Reverse went out on the tranny in my 99 Dakota 5.2 5 speed. I've been debating between a rebuild or finding a junkyard replacement. I'm guessing it's a bent shift fork.

Which years should I be looking at for a direct bolt on? I'm assuming Dakota's and Durango's will both be potential donors. Anything else to look for in the junkyards? And were there different transmissions behind the different engines? Does it have to come from a 5.2 equipped vehicle or will one from other engines be the same transmission, same bolt pattern, same input/output etc...?

Thanks in advance!

 

Oh, and it's 4X4

 

Look on the side of the trans. I think dakotas had the NV4500? Just see what other trucks came with it. I think it was generally put behind any dodge gas engine. I think Chevy used it too, but the bellhousing will be different (though I believe the bellhousing unbolts from the case).

 

I don't think Durangos came with 5 speeds, only autos.

Id only go with junkyard trannys if you don't plan on keeping the truck for long. Id buy a used engine in a heartbeat, but trannys make me weary.

 

It'll be an NV3500. The bellhousing is part of the case.

Most boneyards have interchange manuals.

 

Thanks for the correction, Dan.

 

I think I'd get an estimate of what it would cost to overhaul your present trannie. Figure in the price of a clutch while the trans is out, too.

A major cost on the rebuild probably will be r&r the transmission from the truck. Something you might be able to do yourself in your driveway or garage, but certainly not an easy job for a home mechanic.

The nice thing about a rebuild is that it would have some sort of a guarantee. And a good shop will check out other components (and replace them as needed) such as bearings, syncros, and seals and gaskets. And they will properly adjust linkages for both the trannie and the transfer case.

Or you can just make sure you never park anywhere that you need to back out of. . .

 

It's the 3500 actually. And the transmission is the exact same internally on the Chevy's, but the bellhousing is actually cast on so they aren't interchangeable. I just don't know what years of Dakota had the same transmission that will bolt up to my engine and transfer case.

I can't remember if the Chevy one is cast on and the Dodge is a bolt on bellhousing or if it's the other way around. But I do know they're not a direct swap.

Thanks for the tip on the Durango's. And I don't plan to keep it for long. I will need to trade it for a quad cab soon to fit a carseat so once I get the tranny back in working order it's going to be up for sale. Right now I'm just trying to figure out the cheapest option.

There's no way I'd pay a shop to do it. I can remove it and rebuild it with the help of a friend who does that for a living. It would cost about $2,000 to have a shop rebuild it for me, and the truck is only worth $3500 or so.

Either way I'll be doing the work myself, but a rebuild kit will run a few hundred. I was hoping to find a truck being parted out on craigslist or in the paper and get a used transmission for much less than that. That's why I was asking what years to look for. I know a boneyard will know which ones they can sell me, but I wouldn't get one from a boneyard either. They want about $800 for one and I could rebuild it for $300, but I just want to get it back in working order and get it for sale. I don't want to put any more money into this truck than I have to since it's going up for sale as soon as the tranny is repaired/replaced.

More than likely I'll just have my buddie help me rebuild it, but I was just wanting to look into pulling one from a vehicle being parted out and save the time of rebuilding it and maybe even be able to sell the bad one to recoup some of the cost.

And for for right now I have been just parking where I don't have to back out. I got lucky because I park in a parking garage for work but my space is one of the few spaces on a hill so I can just let it roll out every day. It's getting old though.

 

Bump...

Anyone know the common years?

 

According to allpar the NV3500 is found behind 94-01 Dakotas and some Rams. Both v8 and v6. It also says that the 3.7 and 4.7 motors have the getrag trannies opposed to the NV3500.

Maybe Dan can confirm I think he has a 4.7 5 speed.