will a 4.7 litre tranny from a 2000 durango go into my 98 5.2 litre durango

Assuming you're talking about an automatic, I think it's unlikely that it'd work right even if it fits physically. Engines and transmissions need to be matched and also must match the control unit programming. You could check with a transmission shop if you want more information. If it's manual, and fits, it'd probably work OK even if the ratios are wrong.

I highly doubt it because the 4.7 and 5.2 engine block are so very different and that is where the transmission has to bolt.