i have a 95 dakota 2 wheel drive with the 3.9 v6 with automatic transmission

the transmission died so i let a friend of a friend pull the transmission and he absconded with it and some of the cash i gave him

i purchased a transmission from a 94 dakota 2 wheel drive with the 318 v8 as a replacement

from what i am gathering on the internet the 95 transmission was an a500 and the 94 transmission is a a518, but that they should be interchangeable
is that correct?

i know that the driveshaft may need to be shortened and there is some differences in the flexplate torque converter hook up
what exactly are those differences? how does one resolve those differences?

will the electronics work correctly? if not, what needs to be done to get them to work correctly?

any clarification on this issue would be greatly appreciated

 

The V8 transmission will be a 46rh, it is an A518 with an Over Drive.
The V6 transmission will be a 42rh, it is an A500 with an Over Drive.

Yes they are interchangeable. Use the torque converter for that transmission that you are using. Use the driveshaft from the transmission you are using.

Electronics should be the same as well as the flex plate.

 

thanks for clearing things up a bit, but now i'm not so sure the transmission i have came out of a 94 dakota

that transmission has a extra 8 pin black plug-in that my 95 transmission didn't have....see pic

what plugs into that? and what is it for?

 

Most likely the 8 pin is a 96-up that is electronically controlled by the computer, vs pre 96 is hydraulically controlled (Self controlled).
So it will not work. Double check what year it is from.


96 up transmissions are

V8 46re or 44re
V6 42re

 

that's exactly what that is. only way for it to work is to put in the pcm and wires for it aswell. i'd just find the right one for it if it was me. or go stick.
if you did put this in your truck it would stay in 3rd gear and the tc would not lock up.

 

thanks for confirming that i have a 96-up transmission

would love to go stick, but that is a little more work then i want to tackle at the moment

anybody want to trade a 46re for a 46rh? or buy a 46re?

 

94 46rh installed in 95 with v6.....all went smooth, life is good at the moment....truck seems to shift as designed, but at different shift points, which was expected....will test at highway speed next

as Crazy4x4RT suggested used v6 flexplate....tc that was with transmission....electronics was exactly the same....slip yoke & driveline from 95 the transmission was installed in

thanks for all the advice guys

96 transmission appears to be sold as well....joy, joy

 

there is difference in gear ratios between the 42RH & 46RH. The gear ratios are as followed:
42RH:
First-2.74:1
Second-1.54:1
Third-1:1
Fourth-0.69:1

46RH:
First-2:45:1
Second-1:45:1
Third-1:1
Fourth-0.69:1

The difference is slightly different but that could be the reason why your shift points seems different. Also, just as a double check, make sure your TV cable is properly adjusted too. If everything else seems fine, I wouldn't worry about it.