rear diff. tone ring

[steve0076]

I have a Dodge Ram 1500 4WD 1997.It has a Dana 60 rear end from a Ford [F-250?].Does anybody know if the tone rings have the same count? Will the Ford speed sensor give the proper signal to the Dodge PCM? I am having a problem with keeping a transmission in it.Would a bad PCM be my problem more than a speed sensor error,or a combination of the two? The motor,trans and transfer case are all original Dodge.

[BleedDodge]

Do you mean there's a Ford transmission in there too or what?

[steve0076]

Originally Posted by BleedDodge

Do you mean there's a Ford transmission in there too or what?

NO. it has the stock overdrive transmission from Dodge.

[BleedDodge]

So by putting a Dana 60 in here, you expect to be able to keep transmissions in this truck? I don't understand...

[steve0076]

Originally Posted by BleedDodge

So by putting a Dana 60 in here, you expect to be able to keep transmissions in this truck? I don't understand...

This is kinda the answer I had, but it is not my truck. I am just the one stuck trying to make it work. The owner has had it about 2 years, and I just put in her third trans. They would work OK for a while, but this last time it would not stay in fourth gear[overdrive]. She bought the truck this way and I am only trying to help.

[scoutinkeith]

so everything is stock except the rear axle, correct?
how long (how many miles) did the other transmissions last for?
what size tires are on the truck, and what gearing is in the axles?
I don't know weather or not the tone rings have the same number of teeth, but you should be able to recalibrate the spedo to give the correct reading(not 100%sure about the 97s, but you may be able to recalibrate with one of those plug in tuner things, otherwise, the dealer should be able to recalibrate it for you.)
one comon reason for the dodge transmissions not staying in OD is excessive heat. if the tires are larger than stock, and the axle gears were not changed, that would put extra stress on the trans, and cause it to heat up. also, there is a check valve in the cooler line that is supposed to keep the TC from draining when the truck is parked, those valves are known to go bad and plug up, which can restrict the fluid flow to the cooler and cause it to overheat. the valve can be removed without any ill efects, but you may have to wait a little bit (30 seconds max)after startup for the convertor to fill up before the truck will move. also, it may help to add an extra trans cooler, you can either by-pass the stock one (the one in the radiator) or tie into the hoses so that the fluid flows through both coolers. just had another thought, were there any signs of coolant in the trans fluid? if the stock cooler has a hole in it, engine coolant can get into the trans, which is not a good thing.
hope this helps ya out a little,
Keith

[scoutinkeith]

just re -read the first post, has the front axle been changed also? I ask because the stock front D-44 axle has a 5 lug bolt patern, wile the rear D60 would have an 8 lug bolt patern.

[steve0076]

The front axel appears to be a D44. But the rear does only have 5 lugs, and it is huge! Don't know how many miles, but it was about a year. There is no coolant in the trans. The tires are 35's, and no clue what the gear is.

[BleedDodge]

Check the tag on the bottom surface of the hood, it will say what gears are in it, if the tag is still there...

[scoutinkeith]

well, with the rear only having 5 lugs, there are two posabilities, either it's not a 60, or, someone has put custom shafts into a 60 housing.
most likely the stock gears were 3.55. if the gears are stock, those 35" tires may be the cause of the trany failure. I'll do some checking, but I think that with 3.55 gears(asumeing that's what's in it) a 33" tire is pushing the limit of what the stock trans can handle. I'll do some checking and let ya know what I find out.

[scoutinkeith]

here are some more suggestions. to run the 35" tires, you should have at least 4.10 gears,( 4.56 would be even better) in the axles. anything that you can do to keep the trans cool, is going to help it last longer. adding an extra (or bigger) cooler, deeper pan, or even a temp guage so taht you can keep an eye on the temp would help. also, maybe change trans builders, I've heard good things about APS transmissions, and I'm actuailly considering them just incase my trans ever goes out.

[fredjacksonsan]

Had a thought about the trans going out and not staying in OD. The Ford rear wheel speed sensor is probably sending the wrong signal to the Dodge PCM. I'd find a way to put a Dodge sensor in the rear axle; of course you'll have to make sure it senses correctly too....a bit of a custom job and beyond what I've done.

Sure wish they made 'em simple like they used to....

[steve0076]

Hey thanks everyone, I think we got it.I found out from West Coast Diff. that the tone rings are the same, therefore I changed out the speed sensor [with a Ford part] and took out the check valve.As far as the gearing, they they must tall because it does NOT suck off the line.It has only been a day, so I will take any other suggestions just in case it does come back. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!