This guy. Don't need to do all of it. (but it wouldn't hurt)

 

Can you tell if that kit would charge t/c or is there need to contact kit manufacture?

 

That one does indeed charge the t/c in park. It was recommended by our one-time trans guru MonteC.

 

Very Cool, also I noticed there was no reaming out the valve body, which might be a better design ?? Guess you drop the valve body, it's time I'm not so shy of that.

 

Not my favorite exercise as well. It doesn't matter how long I leave them drain, I still get a bath when I pull it.

 

Can all supplied parts in that kit be installed when just dropping valve body, or does the trans need to come out and apart. Man those check *****, how the heck dose one know where those go, hope the instructions are clear.
I need pictures, lol..

 

If the trans works as is, I would just do the valve body stuff, and call it a day. I *think* it is 99% valve body improvements in any event. (been a while since I have played with one. I HATE doing trans work. ) Do you have a service manual for your truck? If not, you should get one. For the 2nd Gen Rams, you can find 'em here. Should have decent pics of where the various little ***** go. (keep in mind, there are a couple of them, sometimes different sizes, and even different materials...... such fun we have for you. ) I usually use a little dab of grease to keep them in place during assembly.

 

When you say valve body stuff, do you mean pull the valve body and install the kit parts for it,, but do not use the remaining parts in the kit that require pulling the trans and fully dissembling it? It shifts so nice now I would rather just let it live as long as it can. There were no chunks or filings in pan, just gray gooey stuff.
More happiness, because of the giant trans cooling system on my 99, I need to remove the radiator to get to that check valve. Maybe in a week. O'Reilly parts, can't even find that check valve to sell, "I checked for kicks", perhaps none are ever sold because of scraping them as you recommend.
Almost bet there is not one in mine because trust this thing was ordered big truck, or does that matter, perhaps they used them everywhere.
Isn't a 99 first generation Durango, remember it's not a ram. Perhaps it makes no difference. I have lots of reading and service information on this Durango, but it often doesn't apply because of the way it was ordered. Front end arrangement and most electrical are standard Durango, many other things are not. The trans service manual, "the real one" should be good cas it's just a 46 RE, but I'll bet it has some changes from standard, or even tow package Durangos, perhaps it has some upgrade parts in it already. I'll wait till I'm home in limp mode for the last time, before I ever tear this thing all apart. So is 99 first or second generation. I thought second was when they went to the ryanosaurus body stye. I couldn't even get spell check to kick in for that one.

 

The check valve should be right where the steel line turns to flex line, going to the bottom of the radiator. Easiest fix is pull the line, and just drill it out. (there's a check ball, and a spring, clean it out good.) On mine, it was right on the frame rail, just in front of the engine.

Read thru the instructions for the kit a few times, and just do the valve body stuff. No point to tearing down a trans that actually works. The kit will firm of shifts, raise pressures a bit, and.... charge the T/C in park. (I think there is a hole to be drilled for that..... stuff to do it comes in the kit though.)

I don't think it matters that yours is a Durango. The rest of the drivetrain is pretty much exactly the same, and dodge is nothing, if not consistent. And yes indeed, yours is a First Gen Durango. 1998-2003.

If/when you DO rebuild your trans though, keep in mind that parts from the 47 and 48RE transmissions will go right into that case.

 

Ah, this one runs steel lines from radiator, then disappears under radiator, still steel lines, then if my memory's correct both turn to flex under the radiator, not like your picture shows, then back to steel out from the very center of the bottom radiator support. If there is a valve it is under the radiator where no man go with removing it..
THX for the info on the kit, I might do it but for now all seems perfect with a good hard shift everywhere.