Hi all new to the Dodge forums.

I am rebuilding a 90 Dakota, 4wd, 3.9L, Manual. All I've got left is the Tranny, paint & tires.

The truck was stock with a A535 / np2500 tranny.
I burned up my 3rd one of these tranny's in 2 years about 6mos or so ago. The last one was after 5k miles on a brand new rebuild!

After spending 6 mos. doing research on why this tranny was having such a problem, I've found out something that I haven't been able to find very readily on the Web etc. According to 2 different sources 1 dodge mechanic & 1 transmission rebuild company, the A535 tranny's filler plug was engineered to low on the unit. According to these sources, after filling your fluid to the correct level, install the plug & add 1 to 1 1/2 quarts of additional fluid from the top side of the tranny. I'm not sure which years this apply's just for your info.

Having said that, I just bought a tranny from a local wrecking yard, which game me a 94-96 AX-15 which they said would work. Hmmm. I've encountered some problems,
1. Different amount of splines on ax15 (switched clutch plates & bearing)
2. Mount location for 4x4 linkage different (altered linkage)
3. Tranny crossmember in different location (altered crossmember)

The Tranny bolted up after that, the only problem I have now is that the location of the starter. The AX15's bell housing has the starter 1inch further away from the flywheel so the starter wont engage the flywheel
Figured I'd swap bell housings and put the A535 Bell housing on... Wrong.... Completely different bolt patterns. Anyone out there no if I can put a bigger flywheel on or no of a bell housing that will swap out and work?

Thanks in advance!

 

I don't know it my self. But I suggest checking with the Transmission page in the Gen 2 or 3 Ram section. There is a transmission master that answers questions on it.