42RH/A500 questions - 4WD vs 2WD

[halfafish]

Hi all. I am continuing my path towards putting a 42RH in my 72 Coronet wagon. I am having trouble locating a 42RH locally, either as a core or a running unit. That said..........

I found a local 96 Ram 1500 that went into a corner too fast and laid over on the driver's side. The damage was enough to total the truck but the drivetrain is good. The engine and trans still runs and drives. That's the good news, so I went to get eyeballs on it today. It's for sure the right trans, but the bad news is it's a 4WD truck with a married transfer case - I thought it was a 2WD. For those who have been down this path before (@TrailBeast , @str12-340) is the 4WD business a deal killer?

I have been in contact with a local trans rebuilder that was going to put one of these together for me but his two core 42RH units both had internal water damage making them junk. If he still has the tailshaft parts, can that be swapped out with the 4WD and transfer case business?

Or, bottom line, should I just keep looking for a 2WD version.

TIA for the help for this transmission newby!

 

[TrailBeast]

Hi all. I am continuing my path towards putting a 42RH in my 72 Coronet wagon. I am having trouble locating a 42RH locally, either as a core or a running unit. That said..........

I found a local 96 Ram 1500 that went into a corner too fast and laid over on the driver's side. The damage was enough to total the truck but the drivetrain is good. The engine and trans still runs and drives. That's the good news, so I went to get eyeballs on it today. It's for sure the right trans, but the bad news is it's a 4WD truck with a married transfer case - I thought it was a 2WD. For those who have been down this path before (@TrailBeast , @str12-340) is the 4WD business a deal killer?

I have been in contact with a local trans rebuilder that was going to put one of these together for me but his two core 42RH units both had internal water damage making them junk. If he still has the tailshaft parts, can that be swapped out with the 4WD and transfer case business?

Or, bottom line, should I just keep looking for a 2WD version.

TIA for the help for this transmission newby!

The 2wd version sure would be a lot simpler and less expensive in the end.

Besides, it’s a pretty big risk having someone in your trans (no matter who it is)
Just too many greedy flakes out there.

 

[mbaird]

2wd Dakotas / maybe 318 B1500s with 318 are best bet .

 

[JDMopar]

Isn't the difference between 2wd and 4wd, the tail housing only? Asking because I have heard that, but don't know for sure. I know that a 545RFE works that way.

 

[Bobzilla]

The overdrive assembly needs to be swapped to do this, but you have to find a rear wheel drive trans to get those parts anyways, so just wait for a whole one to show up.
Check with your local full service auto recycler or junk yard. They have a parts locator where they can get one shipped in from another yard that has one. See if that cost is acceptable.

 

[volaredon]

You're not going to want that 96 trans anyway that was first year for "RE" model. You want 95 at the newest.
I know of a 91-93 D150 in my local yard with an A500/42 RH in it. But a half a country away from you... As many Dakota's as they made in surprised how they seemed to dry up and go *poof*...

 

[str12-340]

can't help you with the 2WD/4WD question, but I thought that I would pass along that I got my RH42 rebuilt at River City Transmissions there in Portland...

 

[halfafish]

can't help you with the 2WD/4WD question, but I thought that I would pass along that I got my RH42 rebuilt at River City Transmissions there in Portland...

Thanks, I'll give them a call.

I decided to pass on the 4WD trans, too much busywork making it fit.

 

[volaredon]

Not really. As long as you don't mix RH/RE swapping tailshafts is easy.