Have to replace 2001 R/T transmission

charlesh · Post by **charlesh** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:45 pm

I'm shopping for a used transmission. Which transmissions will go into my 2001 R/T?

I thought the 2001--2003 R/Ts used the same transmission. But I saw this table (http://sun.science.wayne.edu/~jwaleke/trans/) and the part numbers are different for each year. Which years of the PT cruiser use the same transmission, and will they go right in without any modification? Which other cars used the same transmission?

OB · Post by OB » Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:20 pm

The Neon is the only car that came with a 3.94 T-350 (what is in your R/T). While the 3.55 T-350 (SE, SXT) will bolt up, it does have a different final drive ratio. You should be able to use any manual trans from 00-05. Whether you keep the (better) 3.94 gear ratio or not is up to you. You can find the 3.94 in all R/T and ACR Neons 01-04. Clutches, axles, etc are all interchangeable and will work with either. I think the sensors are the same even through the PCM changeover in 03, but I could be wrong. I do believe they can simply be swapped over if needed though.

I know some of the PT cars use T-350's, but I don't know the specifics. I'm almost positive that they only came with the 3.55 gearing though. Hopefully someone else knows for sure.

charlesh · Post by **charlesh** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:41 pm

I may be willing to change to 3.55 because I hear they get better mileage. Prefer to not make a change, though. Dollar$ have the final say.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:57 pm

The '02 and up PT's came with the 3.94 gearing, but with the 0.74 fifth gear. The R/T t350 had the 0.81 fifth. The PT unit will give you about the same fifth as the 3.55 t350 with the 0.81 So you will keep the same get up and go through 4th, but get better mileage in fifth.

The '03 and up t350 3.55's have the 0.74 fifth. Compared to your 3.94/0.81, you will lose some serious pull in fifth gear. If you have to go 3.55, try for an '01/'02. They are 0.81

I got close to 40 or better highway (0.81) before the Magnum head swap. The 0.74 may put the RPM's too low with the cam profile for optimum torque. Fuel mileage would suffer if the RPM's are below the torque curve . Plus you will hate life.

I may still get close to the mileage, since the coil I had swapped when I did the head has crapped out, and most likely was contributing factor in fuel economy....

OB · Post by OB » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:05 am

The 03+ 5th gear was 0.72. Per my FSM it looks like the .81 remained in the 03-04 3.94 (RT)

Good call on the PT with the 3.94. I had no idea they came with the more mileage friendly overdrive ratio! That would make the PT 3.94 easily the best option for performance on a daily driven car. Also never heard of the 00-02 3.55's having the .81, I thought that was an export and 3.94 gearset only. Is that info from an FSM?

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:03 am

So the best option is looking for a 02+ PT 5speed?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:50 am

Let me clairify this a bit. Taken from a Chrysler Transaxle Cross-Reference Guide.

2000 Neon T350 (up to 2/2000) .72 5th gear

2000 Neon T350HD (after 2/2000) .81 5th gear

2001-2002 Neon Base T350HD .81 5th gear

2003-2005 Neon Base T350HD .72 5th gear

2001-2004 Neon R/T & A/C T350HD .81 5th gear

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:51 am

Bah, so I was .02:1 off. Late night posting FTL.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:22 pm

OB wrote:The Neon is the only car that came with a 3.94 T-350

The non-turbo 95-99 eclipse/talon and avenger/sebring had the 3.94 T-350 as well, but the bell housing on the 2g neons is stronger.

Post by **Diablo0** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:30 pm

viewtopic.php?p=16565#16565

OB · Post by OB » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:02 am

Donkeypuncher wrote:
OB wrote:The Neon is the only car that came with a 3.94 T-350
The non-turbo 95-99 eclipse/talon and avenger/sebring had the 3.94 T-350 as well, but the bell housing on the 2g neons is stronger.

No kidding!? Next someone is gonna tell me the Cirrus had a 3.94 option!

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:09 pm

Diablo0 wrote:viewtopic.php?p=16565#16565

TomZ wrote:With the PT trans you get the same gearing as the R/T 1-4. The effective final drive is almost identical to that of a 3.55. Nice compromise for a daily driver. You will need to reuse the Neon bellhousing. No need to purchase the PT.

Just to note:
Not sure what Tom meant back then, but the PT trans bellhousing will work for 2001 and up. He may have been thinking about the previous post about the 1gn...