Which Transmission?
#11
While the names are confusingly similar, there is a big difference between the 42RE and the 42RLE. The 42RE as you listed is based off of the A904 torqueflite. The 42RLE is a rear wheel drive application of the 42LE/A606 Ultradrive first introduced in the LH cars (Intrepid, Concorde, LHS, Vision/300M). The 545RFE has a very strange selection of gear ratios, but is a very durable unit from what I hear. All things being equal if it were possible to use the 545RFE with a 3.7L V6 in a Dakota, that is what I would prefer to use as it has the widest gear ratio spread (545RFE: 3.00=1st to .67=5th vs. 42RLE: 2.80=1st to .69=4th).
#12
While the names are confusingly similar, there is a big difference between the 42RE and the 42RLE. The 42RE as you listed is based off of the A904 torqueflite. The 42RLE is a rear wheel drive application of the 42LE/A606 Ultradrive first introduced in the LH cars (Intrepid, Concorde, LHS, Vision/300M). The 545RFE has a very strange selection of gear ratios, but is a very durable unit from what I hear. All things being equal if it were possible to use the 545RFE with a 3.7L V6 in a Dakota, that is what I would prefer to use as it has the widest gear ratio spread (545RFE: 3.00=1st to .67=5th vs. 42RLE: 2.80=1st to .69=4th).