I bought a 1988 dakota 3.9 TBi v6 2x4 and come to find out the trans is bad and needs to be replaced. The truck is setup with over drive but when they put a different engine in her they went with a 3 speed auto trans instead of a 3 speed with over drive. Here are my questions

1. Can I put a 3 speed with over drive trans back in her?
2. What modifications if any will I have to do to the engine to get the 4 speed trans to fit.

All your help is greatly appreciated

I know from personal experience that it's the O/D gear in those transmissions that makes them expensive to rebuild/replace.
Not to mention that they were problematic transmissions to begin with.
I'm looking for one right now myself for a '92 with a 318.

If you ask me you're much better off sticking with the regular 3spd tranny.
Less headaches! :)

Price a transmission rebuild,that transmission is real easy to rebuild and replace the torque conveter too.You will lose gas mileage without the overdrive unit.The worst part is the starter and thank the engineer for that.

Price a transmission rebuild,that transmission is real easy to rebuild and replace the torque conveter too.You will lose gas mileage without the overdrive unit.The worst part is the starter and thank the engineer for that.

Do you have any suggestions where I could look for a cheap rebuild?

The best I've been able to find is $2200, and that's if the O/D gear is toast.
If it's not, the price goes as low as $1500.
Both of those prices are for a rebuilt unit. I've never rebuilt a transmission, so I'm not sure a kit would be the best way to go.

I actually just replaced the trans in my 88 dakota. The best price I could find was from Cherry Auto parts. They have rebuild and used. I bought a used one for about 540 and that was with a 2 year warrenty. My dakota was only a 3 speed but you might want to check them out.

i have the same problom and the lowest i found was 2200 at a calgary scrapyard and i think you can get them cheaper than that this one is 4x4 with od and 190k on it the one that blew was 239k it was my fault i blew it in kananaskis country.

I got my trans switched out and now I am going through flexplates like they are water and I am not sure why. Any suggestions?

I got my trans switched out and now I am going through flexplates like they are water and I am not sure why. Any suggestions?


Torque converter lined up properly and engaged in the pump all the way, also did you have BOTH of
the alignment dowels in the block?

I put the trans in the first time myself. The second time I paid someone to do it. I have not check the dow to see if there are two. Is this easy to do? If so where are they and how do i check.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i12/trad444/copeflight.jpg


The will be in the engine block on those two bolts. Its almost impossilbe to tell if they are there with out pulling the trans