So I finally put the trans from a 2002 ram van 46 re into my 2001 ram 2500 46 re and wouldn't you know the dust covers are very different.My old one was basically flat
The van transmission has a cut out at the bottom of the bell housing and takes a https://www.moparfixers.com/oem-part...ver-52117501ab dust cover to fill the cut out.
I was thinking of making a spacer to fit between the flat dust cover and the transmission and just use longer bolts. Or brake a piece of metal and secure it to the bell housing of the transmission and the dust cover.
Or is a piece made for this application?

Could someone please direct me to a picture of where the spring bracket to the kick down switch mounts? I believe to the bottom of a stud that attaches to a bracket that holds the shifter cross shaft?

Has anyone bought those $30 ebay trans pans with a drain plug? It seems like a good idea to swap out before I fill it., Thoughts on an external trans filter, and would it go on the pressure or return side? Or does someone have a deep pan for sale?

This truck got to be such a pain that I bought a first gen ram, got it fixed and inspected because it seemed more solvable as a daily driver. Talk about a sick puppy.

 

Pan with a drain plug is a GREAT idea.

External filter is a good idea too. Put it on the pressure side of the cooler lines.

No idea where the spring goes, should be a pic in the service manual?

Dust covers aren't absolutely required...... if there is a hole on the bottom, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

A $5 plug kit from advance auto, bending some metal with speed nuts and the game is on. I thought that filters went on the return side?

 

Technically, they go on the suction side of the pump, but, you don't get that option. In all reality, I don't think it matters. It's the cooling loop after all.