Currently I have a 99 dakota 3.9L manual 5 speed. And it has 200k miles and some slight damage. It's a 4wd. SLT version I beleive. It sits almost as high as the sport verison. But my question is I have the option to buy a 01 with a wrecked cab. Everything thing else is perfect . It has the same motor and tyranny 3.9L manual 5speed. but it's 2wd. And also its a 6 foot bed same as mine but mine is ext cab and this one is single cab. I don't know if they are different or anything

I need to know if the bed will still fit and also the motor and trans. Without alot of fabrication. Someone told me the tail shaft on 2wd are longer then mine but are they able to be changed?

Thanks in advance. I need to decide as soon as possible before they sell the truck

 

Your post isn't clear. Do you want to remove the transfer case and make it 2wd only?

The bed and engine will fit. Just use the existing '99 PCM and you're good.

You can use the existing transmission and transfer case too, no need to change the driveshaft.

 

I want to keep my truck 4wd. But I would like to know if the transmission from the 2wd will fit just to have as a backup. Someone told me the tail shafts are different. But I'm not sure. If it's a direct fit that would be nice if I can just bolt it to my transfer case

 

Is that the AX-15 transmission? All you should have to do is swap the tail housing.

 

So your saying is all I have to change is the rear housing. They look slightly different. There's no fabrication involved? Cause what I would prefer to do is just pick the motor and trans still married. And replace them both when if something happens to either one in my current truck. What is involved in changing that over? I looked at both and the 2 wheel drive tranny seems to only come apart at 1 spot. And my 4wd one comes apart at like 4 different spots. If there's a way to get them to convert please let me know. And if there is a issue with my 4wd tranny. Can I just put the 2wd one in and disconnect the front drive shaft? And let it free spin until I fix it. If this tranny won't match up to my transfer case?

 

Sorry I wasn't clear. To swap the tailhousing you'd have to also change the tail shaft, yes. The tranny would have to come apart.

If you do just decide to put in the 2wd version just disconnect the front driveshaft.

 

Okay. I've been looking both them over and it seems that the tail shaft housing is fair easy to change over. There's a few bolts and it comes right apart it looks. But as far as the tail shaft is it just the shaft that splines into the tranny then universals into the drive shaft that needs changed? Or is it the spline piece itself inside the tranny that needs changed?

 

The "tail shaft" on the 2wd version is much shorter. You have to disassemble the transmission as the gears are on it.

If you're doing that you may as well rebuilt the other transmission if it failed.

 

Thank you alot . You've been alot of help.

Currently both tranny are fine.
But with what your say I would be better off just putting in the 2wd tranny and disconnecting the front drive shaft and leaving it 2wd until I can get the. 4wd one rebuild. If something happens

Now my last question is if is I would Do it that there is a cross member that is attached to my torsion bars holding my torsion keys In that is right after the tranny that the 2wd vehicle does not have. Will it get in the way?. The 2wd truck doesn't have torsions. And the drive shaft is alot longer.

And is there any performance to be gained going with 2wd?

 

STOP! I just realized something. You said the '99 has the same motor and transmission, but they don't. The '99 has the AX-15. The '01 should have the NV3500.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. The AX-15 is solid, you shouldn't have any problems especially if you don't beat on it.