Truck needs a trannie

[Tractor boy 239]

My truck, a ‘03 dodge Dakota rwd needs a new transmission. Just curious what the pros and cons are of either of doing it myself vrs having a shop do it. 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

time vs money 

[bc.gold 3,403]

1 hour ago, Tractor boy said:

My truck, a ‘03 dodge Dakota rwd needs a new transmission. Just curious what the pros and cons are of either of doing it myself vrs having a shop do it. 

 

Pretty basic job, you need a bench press to relief the pressure on a very large spring inside to over drive pack, send me an email address for the repair manual.

 

Inside the repair manual you'll find a diagnostics section, you may find that the problem your have does not require a full rebuild.

 

That transmission is a reworked torque flight, over drive added with electronically operated valve body, replace all the solenoids even if they look good.

[Tractor boy 239]

14 minutes ago, bcgold said:

 

Pretty basic job, you need a bench press to relief the pressure on a very large spring inside to over drive pack, send me an email address for the repair manual.

 

Inside the repair manual you'll find a diagnostics section, you may find that the problem your have does not require a full rebuild.

 

That transmission is a reworked torque flight, over drive added with electronically operated valve body, replace all the solenoids even if they look good.

Thank you, but i am fully replacing it, as i do no not have the time or the expertise to rebuild it. 

[JAinVA 4,619]

If you plan on replacing it are you looking at a used or rebuilt unit?If used then it is up to you if you can do the swap on your own.If you go with a rebuild then keep in mind if you change it out yourself the rebuilder will say you did something wrong if the trans doesn't work right

[ZXT 2,401]

Have you ever done anything like this before? Changing a transmission isn't the most difficult thing in the world, but it can be challenging if you don't have the right tools, i.e. a transmission jack, or a helping hand.

 

What engine does it have? If it has a 360 in it, it'll have a 46RE. If it's a 4.7, it'll be a 5-45RFE. ad if it's a 3.9 v6 it'll have a 42RE. I've pulled 46RE's before. They're pretty much a 727 with an overdrive unit on it. Not very hard at all.  A 42RE will be about the same. Never pulled a 5-45RFE, but it shouldn't be too bad either. 

 

If you have someone who will help you and you feel confident, go for it. Just be sure to have jack stands under the truck so that you don't die. I taught myself most of what I know when it comes to cars, and by the time I was 13 I was pulling engines and transmissions by myself. I'm sure you could do the same without issue.

Edited August 21, 2019 by ZXT

[bc.gold 3,403]

If we knew the symptoms we could help pinpoint the problem.

 

ZXT if the overdrive clutch pack was toast what are the possibility's of removing the tail section with out removing the transmission, the replace the seals and clutches on the bench.

 

The V6 Dakota I had came with the 42RE, previous owner bought a used transmission giving up the bad one as a core only to find out the one they bought had the manual valve body.

 

So when I acquired the truck transmission was laying inside the box and I could not find another 42RE core for less than five bills, then someone gave me a 46RE core.

 

Rebuilt the 46RE then purchased the torque converter that matched the install onto the V6.

 

Trans rebuild manual with diagnostics, https://hubic.com/home/pub/?ruid=aHR0cHM6Ly9sYjk5MTEuaHViaWMub3ZoLm5ldC92MS9BVVRIXzM5ZGVjZGNhNTJmMmU1MTIyOGYxMDNlN2RkYTJlYjg4L2RlZmF1bHQvLm92aFB1Yi8xNTY2NDA1NzI3XzE1Njg5OTc3Mjc/dGVtcF91cmxfc2lnPTc1ZWEwMjUwMWNlZjBkMmUxMmVjNDJiMzQxMzNhNDFlYjMyNTJiN2YmdGVtcF91cmxfZXhwaXJlcz0xNTY4OTk3NzI3#

Edited August 21, 2019 by bcgold

[ZXT 2,401]

9 hours ago, bcgold said:

If we knew the symptoms we could help pinpoint the problem.

 

ZXT if the overdrive clutch pack was toast what are the possibility's of removing the tail section with out removing the transmission, the replace the seals and clutches on the bench.

 

The V6 Dakota I had came with the 42RE, previous owner bought a used transmission giving up the bad one as a core only to find out the one they bought had the manual valve body.

 

So when I acquired the truck transmission was laying inside the box and I could not find another 42RE core for less than five bills, then someone gave me a 46RE core.

 

Rebuilt the 46RE then purchased the torque converter that matched the install onto the V6.

 

Trans rebuild manual with diagnostics, https://hubic.com/home/pub/?ruid=aHR0cHM6Ly9sYjk5MTEuaHViaWMub3ZoLm5ldC92MS9BVVRIXzM5ZGVjZGNhNTJmMmU1MTIyOGYxMDNlN2RkYTJlYjg4L2RlZmF1bHQvLm92aFB1Yi8xNTY2NDA1NzI3XzE1Njg5OTc3Mjc/dGVtcF91cmxfc2lnPTc1ZWEwMjUwMWNlZjBkMmUxMmVjNDJiMzQxMzNhNDFlYjMyNTJiN2YmdGVtcF91cmxfZXhwaXJlcz0xNTY4OTk3NzI3#

Yes, the overdrive unit can certainly be rebuilt and put back on without diving inside of the trans. Might have to remove the cross member so that you can tilt the tail down some, but that ought to be enough room to get to the bolts. 

 

@Tractor boy Explain to us what exactly is going on with your transmission. There is a distinct possibility that your problem could lay in the OD unit. I know there is a snap ring in there that is known to break and can cause all kinds of trouble. Also, what engine does it have and how many miles are on it?

 

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by ZXT

[bc.gold 3,403]

Wouldn't be too cool if that overdrive unit just needed a overhaul, when I did mine made the spring compressor tool used in the bench press then used the shaft from another old trans for the clutch alignment tool.

 

I used to work at a transmission shop and some of the story's coming from the sales people in the front office who were taught sales from other big name players. They keep the customer in reception for a reason or send them away with a scheduled appointment later in the day.

 

When our in the trans business there's no shortage of worn clutches and metal particles, the ones shown to the customer not necessarily from his or her transmission.

 

And the worse of it is you were able to drive the car / truck to the shop but your transmission now lays on the work bench in pieces with your vehicle totally incapacitated. And your standing there with a cup of coffee looking at a pan full of burnt clutches and a few broken parts.

 

The reason the shops put such a high value on the core is because there may not be all that much wrong with the core that a few hundred dollars wont fix.

 

That large spring in the over drive is compressed to 800 pounds, it only has to be pressed about 1/2" to remove the snap ring. Two snap rings easily picked out using a screw driver with one needing to use snap ring pliers.

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by bcgold