Quick question - it looks like the drain and fill plug are the same size/type bolts and the fill plug is on the Passenger side, correct?

 

i want to say that they both are.

 

It looks like the drain plug is directly on the bottom.

 

Drain plug is on the bottom, fill plug is up on the right side (passenger side) of the transmission. Both are 17mm hex head plugs. I used to use a big 17mm Allen wrench to turn them out but last year I found this set of 3/8" and 12" hex head sockets that had the 17mm in it at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece...7880-html.html

I think I paid 12 or 13 bucks for the whole set, it was on sale and man does the hex socket make it easy to R&R the transmission plugs..The 17mm in the set is a 1/2" drive so you need a 1/2" ratchet for it but it is a lot easier than turning an Allen wrench on the side of the transmission. Be sure to use thread sealer (the liquid type) when re-installing the plugs.

Jimmy

 

Thanks for the advice! If things go well I'm hoping to try it this weekend.

 

I changed out the oil today - no real problems. It took right around 2 quarts (I had to open the 3rd quart because I spilled a little and it’s hard to empty the whole bottle). There was minimal metal shaving on the drain plug. It shifts easier when cold, but that could be because I had the oil in the house. I’ll see how it shifts tomorrow. I also replaced the transfer case oil.

Jimmy - thanks for the HF link. I stopped over there to get the set as I needed the 17mm part (I already had the 10mm part). It worked great, and I ended up getting a few more things wile I was there.

 

It's hard not to spend more than you planned or buy more stuff than just what you went in for at Harbor Freight. Their hand tools are very good quality nowadays, right up there with Craftsman, S-K and many others. Their automotive diagnostic tools are good too, like vacuum gauges and engine testing tools for oil pressure and fuel injection. You have to watch out for their electronic stuff though. Some of it is not so good. I try read the reviews on anything I plan on buying at HF.

The little bit of metal shavings on the drain plug is completely normal. It is just from normal wear on the transmission's innards. You should notice the transmission will shift smooth as butter now, whether it is cold or hot. It should run quieter now too. The Synchromesh is an excellent manual trans lube and it is all I will use in my transmission.

Glad it worked out well. Let us know how it turns out after you road test it.

Jimmy

 

Yeah, lots of good stuff at HF, and yeah you do have to be careful.

Good, I didn't think the shavings was a problem - not a lot and really fine.

Oh, I ended up getting the Mopar junk for the transmission and the other Mopar junk for the transfer case for this fill...

I’ll report back after I drive it “cold”.

 

Drove it around a little today. Before the oil change all cold shifting was hard (like shifting through peanut butter). Now when cold 1st and 2nd are great, 3rd is a little hard, and 4th and 5th still feel like peanut butter. When it warms up they're all good.

 

know this is an old thereaf and not being smart *** but really any oil r fluids should be changed at some point no matter what even synthetics because all oils breaks down over time even sitting it breaks down getting hot to cold makes things sweat are moistures builds up and especially where humidity gets high not to mention dust and debris especially transmissions metal shavings are going to build up books may not call for nothing could be reasons not sure why they would recommend not changing any fluids and yes some do but either way all fluids breaks down at some point just synthetics not as quickly but they will