OK, you wanna make a Dodge automatic live? This is how you do it. First, if the previous owner hasn't done so, then get a shift kit for it. The best place I can tell you to go to get the right one is the TDR website, ( http://www.turbodieselregister.com/ ). These guys know how to make these trannies live, even behind MASSIVELY built engines. Then you buy the LARGEST tranny cooler you can find and fit in the truck. Make sure that you run it in tandem with the one already installed. Finallly, when you are towing, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER tow with it in OD. The OD units in these trannies were tacked in way back in the rear of the tranny, and were not lubed well enough to dissipate the heat they generated while towing. The result was a grenading OD planetary gearset. This means you are not going to be Speedy Gonzales on the highway while towing. If this is a problem, then look for an early model with a 3 speed auto.

Otherwise, I'd say be patient, or expand your search area. You will be happier with alot less fuss with a 5 speed stick. The GM automatic will be no better option, as they were worse reliability wise than the Dodge.

Chassis wise, if you find one that has been taken care of, it will be fine. Using mine as an example, you would be hard pressed to tell visually that my truck has 100K on the clock. I don't have a single squieak, rattle, or chatter in my truck to be found anywhere. Chrysler had issues initially with not making the frames quite strong enough for the engine, and was twisting them. They had this fixed by the new body style (94).