I have a 1996 Dakota that I'm considering converting to an automatic for daily driver/ off-roading purposes. The previous owner swapped a 318 from a 1979 D100 into the tuck and it's mated to the stock 5spd. This was originally a V6 truck.

Is it possible to swap an automatic into this truck? If so, what transmission would work best? Is it worth doing, and what are my biggest challenges going to be?

Thanks for any insight!

 

very possible to do so. what is purposes for the truck? is it gonna stay an off roader?
an A500/518 would be easiest to adapt to the truck and crossmember etc, just a matter of getting a mount for an auto instead of a stick. and you will have to cut the back driveshaft/lengthen the front one. I have done the opposite swap before.
Not much harder would be to put a 727 into it which would have been current when that 79 engine was made but not sure what T case you would use.
If you do this, PLEASE save the bellhousing on that trans from the v6 (I'd bet there is an AX15 in there being it was originally a 6 banger) as I could use it.
There was a guy looking for a 5 speed trans on here to replace one that needs an overhaul... wonder if you guys are in close enough prox to each other to work something out amongst yourselves?

Why do you want an auto? Keep the stick!!! I myself like driving stick better as a daily but usually get stuck with auto equipped trucks....

 

 

The "V8 Donor" makes good sense to me; otherwise, anything more modern than a 727 will require some additional wiring to get the lockup and/or OD working.

If it's a 4WD A500/A518, you should be able to use the transfer case that comes with it; if not, yours may, or may not, work - I'd have to dig into exactly which one you have to figure out.

BTW - Welcome to the end of the 20th century! (Going EFI and auto, that is.)

RwP

 

So how do i figure out what will work with my setup? I found a donor with a bad t-case; how do I determine if my t-case will mate with the donor transmission?

 

Find out what's wrong with the tcase. If it's just bearings or something small grab a rebuild kit. They're cheap and a tcase rebuild isn't hard to do

 

Aye, I second Azboyinmi's suggestion on the transfer case rebuild. It's an easy rebuild, with the possible exception of the rear bearing for the front output shaft; that one can be a challenge because it's only accessible from the front, you can't press it out. Otherwise, grab some snap ring pliers and you're ready to rock.

 

Also, while the transfer cases will bolt up, there is a difference between the auto and manual cases. The input gear that slips over the transmission's output shaft is shorter on the automatics (or was it longer?). Anyway, they're different. Guess I'll need to look that up again.

 

Shorter on that autos.

That said, I don't think it causes any problems having the longer input on the auto. Plenty of wiggle room in there.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I've not measured the length of the output shaft on the auto, but if you say there's room I believe you. I just wonder why they bothered to manufacture a shorter input gear if the longer one fits?