i've got an 01 R/t with 5.9 of course and an auto tranny. got the p1740 code last weekend. did some research here and talked to some dodge mechanics. general consensus was to replace the TCC and O/D solenoid. well, i put one in it tonight.. still will not shift intooverdrive. $200 bucks with no result. at 50mph, engine is running about 2300 rpms. not good with these gas prices! so has anyone swapped in a manual transmission? i hate automatics.... but i love my truck... give me your 2 cents!



thanks!

 

I have always heard its not worth the trouble of modifying everything, but then again I am not a mechanic. I have a manual I would love to switch to an auto instead of the other way around like you, but have never come across anyone who has actually done a swap like that on a dakota. Personally I would have to say no, but hopefully some other people on here can help you out more then that. just my .02

 

its possible but your gonna need a new pcm so it doesnt try finding the transmission once the auto comes out, and on an r/t, since its 2wd, your going to need of course a flywheel, since the autp uses a flexplate, clutch assembly, manual trans, and possibly a new driveshaft, gonna need to make mounts for the tranny, cut a hole in the floor board for the shifter, and mount you clutch pedal assembly... my 2 cents is, its cheaper to just get the tranny rebuilt with stronger parts, with cars these days, its a pita to do this, ya ive seen a dakota with the manual tranny swap but the kid said it wasnt worth it in the long run, which is why i stayed with the auto but beefed up, plus the r/ts never came with the manual tranny, anyone can chime in and correct me on this but, im like 99% sure the 5.9 r/ts were strictly automatic

 

thanks guys! i do not think that any of the R/T's came with a manual... so i'm thinking i might need a manual trans out of a Ram with the 5.9 in it... unless the block is the exact same with the 318. to which i am unsure of right now. i am mechanically inclined so i dont think it would be too hard to doon the mechanical end of it. also, the manual dakotas, from where i would be pulling the pedal cluster, are they hydraulic or cable clutches? i need some more cents! please drop it in!

 

its been done before. you will need a ram tranny from a 5.9. I think its the NV4500 you need. and you will have to get your PCM flashed too. and I think theyhave a hydraulic clutch too, you can take the pedal assembly out of a dak.

it will be cheaper to rebuild the auto and beef the hell out of it. or you could throw a manual valve body in the tranny and get a B&M floor shifter and shift it manually that way. but having a 5 speed R/T would be sweet. even a 6 speed viper tranny will bolt up

 

swap a 904 or 727 torqueflite in it, those are auto trans's that will never break.

 

so if i do decide to rebuild, who is reputable and recommended? because it doesn't look like it's worth the time and money to switch it over to a manual..... even though the six speed would be nice....