Okay a few months ago I picked up a NV3500 off Craigslist for $250, it was from a 2001 Dakota with a 3.9 that had 500 miles on it before it got wrecked and the parts all sat for ~10 years. I bought it just based on the price/mileage not knowing about interchange with my truck. My question is how much of a PITA would it be to swap this trans into my '92 with the 3.9 and AX-15?

My main concern is the speedometer-drive, I'm pretty sure the '92 (and the '94 I have with a NV3500 stock) are cable-drive while this 2001 trans will be setup for a wire-drive for the later truck. Is there any way to adapt that, I'd like to use this trans since it has so few miles on it but if it'll be too much of a PITA I'll resell it and look for the correct trans. Thanks all!

 

you should be able to take a bolt out and remove the wire speed sensor from the trans.

 

I'll take a look at it later today, thanks!

 

Were you able to use the 01 nv3500? and did the shifter line up with the factory floor cutout?

 

I couldn't tell 'ya since I haven't had a reason to try it yet (AKA I haven't dropped a V8 in or made the AX15 explode yet).

 

curious about this as well...should be a direct swap correct?

 

the newer trans wont have the hole in the tailshaft for the sensor, the older trans could take either a mechanical cable or a speed sensor or as my 93 has (your 92 as well) a combo speed sensor tht has an elec plug and a place to screw on the mechanical cable.
Starting in 98 the speedo is driven from the ABS sensor on the rear end so they elominated the hole in the trans and the worm gear on the talshaft to drive that gear. I ran into this on a buddy's 95 Full Size ram. The JY first got him a newer tranny nd we went to install it and I noticed the "blank" where his tranny had a hole.

All the above is ASSuming we are talking 2WD
if 4WD, I THINK the speedo drive is actually on the T case in which case you MAY be OK
If 2WD you can use an older unit in place of a newer (with a speed sensor in its hole just as a plug) but NOT a newer in olace of an older.

 

Thanks for the info. This has been sitting in the back burner as I've been on unemployment but still good to know.

If I ever put a V8 in this truck it's going to get a built up 46RH or a TKO/T56.

 

My truck is a 96 2wd and it has an electric speedo. Not sure it mine was the first year for that or not. Im wanting to do Nv3500 trans swap for my ax15 when I go V8, everywhere I read it should be a direct swap.

I think you're correct on the speedo drive is the transfer case on 4wd models.

 

yes your 96 is electronic but the speed sensor fits in the same size hole as was on the 87 Dakotas that had strictly mechanical drive.