Good suggestions/options so far. One thought: If you decide to go the wrecking yard (mid-90s Dakota/Ram Magnum) route, keep in mind that many of them ended up there because the transmissions from that era were notorious for crapping out. Food for thought.
hints why i said "wrecked" lol but if you were concerned about that, take the engine magnum engine out, then find you a 518 from a yard and put in. that's what my buddy did for his 77 ramcharger.
