[Rattlenbang]

There seems to be a lack of info out there regarding the Magna T355 tranny and interchange between the 4WD and 2WD versions. I couldn't find a definitive answer online although the question had been asked before. Sadly, I'm here to let the world know they are NOT the same. Although they are both the same transmission number, the case is different on the 4WD versions where the transfer case bolts to it.
It's a real PITA as good used 4WD versions of the manual tranny are rare and expensive while 2WD versions are plentiful and cheap. But looking at them it appears that only the bellhousing half of the case is different and it *should* be possible to swap case halves and get a 2WD version work with a 4WD vehicle.
The trick is finding a good case half to swap because when these go, chunks usually end up falling into the diff section and there's very little clearance between the main diff gear and the case, and they typically blow out the case. And of course that's the case half that's unique to the 4WD. That's what happened to my 2007 Pat.
I picked up a 2WD transmission from a Caliber very cheap and I'm going to try swapping case halves. I'll either get the hole in my old case welded or I'll try to find a core that still has a good case, whichever is cheaper. Dealer prices are through the roof for the bellhousing side case halves so it's not worth going that route. Luckily all the tranny workings stay with the other case half and the bellhousing half just lifts off, so swapping them is simple.

 

[Sandstone]

Thanks for the info, let us know how it works out.

 

[Rattlenbang]

So I found a good core without a blown out case. My old case couldn't be welded. Interestingly the core had the exact same problem as mine: the output shaft bearing exploded. This seems to be a weak point with these transmissions. Maybe the extra load of the AWD is too much for what amounts to a marginal design.
What I discovered was that the differential is also unique, with a much larger bearing on the side facing the PTU. Other than that the diff is the same and swaps over into the 2-wheel-drive case without a problem.
Since the output shaft bearing is mounted on the case half that needs to be swapped over, and the one in my core was toast, I pulled the good bearing from the 2-wheel-drive case half that I'll be tossing. It was a real PITA getting that unit out. Swap the case over and it's done. All told it cost me about $1000 to repair this blown tranny, way cheaper than buying a used or new AWD manual. The key is finding a core that hasn't blown out the case. They are around. Swap the case half and diff over to a Dodge Caliber unit and you're good to go.

 

[BigO]

This is a good conversion. Do you think the 6 speed manual tranny from srt4 Caliber would also work? Im trying to replace my 4wd tranny with the 2wd tranny from the SRT4. Was wondering if it would also work.

 

[Sandstone]

This is a good conversion. Do you think the 6 speed manual tranny from srt4 Caliber would also work? Im trying to replace my 4wd tranny with the 2wd tranny from the SRT4. Was wondering if it would also work.

Nope, don't think so.

SRT4 6 speed (Getrag DMT-6) is a completely different transmission than the Magna T355.

 

[BigO]

Thanks, but it has the same bell housing like the bolt pattern isn't it? Im deleting the 4wd (PTU) and just make use of the Front wheel. Hope this would work since the T355 is known for cracking like mine.

 

[Sandstone]

It might bolt to the engine, but the frame mounts, axles, shifter, etc. are likely different.

You might try asking on the Caliber forum. Someone there might have done a T335 / Getrag 6 speed swap.

 

[dave d]

Just finished doing the same swap i put a gear box from a 08 2wd into my 09 bellhousing 4x4 and it is working great. i am fairly certain that the gear boxes are identical from 08-10 regardless of 2wd or 4x4 cofiguration. 07 looks the same but internally the gear selector is made of different material. Not sure if it would work with an 07 to other years i have swapped one into a 09 patriot but i took everything with it transmission shifter cables and gear shifter. It worked great not sure what would happen had i not swapped everything over. i am fully aware however that with case to bellhousing swaps i have no way of measuring the proper pre load on the differential tappered bearing i am hoping that it will last awhile as i doubt that it is too tight given the mileage of both units.

 

[jessenorth]

hi does the transfer case come off with no hassles

 

[jessenorth]

is it hard to swap diff over 2wd ones

 

[Yuriy Zmushko]

Thanks for the post!
Seems to me I will have to go this way.
Please, tell me, after such a swapping - does it stay 4x4, or becomes 2WD?

 

[surfer ron]

There seems to be a lack of info out there regarding the Magna T355 tranny and interchange between the 4WD and 2WD versions. I couldn't find a definitive answer online although the question had been asked before. Sadly, I'm here to let the world know they are NOT the same. Although they are both the same transmission number, the case is different on the 4WD versions where the transfer case bolts to it.
It's a real PITA as good used 4WD versions of the manual tranny are rare and expensive while 2WD versions are plentiful and cheap. But looking at them it appears that only the bellhousing half of the case is different and it should be possible to swap case halves and get a 2WD version work with a 4WD vehicle.
The trick is finding a good case half to swap because when these go, chunks usually end up falling into the diff section and there's very little clearance between the main diff gear and the case, and they typically blow out the case. And of course that's the case half that's unique to the 4WD. That's what happened to my 2007 Pat.
I picked up a 2WD transmission from a Caliber very cheap and I'm going to try swapping case halves. I'll either get the hole in my old case welded or I'll try to find a core that still has a good case, whichever is cheaper. Dealer prices are through the roof for the bellhousing side case halves so it's not worth going that route. Luckily all the tranny workings stay with the other case half and the bellhousing half just lifts off, so swapping them is simple.

you said their are a lot of 2wd t355 around but all the ones i found are all over $2000.00 and up and none are around florida let me know where i can get a cheap one

 

[dave d]

There seems to be a lack of info out there regarding the Magna T355 tranny and interchange between the 4WD and 2WD versions. I couldn't find a definitive answer online although the question had been asked before. Sadly, I'm here to let the world know they are NOT the same. Although they are both the same transmission number, the case is different on the 4WD versions where the transfer case bolts to it.
It's a real PITA as good used 4WD versions of the manual tranny are rare and expensive while 2WD versions are plentiful and cheap. But looking at them it appears that only the bellhousing half of the case is different and it should be possible to swap case halves and get a 2WD version work with a 4WD vehicle.
The trick is finding a good case half to swap because when these go, chunks usually end up falling into the diff section and there's very little clearance between the main diff gear and the case, and they typically blow out the case. And of course that's the case half that's unique to the 4WD. That's what happened to my 2007 Pat.
I picked up a 2WD transmission from a Caliber very cheap and I'm going to try swapping case halves. I'll either get the hole in my old case welded or I'll try to find a core that still has a good case, whichever is cheaper. Dealer prices are through the roof for the bellhousing side case halves so it's not worth going that route. Luckily all the tranny workings stay with the other case half and the bellhousing half just lifts off, so swapping them is simple.

i did just that with my transmission and it works fine it has a little bit of a whine to it as i did not set the clearance on the crown bearings prior to installation.

 

[SlowSnail30]

There seems to be a lack of info out there regarding the Magna T355 tranny and interchange between the 4WD and 2WD versions. I couldn't find a definitive answer online although the question had been asked before. Sadly, I'm here to let the world know they are NOT the same. Although they are both the same transmission number, the case is different on the 4WD versions where the transfer case bolts to it.
It's a real PITA as good used 4WD versions of the manual tranny are rare and expensive while 2WD versions are plentiful and cheap. But looking at them it appears that only the bellhousing half of the case is different and it should be possible to swap case halves and get a 2WD version work with a 4WD vehicle.
The trick is finding a good case half to swap because when these go, chunks usually end up falling into the diff section and there's very little clearance between the main diff gear and the case, and they typically blow out the case. And of course that's the case half that's unique to the 4WD. That's what happened to my 2007 Pat.
I picked up a 2WD transmission from a Caliber very cheap and I'm going to try swapping case halves. I'll either get the hole in my old case welded or I'll try to find a core that still has a good case, whichever is cheaper. Dealer prices are through the roof for the bellhousing side case halves so it's not worth going that route. Luckily all the tranny workings stay with the other case half and the bellhousing half just lifts off, so swapping them is simple.

Do you remember who you bought the awd five speed trans from?

 

[Matt Brennan]

I have a 2013 4wd Jeep Patriot, and unfortunately I trusted someone I never used for repairs before on a referral from someone. Prior to the following ordeal a new drive shaft was put in. Ok, Here we go, a guy had towed my car after I barely made it home in January 2020, it was crawling in drive at like 5 miles an hour out of the clear blue. The tow guy told me the tranny was bad and that if I found a replacement he would put it in for me. I found a shop in SC that rebuilds these all the time and purchased a remanufactuted one and shipped it to the guys shop. I will try to be brief, the car was bucking and felt like the rear ended was going to fall out right after I got it back from the tranny being replaced. I took it back to him multiple times and he changed motor mounts and there was no change still a mess, then he told me it was the CVonteol arm, and I said thanks and never went back. Since then I have had other shops change the rear differential, rear cross member and almost everything attached to it. I still have an intermittent rumble on uphill grades. Other than it being something electrical, I realized the guy who changed the tranny had told me his girlfriends tranny in her Patriot was bad too. He mistakenly said to me several times that my vehicle was an AWD, which it is not, I bought it new and I’m the only owner and it is 4WD, with a 4WD emblem and differential locking LVER by the park brake. I have a suspicion that the guy may have ojlled a fast one and put his girlfriends POS tranny in my car anc my new tranny in hers, and maybe hers was an AWD and that is why I am having these problems. If anyone gets this I would appreciate thoughts and if anyone knows how I can visual inspect the transmission and tellnif he put his girlfriends AWD into my 4WD jeep please let me know, thanks.

 

[Sandstone]

First off, I presume you have the CVT automatic and not the 5 speed manual.

There's only FWD and 4WD, which is sometimes referred to as AWD.

A FWD transmission won't bolt up to the PTU / transfer case on a 4WD, and a 4wd transmission won't work in a FWD.

From the factory CVT training manual:

If you have paperwork for the transmission you bought, hopefully it will have the factory ID tag info on it so you can compare it to the one on top of the transmission (see below) and see if the correct transmission was installed. You may have to take the air filter box out to see it.

 

[Matt Brennan]

Sandstone, Your answer and details are exactly what I had hoped to get so I can eliminate the possibility, thank you.

 

[Sandstone]

Sure, you're welcome.

 

[Idonkypunchdurgurl]

you said their are a lot of 2wd t355 around but all the ones i found are all over $2000.00 and up and none are around florida let me know where i can get a cheap one

I'm in GA and have been searching for one of these "plentiful and cheap" 2wd t355 now for the better part of two years. So to the OP: if you would kindly direct us fwd owners to this surplus of 2wd t355 we would be very appreciative. I haven't found one, first, in my state, second, for under $1200 used with 150k or more and some of those that fall into that price/milage range are broken and need to be repaired! A remaned T355 2wd is $3550 before shipping. I'm seriously thinking of buying the bearing/seal/synchronizer kit for $350 the repair manual for another $50 and just rebuild my own.

 

[Speedracer211vw]

I'm in GA and have been searching for one of these "plentiful and cheap" 2wd t355 now for the better part of two years. So to the OP: if you would kindly direct us fwd owners to this surplus of 2wd t355 we would be very appreciative. I haven't found one, first, in my state, second, for under $1200 used with 150k or more and some of those that fall into that price/milage range are broken and need to be repaired! A remaned T355 2wd is $3550 before shipping. I'm seriously thinking of buying the bearing/seal/synchronizer kit for $350 the repair manual for another $50 and just rebuild my own.

I have an extra 2wd manual trans., the output shaft bearing made an escape on mine and all I could find was a 2wd trans. Well I picked up an auto 08 Patriot for 700 and sure enough I found three manual 4wd trans in the junk yard. I pulled one yesterday and may go back and pull the other two if they are still there tomorrow or early next week. It took me a year and a half to find a manual 4wd trans. I could get it down to Athens Georgia for free, but that wouldn’t be until early June. Otherwise I would put it on a pallet and I know shipping will not be cheap. My 07 is manual 4wd and it would figure once I bought another Patriot I would find the trans. Driving the wrangler with 5.13 gears is expensive.