I have a couple of questions regards a swapped engine and trans in my 1996 Ram 2500 2wd. I've looked at loads of posts on this forum and if you guys don't have the answers then I'm not sure who will. I was tempted to junk it and get a Ford or Chevy but I like the Ram so decided to bring it back to life.

I bought the 1996 Ram with 140k miles, its a 5.9 (360), auto, anyhow a few months back the engine blow. After much looking around and trying to get a good motor I finally found a 1999 Ram Van 5.9 (360) complete engine and tranny with 79k on it. I've had the engine and tranny installed and it runs great, shifts great. The installer changed over most of the bits from my 1996 engine to make it work(intake, wiring, etc) but I have a couple of problems.....

1, Speedo doesn't work, different connector from my loom to tranny. Also, check engine light as come on. I believe (from posts on here) the trannies changed between 1996 and 1999 and the speed sensor is different. This explains the CEL as the computer doesn't know the speed so can't work things out. Is it possible to have an auto electrician rewire to get the speedo working? Or can I swap the sensor out of my old tranny into the new one? I'm sure there must be some way to get this to work (I hope!!)

2, Temp gauge doesn't work, again different connectors between engine years. I think my 1996 engine had 2 sensors where 1999 engine as 1 sensor. Again is this something you think an auto electrician could sort out?

As I mentioned above the truck runs great, shifts great so I can't think there is anything major wrong elsewhere apart from these sensor issues. I've not used the truck much since the swap over so does anyone think I may have further problems down the road if I don't fix these things.

If the above is not fixable is it possible to install after market speedos and temp gauges? Just a thought. Many thanks guys.

 

the speedo should hook onto the rear end, not the tranny...and yes tou can add an afertmarjet trany temp gauge

 

welcome to DF...

you should be able to take all the old sensors off your old motor and put it on the new motor so you dont have to swap anything in the wiring harness. next i'd look at both mounting positions for the tranny sensor you want to swap and see if you can move your old one over to the new tranny.

 

Thanks for the answers guys, couple of things that I probably didn't explain correctly.

The guys who put the engine in do not do electrical stuff but managed to swap all the sensors and wiring from my old motor onto the new one but couldn't do the speedo or temp. I understand the diff sensor is for the the ABS module not the speed, the speed sensor is in the tranny but I think they changed the pickup between 1996 and 1999. The wire off my truck as a different plug than the new tranny. I looked on autozone and the sensor as two different part numbers between the years, I think one is an electrical pickup the other mechanical. Is this correct? If I leave the speedo unplugged then install an aftermarket speeedo somehow will it affect the computer and cause any long term problems. Obviously I'd like to hook up the original speedo, so is it possible given the different pickups. I'm sure people have put newer trans into older trucks and got everything working? Help....

Secondly, it's the engine temp that won't hook up, the old motor had 2 wires but the 1999 engine as only 1 connector, is it possible to terminate 1 wire and hook it up? As anybody else had this problem fitting newer engines into older trucks?

Many thanks for the replies.

 

i thought it was only 94 that had the speedo in the tranny...thought all others used the rear axle as the speedo and abs...either way you could convert your rear end for this setup (or swap it out for a newer one)

for the temp sencer can you just put the 96 temp sencer into the 99 moter them plug it in...i don't think only hooking up 1 wire will work

 

i thought the speedo sensor was in the tranny, in my 97 when my tranny was rebuilt the my speedo didnt work becasue the tranny guy didnt plug it back into the tranny, it only took him 2min to fix. i know they changed alot in 98. but you guys probably know a lil more

 

are you saying the thread size is different for the temp sensor on the 99 vs the 96? they shouldnt be... you should be able to pop out the seneor off the old manifold and move it over...

 

up to 97 the speedo is in the trans or transfer case that is gear driven , 98 on up speedo is sensor driven on the rear axle..

 

hmm ok i always thought only 94 had trans speed senser, well just swap out your rear axle then

 

thanks guys, so are you saying that from 98 the speedo pickup and sensor is in the rear axle? I thought it was still in the trans just the type/style changed. Could a couple other people please confirm this before I go out and buy another axle and have it fitted as I'm sure that won't be cheap. If it's still in the tranny could my existing (96) wiring be changed to fit the 99 pickup?

The only other way is to fit an aftermarket speedo so at least I know my speed but does anyone know if that will affect the computer, runningand reliability longterm?

Anybody done this or a similar swap to a newer engine and trans? It all fits and runs really good apart from these little electrical things.

Thanks for the comments so far guys.