Hello everyone, I'm working on a 1954 Dodge M37 repower project. I'm installing a 5.2L V8 Magnum with an automatic transmission that I believe is a 44RE from a 93 4x4 dakota. The engine/trany are low miles and ran great when I removed it from the donor vehicle. Everything is going well with fitting the new powertrain in the old truck except that the transmission is a little too long and giving me some clearance issues up front. While servicing my 97 dakota, which is also a 4x4 5.2L AT, I noticed the overall length of the trany is 4.5" shorter which would make all the difference in the M37. I believe the 97 has the 46RE?

From what I can tell the 97's 46RE is identical to the 93's 44RE from the pan to the bell housing but the rear half, which is bolted on, is 4.5" longer on the 44RE. The extra length just looks like useless shaft space to make it fit to a transfer case that is farther away. I believe the rear housing bolted on contains the overdrive unit for both transmissions?

To keep things simple, I'm using the stock 1954 transfer case from the M37 and fabricating a custom intermediate shaft between the TC and trany. Right now I can make a shaft work but it is very tight. If I had a couple more inches things would work better. My question is can the rear housing (overdrive unit?) from the 46RE be bolted on a 44RE? Along with that, does swapping out the rear housing defeat the point of keeping a low mileage trany and be easier to just change out the entire transmission?

Sorry for so much detail, but this is a pretty important question for the whole project because I'm waiting on mounting the motor until I have the transmission figured out. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.