What about the muffler bearings?

 

Hmmmm, I thought those were non-serviceable bearings on the muffler.

 

Everything is 'serviceable', if you have a big enough hammer.

 

My Mechanic just called and the transmission is gone.
He found lots of metal parts when he pulled the pan.
$3,100 for rebuilt tranny (and he will put in a new tranny cooler). (3 year, 100k mile warranty)
I only paid $400 for the truck, ....

Appreciate suggestions. Junk yard will only give me $350 (scrap metal value) for it.

 

Bummer!

So...if it were my truck (1993 Dakota LE, 5.2L, Auto Trans, RWD, 181,000 miles, original owner) I would pay the $3,100...probably a little more if it were a factory rebuild. But I just dropped about $4K in mine replacing a whole lotta stuff on it. My truck feels like it is new again with all I have done to it. It looks great, drives great, everything works on it, been garage kept and babied. So I wouldn't hesitate spending the $$ on a rebuilt tranny. HOWEVER, I do not know what condition your truck is in, how many miles are on it, what other work is needed or likely to be needed in the near future, is your truck a daily driver or just used once a week, crucial to your life/not crucial, etc... From the photo, it sure looks nice.

Keep in mind, both new AND used vehicles are very expensive right now. I had a mechanic tell me last summer he thought I could get $7K for my truck. A 29 year old truck! Buyers are desperate because there are so few used trucks available. If it runs, they want it and they'll pay more for it. Hell, people are paying over sticker price for new cars.

Some may suggest getting a junkyard tranny. I suppose that's an option but it is a gamble. No idea what kinda shape it's in. I wouldn't do it for MY truck.

Only you can make the decision for your truck based on your situation and needs but if it is a vehicle you either cherish or see a need for then $3,100 is about 4 - 5 months of car payments by today's standards. In that light, your repair doesn't seem so bad.

 

Oh, and if you want or need a truck, ask yourself…could you get a better truck for $3,100?

 

Bronze-- I really like your logic and train of thought. I purchased the truck to have for fun, as a project truck. I do not need it as I have 4 drivers in the house and I have 7 other vehicles-- yes collecting older, in great shape autos has become a hobby! lol I also have another truck-- a really sweet 2000 Silverado 4x4 that I use for all my firewood and hauling needs.

I am tempted to just go ahead an spend the money, clean it up a bit, run it around town, maybe put it up for sale, and see how much I can get for it-- and if I can't get what I want, just keep it as a fun to drive, around town truck. I must admit-- I really do like the smaller size of the dakota for run-around town truck. I just do not want it to become a money pit. Cleaned up, I may be able to get $3-4k for it. The only other issues with it, are the AC does not work, the fuel gauge does not work, and the manual door lock mechanisms are really stiff, almost to the point of thinking the key may break when I lock and unlock it (spray lube has not fixed it). If I waxed it, and cleaned up the engine bay, it would really look nice!

Thanks again, and I would love to hear any more ideas, as I want to make a decision by tomorrow morning. Mechanic says it will take 4 weeks to get the tranny delivered, as they are currently so hard to get a hold of.

 

Somehow I thought you said you put a rebuilt trans in it. OK you say it has 20K miles on it.I have to think there is a warranty on that baby unless the previous owner did it himself.
Otherwise I agree with Bronze. I paid $1900 installed for what turns out to be a replacement rebuilt. Anyway that was maybe 7 years ago. I don't see how prices can have gone up $1200. I'm on the left coast where these things are usually more expensive. If you are around DC then maybe...shrug
The body looks clean from the picture you posted if it is rust free you are set either way IMO
I posted a while back a thread where i changed out the window runners and the beltlines and the door cards, outside door handles, mirrors. Part of that was taking the lock mechanism apart. It isn't very hard just tight space work. The fuel gauge didn't work on mine it was because the previous owner put in a new pump and had the float arm turned the wrong way. It should be pointed with the float at the front end. The ac also did not get cold. I purchased a refill bottle and an adapter at Autozone and it works after I filled it with R134. The refill is on the passenger side in front of the wheel well above the evap canister. The other outlet for the AC, by the unit itself, is of a different size so you can't make that mistake. The adapter has a pressure gauge on the part that screws on top of the can with trigger and a 6 inch hose to the connector.
Good Luck!

 

I still find it rather odd at how sudden the thing deteriorated. Fine one minute, fried the next with a bit of probing around your engine compartment between the two extremes that appears to be totally and coincidentally unrelated at this time. Seems to me there would be a longer warning period.

 

I had the 46RH rebuilt on my 95 a few months ago. I paid just over $3000. I didn’t look around or negotiate, so that may be high. I’m near Sacramento.

That’s a lot of money, but for me it was worth it. I have put many hours of work into the truck. It looks pretty good, and until recently ran great.

On the other hand, I’m the guy who recently blew a head gasket. Both the heads are cracked, so more $. Oh well. It’s only money, and who really needs a vacation in Hawaii?