Forums
  Forum Tools
|
![](/images/shadowv.gif) |
21:24:55 - 09/07/2024
V6 Dakotas
From | Message |
Simply Dakota Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
1/08/2006 20:33:19
|
Subject: Manual-for-Auto Transmission Swap IP: Logged
Message: Hi Folks,
Good to find this forum! The short story: My "almost new" '87 Dakota with 45K miles got totalled when I lost traction in rain & head-on'd into a much larger truck a year ago. Seat belt probably saved my life but it was the end of that vehicle. I intended to keep it going another 30 years or so (I drive it about 2000 miles a year) until I'm dead or too senile to drive basically. I want a simple reliable vehicle that can haul a ton, no AC or power crap, is easy to maintain, don't care about going fast or how it looks (it's "DPW yellow", daughter calls it the banana-mobile).
Found another one but with 160K miles, it had bad oil pressure & my daughter drove it till it threw a rod. I decided to keep it (probably dumb but I'm stubborn) and rebuilt engine is on the way to the garage that agreed to do the install. While they're at it, I thought I would change the one thing I didn't like about the "new" Dakota: automatic transmission. I much prefer manual - more control, fewer things to go wrong, better fuel economy. The guy agreed to make the swap (he sounds confident he can do this no problem, keep fingers crossed). So the rebuilt NV535 is also on the way.
Now what's missing of course is: clutch pedal and linkage to tranny, shifter and linkage, new brake pedal I guess. These parts are hard to find in typical junkyards because some of them cut the links when they yank the transmissions. So the questions are:
What linkage parts am I missing between the pedal and tranny? and between the shifter and tranny? For what years are these parts the same (NV535 is supposed to be good for '87 to '91)? and are the same parts used in any other Dodge trucks, or are they unique to Dakota? Are they the same for the 4-cyl and V-6 engines (this Dakota has the 3.9L)?
Finally, if anyone has these parts sitting around in a "for parts" Dakota I will pay good $ cash for them.
Thanks,
DL
|
Matt Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE
1/08/2006 22:31:36
| RE: Manual-for-Auto Transmission Swap IP: Logged
Message: DL,
You might want to check for some one who has a service manual to find those parts. Maybe some one on here has the information you're looking for off hand, so good luck. If its worth some thing to ya, I could email the transmission section from my service manual but its for a 89' Dakota. It would, in long-hand, list the parts you're looking for.
-Matt
|
Dick L Dodge Dakota JOIN HERE ![Email](http://www.dodgedakota.net/amb/icons/email.gif)
1/18/2006 04:06:39
| RE: Manual-for-Auto Transmission Swap IP: Logged
Message: Thanks Matt. The local Dodge parts guy spent some time on the computer, printed out complete list of parts that are different between manual and auto transmissions. Took that to a junkyard about 30 miles away where there's a GOLD MINE of old Dakotas. They are pulling out a std. transmission, clutch, pedals, all the linkages etc. - hopefully complete set of all needed parts and I will haul that down Sat. to the guy doing the whole engine install & tranny swap. Bunch of parts Dodge does not make anymore including clutch housing, and even front U-joint & forward section of 2-part drive shaft is different between manual and auto transmissions.
If there's no problems, this should be back on the road in 10 days or so.
Dick L
|
| P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
|