02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work?

Posted By: mopowergtx

02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/19/12 03:57 PM

I have a 2002 Dakota 4x4 with a 4.7L 4 speed automatic, will a 5 speed auto out of a 03 or 04 work in it? I get theyll bolt right up but will the on board computer handle the 5 speed? Was wondering if I could swap it out for the 5 speed and be able to drop the revs down up on the highway with that extra OD gear they got in 03.

Posted By: jbc426

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/19/12 04:41 PM

I'm pretty sure the computer's and software changed in '02, and they are not compatible.

I am in the process of swapping in a 2001 5.9 Magnum in my '68 a-body. From what I've found, there are no transmission reflashes available for the transmission control module for the '02 OBDII and down 46RE electronically controlled transmissions, let alone any support to upgrade to the new 5 speed auto's using the OBDII computer architecture. They are incompatible, and no one makes a stand alone, programable transmission controller for them.

A lot of people are using external electro-mechanical controls on the even older style 46RH hydraulically controlled transmissions in order to run a somewhat "programable" electro-mechanically controlled automatic with overdrive.

Look near the bottom of this page for more info. You can always call these guys and find out what they know about the swap you want. http://www.transmissioncenter.net/dodge.htm

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/19/12 06:20 PM

Pretty sure the auto has the deeper OD in it... If you're doing this swap for a bigger OD, then you're going in the wrong direction.

the automatics in the Dakota's had a .69 OD the 5-spd manuals (NV3500) has a .73 OD. You'll be turning MORE RPM in 5th gear with the stick than you will in OD with the automatic.

That said, yes you can put on into your 02, but no, you cannot over-write the auto-transmission portion of the computer, and you will have check a engine light because the computer will be looking for the OD solenoids, governor pressure solenoids, etc.

If you don't have to pass emissions, you can use SCT to overwrite the "limp mode" which will lift the "neutral rev limiter" which limits your RPM to about 4000...you'll just have to live with the CEL being on all the time.

Or, you can get the computer out of another 4.7L 5-spd truck and just swap that into yours.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/19/12 06:28 PM

Quote:

I'm pretty sure the computer's and software changed in '02, and they are not compatible.

The thing that changed was when the 5.2 was replaced with the 4.7. those computers are totally different, and cannot be swapped back and forth. For example, the 4.7 has no distributor. the 5.2 does.

that makes it difficult when working on the trucks that had both engine families as an option. for example, in say, 98, a dakota could have had a 3.9, 5.2 or a 5.9 engine (plus the 4-cylinder)

any computer for a 3.9, 5.2 or 5.9 truck can be made to work on another 3.9, 5.2 or 5.9 truck. you cannot make them work on a 4.7 though. nor will the 4.7 computer work on any of the other engines.

and in the years like 02, you could have had the 3.9 V6, the 4.7 V8, or the R/T that still had a 5.9

this gets aggravating for the guys with later R/T trucks that want to do a manual trans swap, because there is no V8, 5-spd engine computer that will work for them, whereas the guys with say, a 98 or 99 truck can grab the computer out of a 5.2/NV3500 truck and use that when they put a TKO/T56 into their Dakota R/T with a 5.9

Confused yet?

bottom line, with a 4.7 auto truck, you SHOULD be ok if you get the computer from a 4.7 manual truck.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/19/12 06:30 PM

Nevermind...I totally mis-read the first post.

I saw 5-spd and my brain thought "manual transmission" not the newer automatic from the 03/04 trucks.

Posted By: mopowergtx

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/20/12 09:23 PM

Quote:

Nevermind...I totally mis-read the first post.

I saw 5-spd and my brain thought "manual transmission" not the newer automatic from the 03/04 trucks.

But sounds like its a no go though. Sucks too I can get an A-1 03 tranny for $250 too.

I know the '02 42RE 4th gear OD ratio is .69 and the '03 has a 5th gear OD of .67 but the 4th gear is a .75, sounds like what a waste but it sure seems to make a difference in my 04 Ram 2500 having those two OD's to switch between cruising on the highway versus dropping back to the 1 to 1 gear plus you get a lower 1st gear. Oh well no biggie.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/21/12 05:38 AM

I think you are saying you want to put the trans from an 03 Dakota with the 4.7 eng and auto trans into your 02 Dakota with a 4.7 eng auto trans. I have been retired for almost 2 years and I am starting to forget some of the tranny work I did at the dealer I worked for. That should be the 45RFE trans and it could be a 4 or 5 speed from my memory. The difference was in the electronics that I remember. They took the 4 speed version and made it a 5 speed auto trans by applying different clutches to get another gear. I would have to double check this but the difference in some of the auto trans behind the 4.7 was in the electronics of the trans controller as to how the clutches were applied to get 4 or 5 forward speeds. If this is what you are asking ? In other words you could take the 4 speed auto behind the 4.7 and make it a 5 speed by changing the electronics. If I understand you correctly is that what you want to know ? Ron

Posted By: mopowergtx

Re: 02 Dakota with 4spd auto will a 03 5spd auto work? - 11/23/12 08:36 PM

Yes I wondered if I could put a 5 speed auto out of a 2003 4.7 Dakota into my 2002 4.7 Dakota that has the 4 speed auto. But since they are electronically controlled it sounds like that would be a no.