My past experience with automatics is when they die throw them in the dumpster

then buy an nv4500 no more problems

Thats what I did to my old diesel suburban

 

For as much as you'd need to buy a NV4500 you can build a stronger automatic

 

It's getting to the point that even FINDING one is getting to be a real exercise....

 

Rockauto sells them for $2500 ($1500 core) but plus the pedals cutting the floor, the boots (if you can even buy them). Honestly I thought about doing that to my 1500 (no drivetrain) but it's too much work in my opinion for what you get. Used the transmissions go for about $900. Oh and the bell housing which is $500

 

Thanks for the help everybody now i got a good idea of how to do build it for longevity. I cant swap from auto to manual because i wanted an auto for heavy traffic thats gone up in the years and sometimes its nice just to hit the gas and go when it takes an hour to go 10 miles. Ill let everyone know how long the tranny last with with offroad abuse and big tires.

 

Good luck, I’ve never had luck with upgraded 700r4’s but maybe mopar is different

Ill admit with the suburban I grabbed a $250 NV3500 included the bell, lines stick, boot and pedal.

i didn’t cut anything and the XMBR was even in the right spot.

Under the dash was a place to mount the pedal.

Was no more difficult than an auto pullout.

Lasted the final 200000 miles I had the thing

Unfortunate if Dodge made it more complex, that was my plan if the auto in my half ton dies.

For me an auto truck is almost undrivable compared to a stick, your city fuel economy doubled and the truck actually moves decently.

Too bad we have all the handicaps that can’t push a pedal , I find even in traffic shifting helps with the boredom Ah well

 

If you have a 360 a NV3500 won't last behind it so you need a 4500. You have to remove the dash and pull the pedal assembly and get one that had a clutch pedal. Hell even finding the clutch pedal could be a chore. Plus the tune to keep the lights off

 

I see NV4500s on Rockauto for around 2300 bucks.... (which includes the core charge, as you aren't going to have one to return.) I could do a REALLY nice rebuild on my auto for that kind of money. But then, a manual just isn't an option for me.....

 

Exactly now my OCD in that new truck is kicking in and I will buy a NV4500 after I get the bell housing. A guy near me is selling one out of an 05 2500 for $700

 

I was told exactly that with the suburban as well.

The transmission guy told me if I towed or stomped on it to stay out of overdrive and it would last. Go figure


Its unfortunate you have to pull the dash On the 2001 Dodge, considering mine is shot maybe I should anyway

If I did the swap the light would stay lit since we aren’t smogged anyway,
I usually prefer the auto tune on a manual since the throttle doesn’t blip and the idle is slower (Better clutch life)

Ah well