Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

 

Looks like it's time for me to get dirty then.
I am going to see if I can access a transmission from a salvage/Pick-a part yard, to rebuild, that way my truck is only down during the swap.

 

I have a core out in the barn, but, that's quite drive for you.......

 

According to Google maps 451 miles (one way), would cost as much in gas as I can probably get one from a pick-a part.
Thanks for the offer though.

 

Yeah, that's kinda my thought on the matter as well.

 

Well accessing a 46RE core transmission hasn't turned out to be as easy as I had thought, there are none at any of the local salvage yards
in my area, going to have to check the St. Louis pick-a-part yards.
Also is there a difference in the bell housing bolt pattern between the 5.9 and the 5.2, the salvage yards only look for a one out of a 5.9.
What is the year spread that I can put into my 1996 Ram 1500 with a 5.9,......... 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 ?

 

Trans doesn't care what engine it's behind. Basically, you can use any 46RE out of a 96-97 truck, if you have a 4x4, if it's RWD, anything from 96-02 should work just fine. (00 and up have different electronics though, same connector, and pinout on the trans, but, sensors are different, and mount different, just need correct retainer for them, and you are golden. 98 and up transmissions won't have the provision for t-case shifter mount. That moved to the body in 98.)

Verify the trans connector is 8 pin though, it seems that there were some early 96 trucks that actually came with the 46RH......