My 99ram has its issues, and I am fully aware that the transmissions on these trucks can be unreliable, mine has been great but its abit old! Same with the engine.
Now my truck has the original engine & the original trans at 194k miles, if I were to drop in a new engine (not sure if it has to be a 5.2 or if I could get a newer models) and do the same with the trans, about how much would that cost me, if you have an idea on the cost of a shop doing it that'd help too.

 

Cann't tell ya much on the tranny, but I have talked to a very reputable shop here in Baytown Texas, and to get a newer engine, would be around $1000.00, and to pull and replace would be around &900.00. So basically for $2k, I could get a 'new' engine.

That being said, mine is a 99 5.2 with 180K, on it and I am leaning on just doing the Plenum and the TC, and waterpump and all that myself, when I get a beater car to drive to work. I am really tinking I can get another 200K outta this truck.

 

I'm planning on pretty much fully restoring mine, reason being is because the previous owner used it as a work truck so its been through hell and back and a few long drives from Ohio to Texas while hauling things.

 

Unless you have a lot of money and time, forget putting something in it other than a 5.2 or 5.9. (if you meant like a Hemi). If I were you, I'd get another 318 cheap and rebuild it(or just rebuild yours) Don't forget the plenum issue. And get a tranny from PATC.

 

+1...and if I was going to restore (as I currently am doing) and money was not a terrible incobnsideration, I would go with a viper trans from PATC. If I had known then what I know now, I probably would have taken that route. Although the tranny would be more expensive, it would be rock solid and outlast the truck probably. (if I can't get mine where I want it to be I still may go that route!)

 

Trucks are for hauling cargo, they are not for hauling ***.

I fail to see the problem.

 

^

My **** gets hauled plenty good too!

 

I am currently looking into doing the same thing. Are all of the 94-01 computers compatable with all of the 94-01 motor/trannys?