transmission swaps

[DBCooper]

Anyone swapped an auto for a 5 or6 speed? Mine is getting old and I thought I'd look into this before I take it up to Bill K. What do you do with the computer for the trans? I assume it runs both the trans and the dash. Thanks

Dan

 

[TSielski]

I had the good folks at Autowurks Diesel swap my auto for a 5-speed in my 95 a few years ago. Best thing ever done to the truck. If you are speaking of the vehicle ECM, (which on my 95 only controlled the shift to OD, as the trans was a 47RH), I had to replace mine with the unit for a manual equipped truck, because doing so is the only way the cruise controll will still function.

Suspect the same would be true for your truck. Your ECM just controlls more of the electronically controlled transmission's operation, in addition to the speedo and cruise, etc.

 

[DuallyDean]

TSielski--

I didn't have the good folks from anywhere do my transmission swap (which is not 100% complete because the auto is still out for rebuild). What I learned from doing it myself is that, hands down, it is much easier to have a complete donor vehicle. It would be easier to switch from the auto to a stick, but much harder to switch the other way. I elected to purchace another truck (hey, if one Cummins is good, two is better!) to do my swap.

I wanted a 5sp in my '94 Dually, so I located a used '94 3/4 ton with a stick. Here's what had to be swapped to the DUALLY to convert it to a STICK:

1) transfer case (input shaft splines are different)

2) driveshafts (mine are both 4x4, same wheelbase, but trans/transfer length is different)

3) plug water to trans oil cooler coolant lines, remove both coolers and lines (do you realize the air to oil cooler can't be removed unless the front bumper is removed?)

4) swap engine compartment powertrain wiring harnesses

NOTE: the wiring for the auto transmission does not exist in the stick harness, so a swap TO the stick would not require step 3 & 4, but I needed these for the other truck.

5) Swap steering column and clutch/brake pedal bracket (also remove the gear position indicator from instrument cluster)

6) (for stick) install clutch master and slave cylinder and resevoir.

7)(for stick) cut floorpan to acomadate gearshift lever, aquire shift boots. I swapped carpets and had to fill in the hole on the other truck to put the auto in.

8) remove jumper from harness and plug into the Clutch Safety Switch.

9) remove TPS and mount from throttle linkage, also T. V. cable (for stick) (add for auto)



There is much more to do if you want the conversion to look truly "clean". My main point is that I was stunned by all the "little things" I never thought about needing when I was considering just buying the parts for the conversion. My advice is to buy a donor vehicle of the same model year and swap trannies between the two, then resell the donor as an automatic. The amount you lose in the resell would most likely be less than buying all the parts outright. (the shift boot assembly, which is 2 pieces, alone will cost over $120. 00). Driveshaft lengthening and rebalancing (2 shafts if 4x4) will run a couple hundred. Do you need to buy a clutch? pressure plate? bellhousing? Gearshift lever? It may well be cheaper to sell your truck and buy a different one.

Having said all that, I can tell you I was stunned by the performance improvement the stick gave me in the dually (249 hp / 615 lbs-ft on the dyno). I never realized how much power that torque converter uses up to heat up that transmission fluid.

Research your options and costs carefully and if you decide to go ahead plan for 30-50 hours of work if you do it yourself. Drop me a line if you have any questions & I'll help you out if I can. Good Luck!

 

[Sled Puller]

www.enterpriseengine.com do transmission swaps.



Also, HVAC did one a while back. Do a search.

Gene

 

[DieselB59]

Well, I agree with the above EXCEPT, you don't need to remove the front bumper in every single case when you want to remove the transmission air-to-oil cooler. In most cases it can be wiggled out. Sometimes, though, you'll need to loosen the bumper just to help it get by. If so, mark everything for its positon as these bumpers are a real pain to get looking right once again.

 

[DuallyDean]

Chris--

Boy I want to know your secret with that cooler! I tried for 45 minutes to wiggle that sucker out, but the fins started to tell the tale of the struggle so I gave in. I know EXACTLY what you mean about the bumper alignment. My Dually's was never straight, even from the factory. Wimpy construction too, don't you think?



P. S. Congrats on the 11. 54 -- must be quite a rush to pilot that thing!

 

[DieselB59]

The one thing that I remember all the time when these trucks get stubborned is that they are all different. Amazingly... . some you can get the fan out without touching the shroud, and others... . I don't think so. The same goes with the transmission cooler. If you're gonna remove the bumper, attack the four nuts that hold it onto its brackets from the inside of the bumper, then after it's out of the way, you can mark the brackets on the frame and then toss them out.

As far as piloting the beast... . here goes. You leave the line so hard that it slams you into the door so hard that you struggle to shift the ratchet style automatic transmission floor shifter into second gear. Blink your eyes and you've gotta grab third and ditto for fourth. Then, you realize that "oh God, I'm running out of shutdown area... . time to floorboard the brakes!" John Force..... I can only imagine what you're going through in 1/3rd the time I am.

 

[DBCooper]

Thanks for the input. I really don't want to take this job on myself. That is the reason that I bought the truck in the first place, so that it wasn't a project like all my other trucks turn out to be. Kinda a drive it and leave it sort of thing except for maint. For those of you who have had the trans swapped, what's a ballpark for the costs? I'll probably just go with the DTT stuff and forget it, but I thought I'd look into the 5 or 6 speed first. Thanks again.

 

[DuallyDean]

DBCooper--

I asked that very same question when I was researching my "project". I came across Paul Scharf advertizing in the TDR classifieds that he had Ram drivetrain parts. This is the reply I got. I never persued the lead any farther, because I found a whole truck I opted to buy. Therefore I don't know how complete the "kit" would be.



a 4x4 5sp tra "kit" would be about $ 2000.



Paul Scharf -- email address removed --

Don Scharf Automotive, Inc. 800 338 4002

870 Hwy 17 South, Eagle River, WI 54521



Sounds to me like you'd be happier to just install a well-built automatic. Just my two cents: don't skimp on the Torque Convertor. A good one will run you about a grand alone.