail.asp?p=3069448272

Anyone have experience with it? A forum search didn't turn up any threads or posts about it.

42RLE Automatic Transmission - 2003-2006 Jeep 4.0L * 4-Wheel Drive * TRANSMISSION ONLY *


On the Trail or Street, the ATS 42RLE is Backed by a 5 Year / 500,000 Mile Warranty


The ATS 42RLE is engineered to hold the power and abuse Jeep owners can throw at it. Substantial increases in clutch pack surface area, line pressure and shift quality provide the reliability Jeep owners demand.

 

[Boinked]

The problem with buying a large part online is that huge core charge. 1,000 core. They charge you 200 to ship the transmission to you. Then you have to pay to ship your core to them to get your 1,000 back. Also if it breaks will you be able to get it serviced locally or do you need to pay to ship it to them, then pay to have it shipped back?
If you live locally to them it isnt bad.

 

[Chris]

First off, the $1000 core would immediately turn me off, not to mention the shipping costs.

Secondly, there's literally zero information about this transmission on their website other than a single sentence. Seems like a waste of money to me. I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

[LONGJP2]

Any more recent experience with these guys?

https://www.atsdiesel.com/ats2/productdetail.asp?p=3069408272

 

[LJ Jim]

I used best buy transmission. I've got 9 months and a couple thousand miles on mine. No regrets.

https://www.bestbuytransmission.com/42rle-transmission

 

[AjRagno]

I used best buy transmission. I've got 9 months and a couple thousand miles on mine. No regrets.

https://www.bestbuytransmission.com/42rle-transmission

Any further details you can provide on the process involved here? Did you install yourself or have shop handle everything?

 

[LJ Jim]

My mechanic handled the install for about $900 with a few minor jobs thrown in. He said the delivery, core pick up, and apparent quality of the trans were all outstanding.

Free delivery, no core if you return it in a reasonable amount of time, good price all considered.

I gave secondary weight to warranties when shopping but theirs is the longest I found.

 

[AjRagno]

My mechanic handled the install for about $900 with a few minor jobs thrown in. He said the delivery, core pick up, and apparent quality of the trans were all outstanding.

Free delivery, no core if you return it in a reasonable amount of time, good price all considered.

I gave secondary weight to warranties when shopping but theirs is the longest I found.

Thanks. This does look like the best option I’ve seen/found if not going the local shop rebuild route.

 

[LJ Jim]

Shops around here were $2800 minimum IF all went well. I also had quotes up to $4200. There are risks either way but I went with the fixed cost.

 

[Fouledplugs]

He said the delivery, core pick up, and apparent quality of the trans were all outstanding.

He went into the trans? Did they use quality parts like Sunnex internals? Were sprags upgraded? What makes their builds better than OEM?

 

[LJ Jim]

No he did not go into it. Apparent quality may have been a misleading word choice, apologies. He said it looked new.

 

[LJ Jim]

I don't know if their build is better than OEM apart from their web site saying so.

 

[Fouledplugs]

I don't know if their build is better than OEM apart from their web site saying so.

Right? I am curious as to what makes it better than OEM. If I had to guess, it’s snake oil. It likely has oem parts in it and has a shift kit installed. On the upside, I have heard ATS is pretty good with their customer service, which is hard to find these days.

 

[Apparition]

Another option I saw Ian Johnson used these guys for some stuff on one of his shows, I know nothing about them.

https://www.powertraincompany.com/jeep

 

[Apparition]

Right? I am curious as to what makes it better than OEM. If I had to guess, it’s snake oil. It likely has oem parts in it and has a shift kit installed. On the upside, I have heard ATS is pretty good with their customer service, which is hard to find these days.

Page 29-30 describes what they do

http://www.atsdiesel.com/additionalinfo/306/2020-ATS-Catalog-TRANSMISSION-PARTS.pdf

 

[pagrey]

Page 29-30 describes what they do

I would have considerd ATS at one time but after reading that description I'm not so sure now. How they describe the transgo shift kit is a little funny, like they do something unique themselves which is a bit odd. Not to mention most of the description seems like some hand waving fluff, nothing really concrete. I think the torque converter sounds like the best part. On the other hand https://www.bestbuytransmission.com/ which @LJ Jim listed gives a pretty detailed description of the rebuild down to the exact brand solenoid. Definitely bookmarked that one.

 

[Stephen Vet]

Hey Fellas,
I am not sure if this is the correct thread to post this in but... my 42RLE transmission went out in my 06 LJ earlier this year. the factory unit lasted a miserable 90k miles as I have owned it since 27K miles. I have absolutely abused that transmission with 33s & 35s. I am planning on replacing it with an ATS Diesel Stage 2 42RLE unit that is "rated" for 400hp. I have heard great things from my local guys that have modified Cummins & Powerstroke's and a few with TJs and a couple guys with boosted V6 Charger/Challengers. As they offer 42RLE's for 03-06 for Wranglers & 07-11 for all other 4wd & 2wd vehicles. When the time comes I am planning to have my local performance shop & family friend's "Pur Performance" here in St. Charles, Missouri do the Install. I am most likely going to write a before and after parts & customer service review on here the WranglerTJForum.

Should I make a new thread for my review or should I continue on this one?

ATS Diesel 42RLE Transmission Package Link

Pur Performance Website Link

 

[JMT]

Hey Fellas,
I am not sure if this is the correct thread to post this in but... my 42RLE transmission went out in my 06 LJ earlier this year. the factory unit lasted a miserable 90k miles as I have owned it since 27K miles. I have absolutely abused that transmission with 33s & 35s. I am planning on replacing it with an ATS Diesel Stage 2 42RLE unit that is "rated" for 400hp. I have heard great things from my local guys that have modified Cummins & Powerstroke's and a few with TJs and a couple guys with boosted V6 Charger/Challengers. As they offer 42RLE's for 03-06 for Wranglers & 07-11 for all other 4wd & 2wd vehicles. When the time comes I am planning to have my local performance shop & family friend's "Pur Performance" here in St. Charles, Missouri do the Install. I am most likely going to write a before and after parts & customer service review on here the WranglerTJForum.

Should I make a new thread for my review or should I continue on this one?

ATS Diesel 42RLE Transmission Package Link

Pur Performance Website Link

Make a new thread since this one is about a diesel 42rle and yours is not..

 

[Wildman]

Make a new thread since this one is about a diesel 42rle and yours is not..

ATS Diesel is the company that builds the transmission. @NashvilleTJ had a ATS 42RLE behind his supercharged 4.0 & had a ATS built 545RFE behind his 392 Hemi.

 

[JMT]

ATS Diesel is the company that builds the transmission. @NashvilleTJ had a ATS 42RLE behind his supercharged 4.0 & had a ATS built 545RFE behind his 392 Hemi.

Boy, I missed that one by a mile. I was thinking all along, how the hell could it become a diesel? What do you have to do to the engine? LOL!

I’m familiar with this company too since I looked at them for a rebuild back when I bout the 42rle in Gig Harbor. I think you were the one who mentioned them. Geez they want a lot for the transmission $4k+