Several years ago I did a manual swap on my 96 2wd V8 Dakota. It has been a fantastic upgrade for both performance and fuel mileage. Well its been 50k+ miles now and the used flywheel I used has some warpage and the throwout bearing is making some noise so this winter I am planning on changing the flywheel and clutch.

Since I can't leave things well enough alone I started doing some research to see what other transmission options there are. According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Ve...0_transmission) there were a couple different versions of the Dodge NV3500. The major difference I see is the 1st and 2nd gear ratios. The Dakota version that I have has a 3.49 1st and 2.14 2nd while the Ram version has a 4.02 1st and 2.32 2nd. The Ram ratios seem to be more attractive to me because I do a good bit of towing the the truck and a shorter 1st gear would help. Additionally when the truck is empty on flat lands I usually start in 2nd but it is just a bit to tall so the shorter 2nd would help there too.

My question is does anyone know for sure that a Ram transmission will swap in to a Dakota? Some modifications are not a big deal to me but I don't want to reinvent the wheel. Also on the wikipedia it states that the Dakota version is good to 340 ft lbs while the other versions are 300 ft lbs. Anyone know if this is true? Thanks in advance for anyones input on this.

 

No personal experience, but its my understanding the ram has a different shifter location.

 

What 93RT noted is true, it puts the shift tower under the dash in a Dakota. With regard to the gear ratios I seem to recall there was a closer ratio version that was limited, like to Ram 2500's or something. Sorry I can't recall where I found that, and I'm not sure what the ratios were, just that they were closer.

If a granny gear is what you want, you might check out the NV4500, I've heard it has pretty tall lower gears. I can't speak to the fit in a gen1 Dakota body, but it does bolt up to a SB Mopar motor.

 

No ram 2500 ever got a nv3500. They all got nv4500's. And even sport rams (5.9) had nv4500's. Only 5.2 and 3.9's got the nv3500.

As far as fitment of the nv4500, they will fit perfectly in a Dakota, but only if you have a body lift.

 

With all the research I've been doing I came across the information that the nv3500 did actually come in the light duty 2500's I was shocked myself but it is true.

 

Very good information to know. Next time i go to the junkyard I will try to get a rough estimate on how far back the shifter is on a Ram and go from there. Under the dash would definitely be a deal breaker.

I had previously ruled out the nv4500. I do not nor will I ever have any kind of lift on this truck and I'm not going to refabricate the bottom of the body. If I wanted to get that extreme I would get a t56 and put 4.10 gears in the rear end.

 

Grswat, I looked back thru the forum for pics I remembered seeing of the Ram trans in a Dakota. Found this:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ifference.html

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by grswat

If I wanted to get that extreme I would get a t56 and put 4.10 gears in the rear end.

If you go all out, go ahead and add a LS engine in there too!!

 

I'm with ya on that boat. But too many bards here swear against cross breading and believe the magnum or hemi is a better engine. Which you and I both know that the LS is the superior engine.

 

Stop filling my head with ideas