Hey guys,
Im new to the forum and i was wondering what parts i would need and a ballpark estimate on what it would take to convert my 99 dakota 5.2L 4x4 from a automatic to a manual transmission. The reason im looking into this is because unfortunately the auto transmission just gave out Monday and doing this conversion is looking like a real possibility so i wanted to do some research on what i would need to do it.

As i said, im not sure what parts it would take to do this, other than a manual transmission, clutch peddle, brake peddle, and possibly a new steering column. If possible, i wanted save a few bucks by using the automatic steering column i have now by just deactivating the column shifter. Is this possible or is there something that will require i get a manuals steering column to do the conversion?

iv been looking for a long time all over the internet and have yet to find a strait forward answer and now that the auto failed, i figure now's a good a time as any to ask around for help/insight.

 

The best write up is on a 1st Generation Dakota. The basics will be the same.
Here is the link. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-5-2l-4x4.html

I'm starting my manual swap now too, just starting the parts collection.

I will move this to the 2nd Generation Dakota Sub-forum.

 

I thought about doing this but as I looked further into it the parts were hard to find. I couldnt find a low mileage 5 speed within a 100 miles of me and if it was low they wanted a arm and a leg for it. Best bet is buy a donor truck. As for me I just bought a whole different truck lol.

 

You will also have to get a new flywheel i believe off of the manual vehicles engine. You will have the clutch pedal assembly, master cyliner, driveshafts due to shorter length ususally. Im sure there are other things as well. These trucks came with the 5spd as an option so it is doable.

 

sometimes the drivetrain tunnel has different sizes, and shapes. my friend knew this when put a 318 in a D50.

 

I have an AX-15 from my '99 sitting in my garage - had 150,000 on it when I pulled it to put in the NV4500. Also a flywheel, bellhousing and even a nice-running 3.9L if anyone wants to collect parts. Unfortunately I reused all the other drivetrain parts.
PM me if interested - in Charleston, WV. Need it gone as I'm moving soon.
Patrick

 

How is the NV4500 fitting for you?

 

I had to relocate the crossmember, move the shifter forward in the floor cutout and bend it to clear the dash in the new spot but it's in there and doing well so far. It's much more of a "truck" transmission than the smooth and well spaced AX-15, but it works well behind the Cummins.
Patrick

 

Those AX15s were always bad about losing the syncros in 4th. Every one i ever had did that.

 

Mine has held up well for 152,000 miles. I did notice when I pulled it apart that the clutch disk had some pretty good cracks throughout it - don't know how long those had been there or if they were on the verge of failure but it didn't look great - still plenty of material on the wear parts though. The tranny was shifting well though. Guess some do better than others...