Retain factory speedometer with 47RH trans

[Iceman0502]

Hi All,

I'm on this forum all the time taking in information for my own 6bt swap. I really have to start a build thread, but want to get a little further along before I do.

I started with a 82 wagoneer that was given to us by a family member that needed a major resto. As gas prices went up I decided to switch to diesel. Well it was cheaper to buy a 94 dodge ram with a cummins and switch all the parts and restore the truck at the same time.

The entire driveline from the dodge is going into the wagoneer including dana 60 front and 70 rear. Last night we placed the motor in between the frame and will fab up some mounts this weekend.

My question is can I possibly hook up the existing mechanical speedometer in the wagoneer by switching the existing mechanical unit in the tailshaft of the 727 tranny into the tailshaft of the 47RH tranny. So essentially remove the electrical speedometer sensor with the mechanical and continue to use my original waggy speedo?

If not what other suggestions do you guys have.

I will post pics of the build soon.

[Carnuck]

The speedo is in the tcase and not the trans. You may want a '91 Wrangler speed sensor. It's a pass through with electronic signal generator too. That's what I got to put HO EFI in my '84 J10.

[Resbum]

Hi Iceman, I look forward to seeing your build. I'm putting a '94 6BT and 47RH in my truck. I went with a '91 Dodge front Dana 60 and NP205.

You might google Tacoma Speedometer and give them a call. Mark is extremely knowledgable and could probably offer a solution to your question.

Resbum

[Iceman0502]

Thanks for the help.

I will try to your suggestions and check out the YJ speedometer sensor. I tried taken the sensor out of the 727 and putting it into the transfer case from the dodge ram, but the diameter of the 727 sensor is bigger than the ram's.

I do know that the ram uses the same speed sensor as a 98 grand cherokee ZJ. I had to do a motor swap not to long ago. So if the YJ sensor is the same as the ZJ then I am in good luck.

This weekend I am making up my motor mounts. What a pain. The motor has to be set back just enough to clear a electric fan to replace the mechanical fan. The drivetrain is just to long before it hits the gas tank. So it looks like I am going to a suburban fuel tank.

I'l let you know in the upcomming weeks what happens with the speed sensor.

[lobie]

Start a build thread! We love pics and shooting "diesel" ideas back and forth.

Pics!

[Resbum]

X2

[Iceman0502]

I feel so smart.

Today after working on the yard and moving 4 yards of dirt and mulch, I went to the garage for a bit.

I found a few things out. The dodge ram uses a NP241 DLD transfer case. The DLD means light duty and does not have a PTO on it. This means that you can actually buy a sye.

Anyway, I must have missed my medication the other day, becuase tonight i was able to take the mechanical speedo and pop it right into the np241 and it spins which is awesome !!

Also I decided not to go ahead with the dana 60 and 70 fo now and use the stock axles for a while. I really don't like the front dana 60 on a dodge ram with the stupid CAD. Looking for new axles at this point is not in the budget. I guess the budget will open up if the stock axles breaks. or upgrades!

The ram np 241 uses a vacum operated switch that runs to the front CAD which then has a switch for the 4wd indicator. So I took the indicator switch out of my stock np219 and it fit right into the np241. I even tested it.

This means that I am able to take the 6BT/ stock 47rh/ stock np241 - change the speedometer and 4wd indiactor switch and add manual locking front hubs and retain all the factory gauges. I will be using the dodge ram computer and engine harness to control the lock up/ overdrive/ voltage/ grid heater/ and i'm sure i' m probably missing something else. Just have to find out if the electric speed interface (the electric interface on the speedo cable that controls the crusie control) have the same pulse as the stock dodge speedo and hook that to the dodge computer.

I'm working on the build thread, but its been hard to find time and make the build. But its comming.

[tndonor]

Depending on what your intentions are for the truck, you dont have to discount the CAD Dana 60.

You can get CAD delete kits if thats your concern. Also keep in mind the CAD is not the weak link when the sled pullers pushing 1000 HP hook up.

Doing the above does not get you manual lock outs. Which you can piece together parts from a BJ Ford Dana 60. I did this on my Daily driver 98 12v 2500. I picked up about 2 mpg more but did it as the cost of replacing unit bearings was more that swapping to the Ford components.