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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
04:18:08
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 Subject: Manual Tranny R/T
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Has anyone here converted there R/T to a Stick?
thats the only thing i dont like about my r/t it didnt make any sense to me when you think about performance vehicles you dont think automatics
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B1llyw
GenIII
5/16/2002
07:05:24
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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I agree wholeheartedly. I started a thread on this a couple weeks ago and got trounced. For a variety of reasons, performance being a big one, I think stick is better.
Bill White - 2002 QC 4x4, SLT , 4.7, 5 spd, 3.92's w/LSD, Airaid, MBRP Super Single, Hurst T-Handle, BFG A/T's, IAS Shocks, 180 T-Stat, Jet Chip - Stage II
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FlameRed01
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
08:29:42
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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what about a slapshifter? i know that it can be done on R/T's with removal on your drinkholders of course but still, a whole conversion to manual would be a grueling process wouldnt it? i say slapshift all the way.
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MikeD
R/T
5/16/2002
09:04:58
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Not sure about this but I think you can convert the valvebody in it to a manual shift valvebody
~Mike~
'01 R/T
MP 2400 Stall, True Duals w/ Flowmaster 10 series, M-1 2bbl, F&B 52mm TB, Airaid, JBA headers, JBA 9mm wires, Kenne Bell Optimizer II, 180 t-stat, 3rd cat removed, Chrome R/T badges
Awating Install: 2.02 Ported Magnum R/T Heads, Kammer Cam, 1.6 RR's
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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
14:16:01
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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it should be possible and couldnt be all that hard..maybe time wise it would be a pain but it sure would be sweet to have a manual R/T... flamered01
i was thinking the same thing and just building a console kinda like intensedak's anything is better then the shifter on the colum(sp?)
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QwikKota
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
14:43:37
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Hey Blue, I totally agree, but can I ask why you still bought an auto? It was never even a consideration for me, as I knew how sporty the 5spd 4.7L is. Sure, I would like an R/T but I just hate auto. Mopar has that conversion kit correct? I thought it was a full kit. Not saying its easy, but much better than doing it from scratch.
2002 4.7L 5spd CC
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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
15:10:32
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Actually i didnt know they had a conversion kit... i bought the R/T cause i wanted the 360 plus i thought i would be able to handle the Auto.... but im fed up with it now... i dont know why people drive auto's ... how boring.. if it had a stick the truck would Rock .. its fast with an auot but it would be much faster with a stick
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kicker01
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
15:19:40
|  RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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You guys should realize that a properly built auto can be very nasty in an r/t. With a good shift kit and the proper stall converter the autos can run btter than a manual. But I do agree that having an auto in an r/t does take a little fun outa the whole sport truck concept. A heavy duty, close ratio 5 spd would be perfect for the r/t.
'01 RC 4.7 5spd
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92dakotahd
GenII
5/16/2002
16:07:31
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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I always wondered too. I think that it would be cool. I've heard that GM can't even keep 6-speed Firebirds on the lots in some locales.
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Bryan
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
16:45:57
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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I'd say 5 speed all the way. anything is possible if you have the time and money.( mostly the money )I like the manual tranny over auto's, I want to choose what gear I want to be in.
Maybe using A 5 speed trany from A RAM (that had A 360 ) and put in A new driveshaft ?
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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
17:34:01
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Couldnt the manual from the 318 bolt on? with no real problems
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moparjoe20
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
18:03:25
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Yes you can use the 5 speed for a 318 behind the 360 , everything is bolt in but you have to get the flywheel balanced for the 360 because the 318 is internal balance and the 360 is external balance. Last Sept when I was looking at Dakotas for my girlfriend I came across a yellow '99 R/T that had been swapped to a 5 speed, he changed everything so it looked factory- column , gauges , etc. He was using a computer for a '99 318 5 speed Dakota because it kept setting off the check engine light after he swapped the trans. The only reasons I did not buy it was because it was a regular cab and that he wanted about $4,000 more than every other R/T that I looked at.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
18:46:06
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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The obvious easy way to do this is not to convert a R/T to a manual but to convert a 5.2/5-speed to a 360. The Ram's 5-speed they used behind the 360 won't fit in the Dakota without cutting up the firewall and floorboards as it is a bigger NV-4500. The nv-3500 is not supposed to handle the torque of the 360 stock, let alone with some mods, but some do, and some gernade behind built 318's. There is another company that makes a good performance (not truck) 5-speed for Mopars. It starts at about $3000 and can handle 650 ft-lbs of torque. look at www.keislerauto.com they may not have an exact kit for a Dakota but something for a Duster should be able to be modified. Now if you can just keep the rear end from breaking axles...
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HSKR
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
20:05:46
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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For drag racing(at last bracket racing) the auto tranny is much more consistant than a manual tranny. Also, Dodge doesn't make a 5-speed that woudl fit in a Dakota that coudl handle the torque of the 360 from the factory. Sure you could beef up a 318 sport tranny to work with the R/T, but you will have computer problems as mentioned. Also I think dodge used the Auto to avoid warranty claims for clutches in the R?T. Can you imagine the number of clutches some R/T owners, myself included, woudl go through if they had a manual tranny!! I love manual tranny's and was raised on them, but you woudl burn the hell out of them in a R/T launching at the strip.
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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2002
20:12:53
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Lots of good info and things to think about... thx guys
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topher
GenIII
5/16/2002
23:36:22
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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there was a guy who put a viper tranny in an r/t, i bet that was a bitch to make it bolt up.
but think about it, you'd have to do alot more than just the tranny.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
12:55:28
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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The viper v-10 is pretty much just a 360 streatched out to add 2 more clyinders, the tranny should bolt right up with the correct bellhousing. The transmission mount and driveshaft would have to be custom.
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Duner
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
13:13:20
|  Just Do It! hehehe
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I absolutely can't believe that people haven't jumped all over this!
There are plenty of manual trans 5.2 Dakotas in the bone yards. Just get the pedal assemblies from under the dash, the bellhousing/trans and driveshaft. Get the correct flywheel for the 360 and put it together. As far as the PCM problem - if you were swapping parts from the same year truck then just get the PCM also or buy another one for a 5.2 Sport. Either that or put up with the MIL light. Anybody that will go to the lengths to put in the manual trans will surely be clever enough to figure out how to get rid of a pesky little light!
As far as the NV3500 not holding up? There aren't that many things in this world that are bulletproof. The shift forks are easy to bend if you use too much force on the 1-2 shift. The tailhousing can break if you try launching at 5000 rpm with a set of slicks. I know I personally can break anything if I try hard enough! Once you have the whole manual trans thing working you could swap transmissions at a later date if you weren't happy with the NV3500. You could always go to the TREMEC.....
Going with the 6-speed would be way-cool but much more expensive.
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CThomp
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
13:42:37
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Which model tremec would you use anyhow? The T-6? The T-56?
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Todd Bouton
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
14:30:48
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Nice to hear positive talk about the 5-spds for once!
On another thread I posted about my left knee. Nearly ripped my leg off at the knee 3weeks ago. Had major ligament recostructive surgery one week ago. Because of the extent of the injury, I'm still on crutches, non-wieghtbearing on my left leg. I'm now driving my 5spd with no problem, I do use a brace ,hindged at the knee, and will for sxeveral more months.
Nice talk about the possibilities of the manual in the R/T, If of course, you want a manual!
01 4.7 5spd, LSD, homebrew intake, ported throttle body, AIT adjuster, no fan clutch/fan.
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BlueCC00R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
15:52:30
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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ive been driving manuals since i was 11 thats what i learned to drive with the only auto ive owned is my r/t.. except for work trucks which the other employee's couldnt drive sticks and mashed the hell out of gears. if it wasnt for the one auto dump truck that everybody seemed to choose when they took there CDL test they wouldnt even have a CDL. Employer eventually switched all rigs to Auto (damn him)
Dunner thx for all the positive remarks about this conversion i agree with you .. anybody can granade the tranny if they try hard enough but if you KNOW how to drive a manual then it should last awhile... i think what dodge was thinking when putting the auto in was to keep the kids from granading the tranny and bringing it in for warrenty
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2002
22:20:45
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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Moparjoe brought up the 318 5-speed swap, but I still think it would be easier to start with a 318 and add the 360 (or 408 while your at it) No computer problems, no cutting the floor, just pull and go. The Keisler kit listed abouve uses a Tremec 5-speed but the much heavier duty TKO. It will live behind a 426 hemi or 440. Even gets a pistol grip shifter!
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kota on 20s
GenIII
5/18/2002
04:22:10
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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isnt the T-56 a borg-warner?
how about a tiptronic tranny with the paddle shifters and all!! woooo hoooo
Eric, 98 5.2 5speed, K&N gen II, 50mm TB, 2bbl M-1, 1.7RR's, JBA ciramic headers, carsound cat, dumped gibson, and a lot more
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
5/18/2002
07:23:19
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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JEGS has a bellhousing for small block mopars that will adapt a T56, T5, powerglide, muncie (spelling?), or various richmond trannies.
but for me... i have gotten rid of the nitrous and am switching to a B&M Starlight Slapstick on the floor right between the seats (not directly in the middle but closer to the dash).
intensedak39
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2002
18:30:36
| RE: Manual Tranny R/T
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The t-5 is not strong enough, and the muncies are not overdrive. I don't know about the T56. If you though about using a muncie just use the dodge 4 speed and bellhousing out of a 60's small block. At least you wouldn't get Chevy all over your hand when you shift!
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