'88 4 speed tranny problems.

I have an '88 Dakota 2WD, 239 with a OD auto. I had to drop the trans to change the seals and gaskets in and around the front pump, and now it will not shift into anything. While in Park, I can turn the wheels, with a good bit of difficulty. It won't shift into Drive, Neutral, or anything. It also (obviously) won't fill the Torque Converter. I've replaced several bushings and such in the linkage already, and it appears to be working correctly, so I'm beginning to think it's inside the transmission itself. Am I right in thinking it's either the front Pump or the Torque Converter? Or is my whole transmission just ****ed. I am not much of a mechanic, but I can't afford to pay someone to do anything to it. Especailly since I ended up buying a car to replace it as my daily. Thanks.

well a dodge wont fill the converter in park you got to put it in "N". Its possible you broke a sealing ring in the trans, how did you pull out the pump & did you get a lot or resistance when in stalling the pump it should go down to the pump oring with no problems. hope this helps.

We had to heat the pump to get it out. The previous idiot to own it put some silicone sealant around the edges (instead of actually fixing the lak), and we had to burn that out. Getting it back in just took a few moments of lining it up. No problems there.

Half the time I think it's in the linkage. It simply won't shift. It's like it's jammed in between Park and Reverse or something.

I have seen the 2nd band strut fall and get jamed in the linkage if the shifter is jamed (if you cant get the tranny to shift out of park) you have to pull the valve body to find out if its that.