My Dakota transmission has 2nd and rev only when I pull shifter to low. It feels as if I am trying to break torque it. It has a 5.2 and the transmission is off a 3.9. Please help, I am at a dead end.

 

A little background would help. why does it have a transmission out of a 3.9?

 

i had a parts truck and it had a 3.9 in it i read on line that it would bolt up to my 5.2 so i put it in it done fine except for neutral safety switch i put a push button i put it in about 2 months ago the other day while driving it it shifted in 2nd and nothing else exept rev

 

it looked the same even the numbers on it was the same all but the safty switch it was different

 

i had a parts truck and it had a 3.9 in it i read on line that it would bolt up to my 5.2 so i put it in it done fine except for neutral safety switch i put a push button i put it in about 2 months ago the other day while driving it it shifted in 2nd and nothing else exept rev

 

The 3.9 and 5.2 are mostly the same block. On the design sheet, the rear of the front two cylinders and the back of the second pair of cylinder are cut and it's now a 6 banger. All the brackets, water pump, alternator brace and so on are the same. This saves a ton of money on development. I suspect your transmission is toast.

 

ok i guess my quest starts by looking for a 5 speed and just do it the way i wanted to i thank you for the advice

 

Is the engine out of a manual or automatic truck? Manual transmission engines have the rear of the crank machined to accept the pilot shaft. Automatic engines may or may not be machined..In the 1960's, the stuff I was taught on, most engines had the machining. It was just cheaper to do them all. Now, with the rarity of manuals, it's just the opposite. Why bother?

 

it had a stick in it when i got it when it went out i had to settle for aauto the end goal is to drag race it with my son he is 5 now and helps me work on it all the time it is a beast

 

That's sort of like my '97 did when I got it. You've got more paint where I had rust. If the engine was originally a manual equipped truck, you should be fine. Age 5 is when I first worked on a car. I didn't really FIX one until I was 10 or so, but the lessons now make getting real experience later easier.