Yes if you look at the pics in the first post, look at the pictures of the bottom of the shifter. You can see when looking at the opposite sides that parts are missing from one side. The parts were found in the bottom of the trans and it appears they took out some gears on their journey. Several of the parts are just held with a little tack weld. One builder I talked to said he welds them better on any trans he builds where the customer wants to retain the factory shifter.
Truck has its 3rd clutch in it right now with maybe 10k miles on it. Exact mileage is noted somewhere. The original clutch didn’t last long. I deleted and tuned the truck when the truck had 10-15k miles on it. Shortly following that hp and torque gain the clutch would no longer hold 4th gear. I put a Valair dual disk in at that time. Somewhere around 120k miles I put another valair dual disk in. I considered swapping to a south bend that time but would’ve had to by their hydraulics also so I went valair again since I already had valairs hydraulics. Next time I might go ahead and try a south bend. I bought the truck new in 2010 and I intend to own it forever. Sometimes I question that because the truck hasn’t depreciated that much but the cost difference to replace it would be ridiculous, I don’t want/need the latest interior design and I can run with any new one loaded. Some of the above mileage numbers may be off just a tick cuz I do know it just rolled past 140k.
I’ve let a few vehicles go in the last 20 years that I ended regretting I sold. I just sold one last weekend to offset this transmission for this truck. It was a 98 suburban 4x4 leather and all. I bought it from the original owner and it rode awesome down the road. I actually preferred riding in it over my wife’s Escalade but I kinda had 3 personal vehicles and my main one being the dodge truck needed work. As far as using it I won’t miss the suburban I reckon but I liked admiring how good of shape it was in for 25 years old.
What’s strange is if you fix all the issues behind the 47/48 autos, they’re some of the most preferred units for guys building big numbers in pulling trucks.
I’m pretty sure that Dodge was the last one to offer a manual behind a diesel and that was 2018 or 19.
