Look for the Sure Cure install thread . Has some good pics. Here's another pic.

 

Thanks again, I found and printed the pages needed from the FSM. First I had to figure out what trans we have, I'm pretty sure it's the 46RE from what I read. Now I'm about to head to Autozone for the filter and gasket, then I'll start tearing into it this afternoon. I'll let you know how it turns out...wish me luck!!

 

97= 46re

 

Well, I took the pan off and stopped there. I've attached some pics of what I found inside, metal shavings and a large piece of some sort of ring that I'm guessing came from up inside the tranny. Needless to say the thing is shot. Thanks again for all your help, my friend is looking for a used tranny now and has found a couple between $120 and $500. I know with a used one he's taking a chance, but he really don't have the time or the money to get this one rebuilt. Hopefully the used one will last a little while. Do you have any advice or suggestions of things we should check on the used one before we put it in the truck?

 

Ouch. Looks like a chunk of overdrive snap ring there. It's a common enough failure in these things.

For the used one... well, shucks. If it's used don't install it! But if you have no choice, it's pretty much just like looking at any other used juicer. Be very sure to dump out the converter to check for shards/shavings as they're also prone to failure. You might want to take along a magnetic retriever to fish around inside the converter.

If you see a band anchor in the pan, you're better off passing on that one. It's an easy fix most of the time, but it's also an indication that the bands were never adjusted so there's sure to be plenty o' friction material stuck in the hidey holes where that stuff takes up residence.

If you see fresh fluid and a new filter, pass -- PO tried to miracle the thing back to life and failed.

On the off chance that you see a cracked flex plate, pass. The front pump is a goner.

Try to avoid trucks with lift kits even if you know for sure that the gears were changed to suit. It'll be a unit that's seen some sporty use, if not downright abuse.

Before installing the used unit, rip out the anti-drainback check valve if it's still there, and flush the ever lovin' you know what out of the cooler and lines.

Keep your fingers crossed. These things are iffy once they've got some miles behind them.

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep all of it in mind during the search. We really don't have much time to get this thing fixed and back on the road, and my buddy is low on cash (right after Christmas ya know) so a rebuild is out of the question for now. Evenutally he'll have this one rebuilt while he's driving around with the used one and swap it back out someday.

 

Once again, I'd like to thank each person who gave me advice. I'm glad I stumbled on this forum, you guys are great!!

 

I just had mine rebuilt a couple weeks ago... basic rebuild was converter runs about $1,500... (the 46re transmission does not have the best track record) They also take special ATF+4 fluid or at least a friction modifier to work with dextron fluids.

Remember the different years have different modifications in the transmissions...I believe the 98 -up is slightly different than the 96-97 transmissions.... 95 and older used a different 46RH hydraulically controlled trannies as apposed to the 46re (electronically controlled).

 

So, we need to get one from a 96-97, I'm wondering if it has to come from a RAM 1500. Are there other vehicles that have the same tranny...like maybe a van or something?

 

is it 4wd...if not a van one will work... jeep Cherokees also used the same engine/drivetrains and I believe they may work.... later years (98-01 may work but you just may have to swap some stuff off the old one to get to work.