my father has a mint 1998 dodge ram 1500 with a 360. and of course a 3 speed auto tranny. this truck has over 200,000 miles and we are just know haveing tranny problems so i consider us lucky, very lucky, but the tranny is giving us the run around and we've considered puting a standard tranny to "save hassle and expence" i am not sure if it is better to get a new 3 speed or go standard? has anybody converted sucessfully or is it too much work? is there any kits that help? if so where? keep in mind that this dodge is mint and stock(for know) so if we convert we still want it to look decent and not like a hack job  

Not the best reason to convert to a manual.  It would be difficult to do it because of trannies location relative to driver for shifting it. Anything is possible but I would not attempt this.  

get a new one and go 200k more,ittle make it!cause its a DOOODDDGGE!!!!HAPPY WHEELIN,ALTHOUGH IF I HAD FAT LOTTERY WINNINGS,ID PUT A NVG4500,BUT THATS JUST WISHFULL AND EXPENSIVE THINKING!  

You would have to have a very long, awkward and funny looking shifter to install a NV4500.  

YEA ,LIKE I THOUGHT MORE TROUBLE CONVERTING THAN A FACTORY JOBBIE.  

ok, so if i get a new auto tranny is there any other things i should upgrade to get more performance. maybe a performer tranny or anything to get more power while i have the tranny ripped out.  

If you want more USABLE power, regear rear axle ratio deeper. Nothing will give you more bang for buck than this. Stock from factory it is likely pretty long legged. A custom tranny is not going to give you any more "power"  

put a shift kit in it. and make sure the guy is stand up.  id put a deep pan also in it.   I had a 97 that went 160k with heavy heavy abuse.  that was one of my favorite trucks.  
i dont see dodge having any more problems with there trucks then chevy and ford guys do.  i see chevy having the most trans problems. i personally know 4 guys who have had to have there trans rebuilt and one guy is on his 3rd  

Shift kits do not give you any power. Also, there is more Chevy tranny problems because more of them are lifted and NOT properly re-geared for bigger tires and tranny fries and it is blamed not configuration. 700R4's and 4L60 have a deep first gear (for a auto) and a tall OD. The deep first gear will still launch a pretty tall effective drive ratio but then in upper gear tranny strains and rides stall and slow bakes. It is easier to blame tranny than end user though because many think big tires make you heavy duty when they really make you lighter duty because of increased drive line stress that must be considered.