hey guys im trying to decide wether or not i should attempt to pull my tranny on my 97 dodge ram 1500 5.9 auto or have the shop do it. I need to replace a $3 freeze plug and the shop is going to charge me $300 to do it, i would rather save money and do it myself, just dont really have the time and dont have any good jacks, plus i have to worry about messing something up, what do you think, obviously it would be best to have the shop do it, and quicker but i cant get myself to comprehand paying someone $300 to change a $ 3 part

 

o and by the way this shop said " all said and don around $ 300" a couple of other shops said around $400-500 even had a shop tell me $600. so this shop is pretty cheap compared, but still...its a $3 part!

 

just do it your self. i replaced my own tranny, and it was a breeze. just watch out for the crankshaft position sensor when you go to put the tranny back in.

 

ive dropped and replaced a tranny out of my old truck but it was a toyota pickup and a 5spd and my dodge seems so much more complicated, im sure i can figure it out just worried about messing something up, anything else that is tricky about it? i was going to replace the exhaust flange gaskets, both the freeze plugs, anything else? are the somebody freaked me out and said the freeze plugs get rusty sometimes and are hard to get out and you have to woryy about dropping it in the coolant chamber im not to familiar with the torque converter or flywheel either, any pics would help or info thanks and ill try not to bug too bad. hope i can get it done by monday

 

well i took my time replacing my tranny because i didnt have the money to register my truck. so it took me 3 lazy weeks. torque converter is pretty simple. 4 bolts hold it to the flywheel. just watch out for the o2 sensor wires when you are lowering the tranny. i left my exhaust in too. i was told i was supposed to remove the exhaust but it didnt get in the way, in fact it was beneficial to the whole install process. i dont have any pics of it but someones else might. good luck to you.

 

anyone have pics or a link to a removal process?

 

One of the major differences between the dodge, and your 'yota, is the weight. The trans/transfer case are HEAVY. You will need a jack..... you aren't going to bench press that trans in or out.

Might wanna completely remove the crank position sensor before you even try and drop the trans. It seems to be a commonly busted part in this exercise.

Rusty freeze plugs are actually fairly easy to get out. Just bust out enough of the center so that you can fold a flap out, grab ahold of it with vice grips, and yank. I did the one behind the drivers side motor mount, and it was tedious, but, not overly difficult. (I used needle nose pliers to pull mine out.... it was that rusty......)

 

where is the crank position sensor located and will coolant drain once i remove the plug? thanks

 

I don' think it's a bad deal for the money...

I would pay that for the same thing on my truck, I'm betting my truck is a lot harder of a job compared to a Ram, I've swapped the tranny before and it isn't fun. Gimme a Ford Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer though and I'll have that tranny on the ground in 45 minutes.

 

CKPS is on the passenger side, at the very back of the block. It reads off of the flex plate, or torque converter (not sure which), so, yes, THAT far back...... Held in by two bolts I think. Be CAREFUL removing it. Don't wanna bust it.

No coolant will come out when you pull it.