Good info. The old tranny is all mine no core required. Was going to go up this week and do the swap but it looks like I will have to wait for parts. So probably after the 1st SE now.

The B-W solenoid is the same 42-48RE but will get specific 96 stuff for the rest.

 

A quick question. I understand the 5.2 is internally balanced. The replacement trans has the flexplate held by strap and bolt attached to the bellhousing, which retains the flexplate + torque converter in the case. Torque converter bolts are removed. Flexplate + torque converter are marked for alignment at the bolt hole stamped "90 deg".

Im assuming i will be able to see this same "90 deg" stamp on the flexplate when i remove the old trans. If i mark that bolt hole on the motor and line it up with the mark on the replacement trans torque converter, am i correct that it will bolt up and be in balance?

 

What engine do you have in your truck, and what engine was in front of the donor trans? Years as well please.

 

96 5.2 2wd and donor was 97 5.2 2wd

 

Trans will bolt right in, hook right up, and work just fine. Provided that it works..... if that makes any sense.....

 

Makes perfect sense.
Trans has above parts plus installing new front + rear seal, filter and am doing full flush via trans pump (w new filter) as per a post elsewhere here.

 

Actually it turned out to be a bit more complex than that. Ended up swapping valve bodies. Also there was an un-drilled boss for the output Speed Sensor on the donor Overdrive case.

The trans is in the truck and shifts nicely 1 - 2 - 3 - Lockup - Overdive. No OSS, so it wants to stay in OD at highway speeds on a grade ... Hitting the "OD Off" button solves that fine.

Downshifts otherwise OK if you slow the truck down, part-throttle upshifts are also fine.

I would recommend anyone who needs to swap into a 96 to get a same-year unit. Im not even sure what year this "97" really is but assuming it really did come from a 97 its not a direct swap electrically and had to use the shifter arm from the 96 as well.

Am going to fab an OSS with an Edelbrock sensor wheel and Dakota Digital multiplier/divider box.

Why go to all this instead of a rebuild or returning the donor? Well, its like this. Truck failed in a remote area with about $10,000 worth of my special gear and personal effects sitting open in the box. Abandoned vehicles on this only road typically are stripped and windowless sometimes in only a few hours.

My emplyer relies on me to deal with some difficult jobs that others could certainly do but not without a cost. I had no choice but to abandon it and arrive at the jobsite for a start date 24 hours later. Contract called for 100 days 7-days a week and 12 hours a day with very limited telephone access ... Basically Sat Phone only @ $5 a minute. T

Towing bill to where I could safely store the vehicle was $400.00 and that was still 145 miles from the nearest transmission shop, but I had weekend access to a reasonably well equipped shop and help there (three months later when my contract would be done).

I had hauled the donor 245 miles ( that "nearest transmission shop" is 100 miles from me) and we were in the middle of the job when the differences were discovered. Decision was made to go ahead instead of making another 490 mile round trip forray with a same-year replacement or waiting for a rebuild to be completed. Im OK with the $200 or so outlay for the OSS hack versus the other options, all of which would have cost more than that, plus time. I needed the truck.

 

Would the tailshaft housing from your old tranny not swap out? Strage the boss not being drilled.

 

Yes it would. It was an option and still is. But the hack doesnt reqire pulling the installed tranny ... and is simpler to implement. Will post a thread on it which might help someome doing certain swaps. Also there is some mystery as to why this tranny runs so well without it while at the same time the OSS seems to be a point of failure leading to nagging issues for others. If my solution works as well as I think it will, might be a shut-down fix others can make use of.