Hi guys,
I'm a long time member of AutomotiveForums.com, brand new to DodgeForum.com. My Name's Pete, 25 years old, live in western New York and work as a pipefitter. Anyway, Here's my story. If you wanna skip the story scroll down the "PROBLEM":

I like projects. I got a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 2wd w/ the 5.2L quad cab, 6' Box. I got it dirt cheap a few years ago ($450 from the company I work for). It was a little rough, rusting in the usual spots for a northern truck, and it has 198k on the odometer (currently got 223,000 miles on her) But I didn't care, the interior was nice, everything worked, and it ran great! But as winter came, I missed having a 4x4 (Prevously owned a GMC 2500)

I found a beat 1998 2500 plow truck on craigslist for $500. It was so bad the drivers seat was falling thru the floor and the chassis had holes in it. But it ran and drove (That freakin Dodge, kept on fighting till the bitter end!). Jacked that pile up and took a cutting torch to it. Removed the front Dana 60 Axle, Rear Dana 70 leaves and all, the 46-RE Tranny and 241DHD transfer case. Saved the 5.9 as well. Removed any and all useful parts too. Nothing left, but a sad carcass when I was done with it.

I put my truck up on stands and did the same. Cut the front independent suspension off, rear 9 1/4" axle off along with the little 1500 springs. Scrapped the parts truck carcass and my 1500 parts, got $650. Nice I'm in the green! Now comes the careful part. Welding the attachments to accept the 4x4 components onto my chassis. The front crossmember, coil spring bells, trailing arm brackets and the wider rear leaf spring brackets. Bolted things in replacing bad parts along the way. Had to have a rear driveshaft made by a local company called Fleet Pride. Cut a hole in my floor, put in the shift lever, installed the replacement 4x4 tranny and transfer case. (Sold the 2wd tranny for $250. Sweet, more green!) Added fluids and voila! I've got a 4x4 2500 now on 33" tires.

That wasn't enough though. I found a brand new set of 4 - 37"x12.5"x16.5" Military Humvee tires for sale. Lets do it! 3" body lift for sake of time did the trick. Runs and drives great on and off the road. Really kills it in the mud too! I've put 10k on it since. But the truck is slow, and when mudding, 4-Low is a MUST. Cummins was a little high priced for me as I've literally just bought a house in November. I had the 5.9 still sitting in my barn. No, not big enough.

PROBLEM
So I found a V-10 from a 1996 3500 in a junk yard complete with computer and all accessories for $300. That's in my barn now too. I'm getting ready to slap that in. Here's my problem, the flex plate on it is bigger than that on my 5.2 and 5.9. Upon research, the V-10 came only available with the 47-RE where the V-8's mostly had the 46-RE (What I currently have) The 46 has an 11" diameter torque converter w/ a 4 x 10" bolt pattern, while the 47 has a 13-7/8" diameter TC w/ a 6 x 12-1/4" bolt pattern. Also the flex plate on the V-10 has starter gear teeth on the outside, where the V-8's have the starter teeth on the TC instead of the flex plate. I would just swap flex plates except the starter (which apparently bolts to the motor, not the transmission) won't line up to the teeth on the TC of the 46-RE, and I'd also risk confusing the crank positioning sensor. Is there a 6 bolt 13-7/8" TC available for the 46-RE, or will a TC from a 47-RE be compatible with a 46-RE (I've heard of a stator swap needed but a stator in an auto tranny is one thing I'm unfamiliar with) or am I screwed until I get a 47?

**Also, I've read mention of a 48-RE but see no mention of it anywhere in parts listings. I checked the Dodge Ram wiki page and it mentions nothing either. Dodge Ram - Second Gen Any insights?

P.S. Sorry for the long winded post, I just figured I'd introduce my truck and it's history to everyone. I'm gonna post pics up of the whole process onto a web page and I'll update with a link eventually. After reading many-a post here, it seems like there's a handful of good guys on here with some decent knowledge about these trucks. You'll have to bear with me as everything I do I'm self taught, and this is my first Dodge. Thanks in advance guys!

 

Hey there. Welcome to DF.

You are also going to find that the 46RE isn't going to bolt to the V-10 either. Really need to go and get yourself an A618 trans. (47/48RE) Don't suppose the trans from the engine donor is still available?

 

Thank you.
Figures. No, it was gone. Will the A618 bolt to my transfer case at least?

 

Yep, t-case should bolt right up.

 

I wish all newbies would go into so much detail...welcome to DF! Post up some pictures of that beast!!

 

Side thought: Didn't the V-10/Diesels have larger output shafts on the trans or t-case? I don't remember....

 

Thank you! There is a before and after if you click my profile.

I know the output shaft from the t-case to the rear axle (driveshaft yoke) was literally twice the diameter than my 1500 counterpart.

 

If you need more to spin those 37s why don't you regear to 4.88s instead?

 

I was going to say just regear the axles and go that route.. I think you will be happy with that.

 

yeah, 4.88's, or 5.13 gears would be better and easier to install.

THREAD JACK! how many miles are on that 360, and do you wanna sell it? would have to figure out freight charges though....