What is the difference between the Dodge Charger’s 8HP70 and 8HP90 transmissions? – Jalopnik

Seventh-generation Chargers are among the fastest Dodge models with impressive top speeds, especially when powered by a supercharged HEMI backed by the 8HP90 automatic transmission. Even the naturally aspirated 3rd generation HEMI powered Charger with the 8HP70 automatic is a popular choice among Dodge enthusiasts. While you won’t find a manual transmission in the 7th generation Dodge Charger, these automatics still serve the model well. The original 8 hp eight-speed transmission was produced in 2018 by ZF, a German company; Car and driver called it “the best automatic transmission” at the time. In addition to Dodge, a number of car manufacturers, including Aston Martin, BMW, Jaguar and Land Rover, use variants of the ZF 8HP automatic in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.

The 8HP70 automatic is found in Dodge Challengers equipped with 5.7 and 6.4 HEMI engines starting in 2014. Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats with the supercharged 6.2 HEMI are paired with the more robust 8HP90. Although the 8HP70 automatic transmission is suitable for powertrains producing torque values ​​up to 700 Newton meters (Nm), the equivalent of approximately 516 pound-feet, aggressive driving can lead to increased wear of the torque converter lockup clutch. Other common problems with the 8HP70 transmission include defective aluminum pistons and drums, as well as premature wear of seals and bushings.

The 8HP90 automatic (combined with more powerful Dodge Charger engines) is capable of torque ratings up to 1,000 Nm (approximately 738 pound-feet). However, when stressed by the supercharged HEMI, it is also prone to internal wear and tear from aggressive driving. Plus, with a design similar to the 8HP70, it shares many of the same common issues.

If your seventh-generation Dodge Charger is having transmission problems, you’re probably exploring options to replace it with an upgrade. Since the latest Charger is one of those cars that we wish came with a manual transmission, one option is to replace the 8HP70/90 automatic with the Tremec six-speed manual transmission used in the Challenger. Another route that keeps the automatic in the charger is to use an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission.

Advertised as a rebuild that ‘focuses on strengthening the overall holding power and reliability of your transmission’ Pure ZF 8HP70 transmission upgrade starts at $5,999.00 for Phase 1 and increases to $14,999.00 for Phase 3 reconstructions. The Phase 1 rebuild is good for powertrains producing up to 1,200 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Phase 2 rebuilds add 200 to each maximum power and $4,000 to the price. The high-performance Stage 3 8HP70 rebuild is capable of withstanding more than 1,600 horsepower and 1,400 lb-ft of torque.

Pure ZF 8HP90 transmission rebuilt also offer Stage 1, 2 and 3 packages priced from $5,999.00 to $14,999.00. Using the more powerful 8HP90 as a starting point, the Pure Stage 1 rebuild is good for 1,300 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque. Stage 2 offers enough power to handle 1,500 horsepower and 1,300 pound-feet of torque, while Stage 3 advertises the same extra-high horsepower and torque ratings as the Stage 3 8HP70 rebuild.