96 V8 5.2 4x4 transmission pan removal
 

Hey all! First post after reading for years...

Got rid of both my Cummins, and now am the proud owner of a 1996 Dakota. Runs great, very satisfied with it.

Checked tranny fluid the other day, looked dark and low and the shifting was a little clunky, so I decided to drop the tranny pan and change the filter.

It's been difficult to figure out which tranny I have, have seen some places saying 42re, others 44re, others 45rfe, others 46re. I ordered a filter and gasket that should fit 42/44/45, got 5L of mopar 4+, watched vids and read threads and went to it. I've done the 46re on a 2008 Cummins and it was no big deal.

This one, however, has me stumped. The pan won't come out!! Theres not enough space between the exhaust Y and the rear frame cross member to wiggle the pan out. I even unbolted the frame member and knocked it down and back 0.5-1 inch, and still no dice.

Have seen some places say to take off front drive shaft, but that doesn't seem to be in the way, and I can't get the frame member all the way out without a Porto power spreader. The exhaust clamp and flange bolts are rusted to high hell and I feel like they will just shear off if I put any torque to them.

All the videos I've looked at show way more space in this area like the pan should just drop out. Also, the filter is a thin sheet of fabric rather than the 3/4" thick metal doodad I ordered.

My questions:
what tranny do I have? Pan has 14 bolts.
How do i get this @#$% pan out? Do I need to get a Porto power and drop out the frame, or should I risk undoing the rusty exhaust Y?

Any and all help is appreciated.
1996 Dakota v8 5.2? 4x4

Thanks,
Chris

will be a 46RE, externally the same as the 48RE in your Cummins. May have to drop the Y pipe (stupid I know) I had to do that with 1 of mine. at least no studs in manifold, they are thru bolts, like 3/8" X 2-1/2 or so. get up in there with a Dremel if you have to and cut them between the flange on the manifold and the flange on the Y pipe. Mighty only have to do pass side and then get enuf flex out of it that the driver side can be left alone.
dropping the cross member DOES NOT require a porta power to get out, done it a few times myself/ but it aint gonna help you any in getting that pan out, anyways. that Y pipe is tougher than you think. it isn't a high grade of it but it is stainless.... much better material than plain old aluminized steel, better than any aftermarket Y pipe will be made of.....

Thanks volaredon! That did the trick! Nothing broken or mangled either so I'm ahead of the curve.

One more quick question. Is there any gasket material on the exhaust Y flange joints, or is it just a flare fitting kind of deal?
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...e1ccb4727d.jpg

I dunno, the Magnaflow stainless Y pipe is pretty darn good material.

RwP

yeah but I don't see most "typical average" Dakota owners going for Magnaflow , for most it would be Walker or Maremont….. those are most common brands of replacement exhaust

When Magnaflow is the ONLY brand available ...

Walker and Maremont don't list Y pipes for a 1988 anymore.

RwP

didn't realize that, have never had to replace a Y pipe on any Dakota yet but have done lots of exhaust in my jobs I have worked over the years, living in the middle of the Salt belt contributes to that.... I hate winter. and your typical "chain" auto repair place ( worked at Sears for 13 years) doesn't get into "performance" exhaust.... all OEM stock type replacement stuff used there.....