So I was looking for an A500 / 42rh

Been researching the subject and where to find this transmission. But I failed to analyze enough pictures to know the difference between a 500 and a 518. :banghead: So I go meet a guy with a trans out of a 1992 318 Dakota. He tells me it's an A500 with 221,000kms on it. It's a good deal with converter and flex plate for $250. So I grab it. Well I get it home and now I start to look closer and I'm quite sure it's an A518. The trans has a casting on top with 91 and 92 on it, so I believe the year is right, just not the trans. Did Dakotas come with A518's? All the stuff I read indicated A500 except in about 1996 where they had an A518 in the Dakota R/T. I'm not sure if I should be bitching or smiling, but, now I have no idea of the actual mileage, if it is a replacement transmission and I'm pretty sure I don't have a lockup converter. I read that all 500's were lockup's. I am only going by oil pan shape and photos I have now looked at on here. I believe the body is very different between the two?? with the slashes on one side being common to 518's. Anyway, I guess I can just be glad it's small block pattern, just went and looked in the middle of typing this! I haven't read into this trans swap, but I think it will be just about the same. So pics attached, will anybody confirm my deciphering? Thanx.

Looks like a 518 to me.
My 518 has the converter lockup feature as well.
I will see if I have any pictures of my transmission prior to installing it.
Todd

Confirmed... you have a 518 there. The jut out area where the filler tube, Only 518s and 727s have that.
500s and 904s have a strait case and pan at that location.

.............Yup 518........u can tell if its lock up by the end of the input shaft...if the last 3/4 in" is machined flat its a lock up, if splines all the way, its non l u......kim...

The A500 can be found behind the 3.9L Dakotas, and the 4-cylinder dakotas too and late 80's/early 90's D50's too.

The A518 was in 5.2L/318 Dakotas, I've never heard of a 500 behind a 318 in a factory dakota, they always had 518's (or a NV3500 5-speed manual starting in 94)

Thanx all. I have also checked the input shaft and it does have the recessed splines, so I guess it is a lock up. I guess I will just have to put a little more horse power in front of it, than I had intended, to justify the bigger transmission. :cheers: