edwinsmith

Mine has the shifter problem and is now sitting with the tranny stuck in 4th. I see these rebuild kits for $450 or so but I understand the bearings require a preload that's done with shims.

I'm debating if I should just repair the shifter and bolt it back together to see how far it goes. It seems OK otherwise and the synchros are OK.

Has anyone ever done a rebuild and can you tell me the proper way to preload the bearings?

I'm also thinking if I don't do the rebuild that I could get the top off by cutting out the floor of the truck the bolting it back in with some strips of sheet steel. Anyone ever done this?

Edwin

wannadiesel

If the trans is quiet and shifted fine before it hung in 4th, there's no reason to tear it down. Pop a PTO cover off and try to move the countershaft and mainshaft fore and aft. Play means time for a rebuild.

If you want to hack the top of the trans tunnel off there's no reason you can't replace the toploader that way.

swampthang

well you can cut the floor out to pull the top the older trucks had removable center humps dont know why dodge stoped doing that but i do it to almost all the trucks i get in here just makes trans service easyer and i would definatly get the top fixed right awy before it kills the trans this one i have now only took 1,000 mile to do $2,000 in damage and it was because a shift fork was put in the top the wrong way drove fine fro 1000 mile then boom blew out fith and a bunch of other parts

edwinsmith

It's a little noisy in 4th which I gather is the countershaft rattle at low RPM's but otherwise it is quiet in top gear going down the road. I had wondered if the gears could be moved via the PTO cover. Thanks for the confirmation on that.

Edwin

G1625S

If anything, the gears on the maishaft will rattle in 4th, since there's no load on the shaft in direct and that's perfectly normal. Like Dave said, pull a PTO cover and pry back and forth on the main and counter shafts to look for play.