For those of you who need tuning....
https://frptuning.com/pages/how-it-...mKbC69hlv69s1lJcVQ_aem_T8WJ0nCJC3BmZnkHdIipmA
https://frptuning.com/pages/how-it-...mKbC69hlv69s1lJcVQ_aem_T8WJ0nCJC3BmZnkHdIipmA
As the early pedal assemblies become harder to find here is a new option. Lokar has a throttle by wire kit for MoPar.
https://www.lokar.com/throt-assemb-pedal-pads.html
https://www.lokar.com/assets/instructions/INS0156-Billet-DriveByWire.pdf
https://www.lokar.com/throt-assemb-pedal-pads.html
https://www.lokar.com/assets/instructions/INS0156-Billet-DriveByWire.pdf
I've been looking into the 8HP70 transmission more and am just starting to learn everything that it can do. But to swap it into our TJ's you have a couple options.
1) Use a JSS (Jeep Speed Shop) kit. Just their wiring harness is $1900 but that includes programing the TCM. You still need a Challenger or Charger shifter
https://jeepspeedshop.com/product/8-speed-transmission-swap/
2) Turbolamik TCM which is a stand alone setup. Gives you some crazy options. It starts @ $1650
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/product-page/turbolamik-8hp-controller
Premade harness for the Turbolamik is $500
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/product-page/universal-wiring-harness
Some videos on these transmissions.
After reading about these it makes me want to swap one into other vehicles . They are now offering a lot of different kits to bolt it behind many different engines.
Just one vendor that is offering parts
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/8HP
One of the things I'm finding interesting is that they are making kits to put this transmission behind LS engines. This is a very different transmission than what I grew up with..
1) Use a JSS (Jeep Speed Shop) kit. Just their wiring harness is $1900 but that includes programing the TCM. You still need a Challenger or Charger shifter
https://jeepspeedshop.com/product/8-speed-transmission-swap/
2) Turbolamik TCM which is a stand alone setup. Gives you some crazy options. It starts @ $1650
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/product-page/turbolamik-8hp-controller
Premade harness for the Turbolamik is $500
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/product-page/universal-wiring-harness
Some videos on these transmissions.
After reading about these it makes me want to swap one into other vehicles . They are now offering a lot of different kits to bolt it behind many different engines.
Just one vendor that is offering parts
https://www.seemslegitgarage.com/8HP
One of the things I'm finding interesting is that they are making kits to put this transmission behind LS engines. This is a very different transmission than what I grew up with..
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Any talk about the hp it costs to drive it? Usually the beefier the trans the more it takes to spin it.
The Allison behind the duramax takes something like 50 hp
Everything I'm reading shows the 8HP70 to not take a lot of HP to drive it. This is coming from people who swapped from the 545RFE to the 8HP70.
If you use the Turbolamik you can do a LOT of things that the stock TCM won't allow it to do.
Guys using it for drifting run a clutch pedal and there is something in the transmission that allows it to act like a manual. You can double clutch it. I haven't read enough to understand all that it does. But as the saying goes "This Isn't Your Grandpas Automatic" The torque converter is locked a lot more than a regular automatic. It's a really interesting transmission. And can handle 1000 HP.
I've got to do some more reading and watching videos to learn more.
@Rickyd here's a little more from the Turbolamik website.
TCU 2.0 was the first 8HP controller on the market and it has been in continual development for over 10 years and been successfully used in many cars from everyday cars to high HP drag cars. Also vary popular for track use and drift.
Supports:
8HP45, 8HP50, 8HP55, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP90
TCU 2.0 can be used for:
Street use
Drag Racing
Race
OFF ROAD
Drift
Hill Climb
8 driving modes - From an OEM automatic feel to full race with a flip of a switch!!!
Manual, auto, semi auto shifting mode using a shifter, sequential style shifter or paddles
Transbrake option
Automatic Adaptation
Self diagnosis with error codes showing on external display
This TCU also supports a digital clutch so you can drive it exactly like if you were driving a manual trans car.
Clutch is digital but works and feels like a regular clutch
Key Features:
Virtual Clutch Technology:
Experience the feel of a traditional manual transmission with a fully electronically controlled clutch system. This innovative feature mimics the tactile response of a standard clutch, offering precise control without a standard style clutch. Awesome for clutch kicks and burnouts, it is basically a clutch override system, giving your foot control of the hydraulic clutches inside of the transmission.
TCU 2.0 was the first 8HP controller on the market and it has been in continual development for over 10 years and been successfully used in many cars from everyday cars to high HP drag cars. Also vary popular for track use and drift.
Supports:
8HP45, 8HP50, 8HP55, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP90
TCU 2.0 can be used for:
Street use
Drag Racing
Race
OFF ROAD
Drift
Hill Climb
8 driving modes - From an OEM automatic feel to full race with a flip of a switch!!!
Manual, auto, semi auto shifting mode using a shifter, sequential style shifter or paddles
Transbrake option
Automatic Adaptation
Self diagnosis with error codes showing on external display
This TCU also supports a digital clutch so you can drive it exactly like if you were driving a manual trans car.
Clutch is digital but works and feels like a regular clutch
Key Features:
- 8 Driving Modes: Easily switch between easy cruising and and race modes with the optional mode selector rotary switch.
- Versatile Shifting Options: Supports shift inputs via OEM shifters, sequential-style shifters, paddle shifters, and more
- Transbrake: Ensures flat-out launches for competitive drag racing
- Automatic Adaptation: Learns and adjusts to your driving style and transmission variances for optimal performance
- Self-Diagnosis: Displays error codes on an optional external display for quick troubleshooting
Virtual Clutch Technology:
Experience the feel of a traditional manual transmission with a fully electronically controlled clutch system. This innovative feature mimics the tactile response of a standard clutch, offering precise control without a standard style clutch. Awesome for clutch kicks and burnouts, it is basically a clutch override system, giving your foot control of the hydraulic clutches inside of the transmission.
Yesp, Here's their 8HP70 TCM kit.
https://sublimeparts.com/collections/new-products/products/8hp-transmission-controller-kit-sga
Turbolamik sells a complete kit for $2390. This is everything other than a shifter for the 8HP70. And you can either use a stock shifter or aftermarket.
https://www.turbolamik.us/tcu-accessories/tcu-turbolamik-full-kit/
Here's a DCT Sequential Shifter
https://dctshifter.com/products/sequential-shifter-270gt-aluminum
Stock shifter off Ebay is $250
This is another option for a stand along controller for the 8HP70.
Sound German
Sound German also supplies Chris at Hotwire with the 8spd controller
Hotwire Auto
Sound German
Sound German also supplies Chris at Hotwire with the 8spd controller
Hotwire Auto
Just to throw this out there....
I work at the transmission plant that casts, machines and assembles those 8 speed transmissions... I don't know any of the engineers over those and even if I did they are very tight lipped on any information on them. Rumor is an engineer a few years ago was moonlighting and helping out a race team with inside information on them and was caught and dismissed. Again that's just a rumor but they share nothing..
We had been shipping several thousand of them a month every month but the EV loving Biden administration put a major slowdown on them. We have a lot of rolling down weeks (another term for layoffs) the last couple of years. Looks like with the new administration lifting the mandatory EV crap we'll get back to normal again and sell what people want..
I work at the transmission plant that casts, machines and assembles those 8 speed transmissions... I don't know any of the engineers over those and even if I did they are very tight lipped on any information on them. Rumor is an engineer a few years ago was moonlighting and helping out a race team with inside information on them and was caught and dismissed. Again that's just a rumor but they share nothing..
We had been shipping several thousand of them a month every month but the EV loving Biden administration put a major slowdown on them. We have a lot of rolling down weeks (another term for layoffs) the last couple of years. Looks like with the new administration lifting the mandatory EV crap we'll get back to normal again and sell what people want..
When you did your swap was the 8HP70 on your radar? I'd talked to Todd at JSS when I started my swap but since I'd already bought the 545RFE I figured I'd just run with it for now. But I am thinking I'll start picking up the parts to do the 8HP70 once I have everything.
Not really.. Biggest reason being I was looking to do a "factory option" swap and with the 8 speed not able to talk to the older Jeep ECM directly and the other hurdles at the time I very first acquired the drivetrain, I decided to just use the 545RFE. While not near as good as the 8 speed the 545RFE is much better the original transmission.
That being said, if I were looking for the absolute best transmission and was willing to spend the extra money, labor and time, then I would have looked deeper into it.
I do and have owned many Mopars with the 8 speed and it a great transmission.
Also with my TJ being a "Mall Crawler" and I'm fortunate enough to have 3 other "play" vehicles I don't know that I would ever upgrade to the 8 speed, but if enough people start doing that and it becomes a little easier and cheaper I might revisit it...
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Well since I only have ONE trip on my rig so far it's not like I can comment other than it ran better than my old Magnum did. And I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the 545RFe just fine. Now looking at the 8 speed is more of a "it'd be nice" thing right now. I found a low mileage one for cheap that I think I'll pick up and like I said I'll just keep gather parts as time goes on.
I've got enough to do right now without doing another tranny swap but I do like to tinker too so researching and learning about this transmission is fun. I've never driven a truck with the 8 speed so I don't have anything to compare it to.
They are nice.
My present and last 3 trucks, Durango and our Grand Cherokee have all had the 8 speed.
All but the 2024 Grand Cherokee have had the HEMI, it has the 2.0turbo Hybrid which combined has more HP than the HEMI.
It will "Shit and Get" as they say! LOL
Well I know I won't be the first but I might be the first active member to try it out... The hardest part for me is the shifter but I'm sure with a little time and measuring I could figure out a mount for it. Or I can do the aftermarket shifter... But I'll deal with that if I pick up this used transmission and really start into it.
I have the 8 speed in my Scat Pack Challenger and it is very smooth. They can handle some horsepower and are stronger than the 545. Fine tranny.
I only have about 150 miles on my Hemi swap with the 545. My engine is bone stock. You can notice the shift points in the tranny and I really like how it shifts. Power wise this is all I need. Passing cars is suddenly a no brainer. My only wish is cruise control.
Next years project I guess.
I am a Marketplace whore so If a 6.4 and 8 speed for a really good price would come along who knows.
I only have about 150 miles on my Hemi swap with the 545. My engine is bone stock. You can notice the shift points in the tranny and I really like how it shifts. Power wise this is all I need. Passing cars is suddenly a no brainer. My only wish is cruise control.
Next years project I guess.
I am a Marketplace whore so If a 6.4 and 8 speed for a really good price would come along who knows.
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