a bunch of junk yards will only sell you a 97 trans for a 97 because the connectors that plug into the engine harness are specific for that year only.

i currently have a 92 aw4 in my 97. the only thing i had to do was swap the wiring harness and one shift solenoid. the shift solenoids are the same design and connectors inside just they have different angles on them where they plug in. it was no big deal and took me about 20 min to swap the harness and replace the filter screen.

i will have to say this though.... i only swapped the harness because the harness from the junk yard trans was cut. you can actually just push the pins out of the connectors and swap the connectors on the trans harness where it plugs into the engine harness. they are the same pins, and if i remember correctly the same color wires. that might take you all of 5 mins. to do.

the 97 transmissions do sell for around $450-$700 at the junk yards where i got my 92 at the JY for $250.

still, my 97 runs great and other that normal wear and tear has been a good truck. the trans failure was caused from lack of service by the previous owner.

 

I got it going; thanks for that tip where do u mean; these dont have the bulkhead at the firewall like the older Mopars did; they have huge grommets where the wire harnesses go thru the firewall in 4 locations (well 3; the 4th one goes to the cowl and feeds the wiper motor)
the bulkheads are under the dash. (1) above brake pedal (1) at TCM and (2) plugs in passenger kick panel that pass thru the firewall. which is most likely for this to happen at?
I have changed this harness 3 times; (1)98 harness wont work on a 97; tranny plugs and # of wires at them are different; (2) early 97 "SPORT" harness (prod date in 1996) no prongs in the underhood fusebox for the foglights and (3) put my original harness back on once I found the real problem

as far as the tranny differences noted a few posts up; from what I have found 97 is same tranny as older models; only difference being the wire harness plug itself; take the one from teh 97 and put on the older tranny and youre good; 98-newer are different from 97-down, and cant swap out; more wires on the newer tranny...