thanks Code58. i appriciate your input. im gonna pony up the $$ for the 8 piece kit. i already bought the timing belt tensioner, so im good there (i hope). i will be pulling it into the garage for a mojor once over. im doing the kit, pan gasket, input shaft on trans (leaks) plugs and trans fluid and filter. gonna be fun . next, i get to do the timing chain, waterpump and plenum and intake gaskets on my 99 ram 1500. woohoo.