First off, I have no experience and knowledge of rebuilding transmissions. So I am deffenly a noobie scientist about to learn the art of tranny mechanism, this would be my FIRST!

Heres the story. After buying the 98 dodge ram 1500 SLT, I had to get it towed. It starts up wonderful, but doesn't roll or move in any gears at all. grr.

I deffenly know it has something to do with the low fluids in tranny based on the diagnosed chart from the service manual I got from the web. The previous owner's wife banged the front bumper up and damaged the oil cooler. Bumper is no good, so Ill be making custom skid plates. Obviously the Oil Cooler was out, bent in and out all destroyed. So they took the hose out of it and bypass it out from the oil cooler. From there, something happened in the tranny..So I couldnt say much whats not happening after the oil cooler was out.

Other than that, when I put in Drive gear, Reverse or Neutral, it only revs and I dont feel anything that is engaging thru gears. So I immediately felt that it has something to do with the Park Rod w that Pawl not engaged in Park Sprag from the Output Shaft because no clutches are applied.

So I decided to take out 46RE transmission out because I couldnt see the park rod at the end from the valve body trying to figure out how to take it out..First off being a rookie, taking the oil pan out from the last bolt from 4-5 ft lifter, held it up with my left hand and a snap-on tool on the right to unbolt, it dropped down and slipped, made a huge mess filled w dark red/brownish fluids in the shop. Ha. So I hv taken all the parts out of the all transmission housing which I thought now it wasnt necessary after realizing you can just rotate the output shaft to have the Pawl in the Park Sprag in place and then I finally hear it popped out and in placed.

As I was taking all the parts out, all the parts looks good..no sign of worn or debris from my rookie eyes, but I may have overlooked at em or not exactly what I need to look out for is the problem.. So point some things out before I could put it back in, like take the tranny for air pressure test?

Im preparing to buy couple of parts soon. Obviously the oil cooler ($50) n fluids ($30+), auto tranny filter kit($13), Lip Seal ring from Overdrive Clutch Piston seems kinda worn ($5), Pump External Seal Gasket Kit ($23), Extension Housing Gasket ($1), Overdrive Piston Retainer Gasket ($2), Adapter Gasket ($1). Total $125. Anything else I forgot to add?

Also the Overdrive clutches got dirts on Friction n Steel clutch compare all other parts are clean and easy to wipe off except the OD clutches. im not sure if that needs to be replaced or scrub it off clean? It doesnt look normal to me.

The Forward clutch is pretty clean compare to Overdrive clutch, easy to take the clutches off except the Snap Ring at the end, its hard to take it off, seems to be all wobbed up and all wavy snap ring.

The Overdrive snap ring is a little wavy around, thought it was normal until I just checked with the forward clutch out and the snap ring was stuck or too stubborn to be taken out with the pliers.

I will be posting pictures up that I have taken the parts out and will take pictures when I put it back in and maybe sum vids in the future.

Let me know if you got any tips, ideas, comments, suggestions or sum bashing on my rookie moves. Pls let me know! Thanks for stopping by and reading my post!

I forgot the mentioned when I took the valve body out, the band adjustment was loose.

 

You say it goes into gear but doesnt move correct? Have you checked the fluid level? no expert but converter may have let go?

 

No, it doesnt go in gears when I shift it to Drive, Reverse and Neutral. It just revs up when I press the gas. The fluids was filled up from the pan. converter has to go?

 

put the truck in Neutral pull the tranny stick out (left side of motor when looking from front. has a red handle end.) see where the fluid lays. it sounds like it has A:low fluid B: tranny connection isnt hooked up and youre not engaging the tranny at all. C: the converter or clutches in the tranny are completely shot and would just suggest putting a 5speed Either the NV3500 or NV4500 both will work with little mods mostly just changing the pedels and steering column.

 

yeah, most peeps says to replace torque converters cuz obviously my clutches has dirt on them sending debris in the same transmission fluid to converter later to fail? thats why im in need for gaskets and rings to prevent that happening..so im hoping my converter is still good. just need to do that few steps just like you said. and then hv the a oil cooler install, fill her up and hope it does its tricks. or you say invest time in a 5speed instead?

 

Lip Seal Ring ripped and what are those brown stains in the Overdrive Direct Clutch

 

Forward Clutches seems to be okay, what about the teeth that are rusted?

 

I dont know how to take the snap ring off from the forward drum but seems its not necessary

 

Damn bro I would have trouble shot it a little more before pulling the trans could have been something simple. You are much braver than I. I would never tear into one of these trannys, to touchy

 

A man after my own ideals... If it ain't workin, it must need to be torn apart in a drunken fury and yelled at a bit.

Cant help you too much, other than saying it may have simply been the torque converter that went out, or the gear linkage being broken.... But now that you've already torn into it, why not go ahead and rebuild it?

Here's a good write up on rebuilding a 46re, not much on tear-down, but it's the most in-depth write up I've found:http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/46re-tutorial-911009/

Hopefully you'll find it helpful.