I have a 89 dodge dakota i bought a year back for $250 and well recently I have done alot of rebuilding on it. We have recently rebuilt the motor and shaved the heads because it ran hot on me twice. Well the question i come with you today is that i have had recent transmission problems. I need to know why is it that i can buy a 89 dodge dakota transmission and it appears to be that its not going to mount up. I had to buy another transmission because my old one burnt up. Well i bought another 1 out of a 87 and it wont mount up either Because of the Speed sensor and the over drive. Well just the other day i bought 1 out of a 89 and its not going to fit because the driveshaft wont go inside the transmission. To keep this short and simple i need to know what transmission i need for it to go in there right like the old one did that i Burnt up. The other problem is the old transmission had a crack in the bell housing because someone dawged it out and this was the one i burnt up so i scrapped it without thinking. Now i have nothing do go by except that it is a 89 dodge dakota 3.9 v6 and it was made in the 4th month. Someone told me that that does matter when looking up parts on a vehicle. But i do have the manufacture sticker for it. if anyone can help me find out what i need to do it would be helpful.


I know i love my truck and i got big plans for it. This was a pic from the day i first bought it for $250. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated. I love my dakota. But Between buying the wrong transmission 2 times i dont think im going to keep this truck much longer. as i say i bought that 1 transmission from a 89 dodge dakota 2wd same year as mine and my driveshaft wont fit nor does all the mounting and the transmission lines on it look like it will work. If you can tell me what i need to do or need more pics i will gladly go take more of the transmissions i bought and the drive shaft.

 

this is the picture of my truck

 

can someone help

 

The info we got is.

1987 32RH 32RH (A-999) Three speed V6 only
1988-1991 42RH (A-500) Four speed V6 only

So the 89 should work. But if the only problem is your driveshaft yoke is different, then just get one that works. Tons of places to buy it new, as well as tons of junkyards every where. Do a Google search.

As well as lines they are replaceable. Autozone and Napa carry the lines.

 

well im sorry to say this but the one i got from that 89 should have 2 tranny lines well it only has 1. it seems like it is block up with a nut or bolt or something. also im gitting my money back on this 1 because we was looking i put my finger down in the dipstick and it had alot of sand and water. so as far as i know she said she was going to give me a refund. If you could and i dont think this matters mine is a regular cab 2wd not a extended cab.

 

and also if you could help me with this can you send me a link to get the yoke i have no clue where to look i know auto-zone but i need to know its going to fit please help me. I would appreciate your time.

 

Also what i mean is the teeth on the driveshaft wont go in the transmission properly. The speed cable on the end is different, and also the overdrive cable is different. I will post pics up if you want

 

If you want post pictures, Might make it easier for the others, I know nothing really about trannies other then changing the oil and filter

 

Hi,

It sounds to me like you had a three-speed automatic and got a 4-speed auto to replace it, or vice-versa. Dodge used the A998 and A999 3-speeds from '87 to '89. In '89, they introduced a four-speed (3-speed with overdrive) automatic called the A500. So '89 was the one year that both were available.

The 3-speeds have their rear mounts in a different spot than the 4-speeds. It wouldn't surprise me if the cooler lines were different, too.

On the underside of your hood, near the front, there should be a sticker with information about your truck - transmission type, axle type and ratio, etc. Hopefully it's still there and still legible.

If the truck was originally a 3-speed, a 4-speed would be a nice upgrade - BUT you have to change the rear axle ratio to make it work properly. The
factory usually gave the 3-speeds a pretty tame ratio, like 2.94. Overdrive-equipped models got more aggressive ratios, like 3.55s.

 

just to make sure what transmission you have, near your headlight switch, there should be and O/D switch, that is what turns overdrive on and off. If you have that, your truck was equipped with the A500 4 speed auto transmission.

On the replacement transmission that you have, check on the driver's side of the transmission for a 3 plug electrical connector passing through the case; if it has that plug, then it's the A500. The reason for all this, there was a difference in the number of splines between A999/998 3 speed and the A500 4 speed, thus causing the issue with the driveshaft not fitting.