Need an expert on 90s 3500hd dually trucks

[LynnB]

As some of you guys know (or forgot, as I am not on here often) I have a 49 Studebaker 1 ton with dump bed. I swapped in the engine and trans from a 1972 C60. Problem is the trans is a NP542L, meaning I have no OD. With the factory (Studebaker) 6.66:1 rear I am screaming at 4200 rpm at 60 MPH on the highway. Frankly, I don't drive often on the highway, but would be nice to have EITHER of the following:

1. NV4500 OD trans, which, I believe is a direct bolt in. One inch input shaft and same length;

OR

2. Complete dually rear axle assembly with drum brakes with a 4.10 ratio.

I believe the 6.5 Diesel 3500HD manual trans trucks from the mid 90's had both of those.

I would prefer to do the transmission swap. If I swap rears, I will also need four wheels for the rear, as the bolt pattern is different. Also, I know some guys hate them, but I really want to keep my 17" split rims.

Any gurus on here that can tell me which years of 3500HD dually trucks came with the above trans and rear?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[special-K]

I love that Studebaker. I'm no expert on the 3500HD. I have a neighbor who runs one daily and he's quite the wrench. He ran another for years before he got this one. and that first one was one of a couple the lumber recycle company he does all the fixing for ran. If no other help comes along, I can bug him. I've owned two K3500 single rears with the NV4500, a '92 and a '95. I do know those two are the same series and I'm pretty sure the listing changed in '96. I went through the dual mass flywheel to solid conversion on both. I've venture to say that the NV4500 was available throughout the entire GMT400 3500HD model run. I know it started in '92 and assume it ended in '00. Could be maybe one more year

[LynnB]

Thanks. Hopefully someone chimes in.

I THINK that the NV4500 has at least two versions, and only the ones behind the diesel have the larger one inch input shaft.

I have a buddy in the used car business, and he has access to a massive salvage pool. He says if I can narrow down exactly what years/options, he can find me a complete wrecked truck pretty easily. I just don't want to end up dragging the wrong truck home.

[special-K]

I hear you. Ready to pounce but need to know which direction first. Both of mine were 6.5TDs, same as my neighbor's trucks

[LynnB]

And did both of yours have the 4.10 rear and the OD five speed?

[CarolinaHD]

Heres all the info you could ever want. They made those 3500hd up until 2002 and could be had with the new 8.1l big block and Allison 5 speed or nv4500

https://www.tradecraftspecialties.com/3500hd#Topic6

[LynnB]

Thanks.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by LynnB

And did both of yours have the 4.10 rear and the OD five speed?

Both had NV4500. The '92 had 4.10 and the '95 had 3.73s. I liked the 4.10s better for getting going. Both trucks ran 285/75-16s, about 32.5" dia. As I recall, the 4.10 truck I would run at 72 mph on the interstate back when the speed limit was still 55. In 5th it would still back right down to there when I spotted a trooper taking pictures. No brake lights. It seemed like an ideal set-up. I ran that truck 22 years. Loved it.

[Henry Ford]

I have a '50 Studebaker R16 with 5.9 Cummins and NV5600. I was running the original Timken rear with 6.66 ratio and 8.25x20 tires. Although the rear axle looks beefy and designed to haul heavy loads, once taken apart, it was obvious the carrier was only designed to handle the 106HP of the flathead 6 the truck was equiped with new. I replaced the rear with a Spicer S130 out of a F550. The big hydraulic disc brakes was a nice improvement also. Good luck with your project.

[LynnB]

Digging up an OLD thread here; but it is my thread. Still driving the snot out of my 49 Studebaker dump truck. Still winding it out to about 4000 rpm when on the highway. Fortunately I am not on the highway often. Believe it or not, I have been offered an NV4500 for cheap. Would be nice, as the .75 OD would lower my rpm to 3000. Big difference.

Was told some time ago that NV4500 was a bolt in. Went to measure things and it presents a couple of problems. The bell housing on the NP542L is 8.5 inches deep. It is out of a 1972 C50. The aluminum bell housing on the NV4500 is only 6.5 inches deep, and it has no provisions for mounts. That means I can't use the current cast iron bell housing. I used the front "horse shoe" motor mount set up so the rear cross member bolts to the bell housing. I would not mind fabbing a rear trans mount, but I just don't trust putting that much stress on the aluminum bell housing that is on the NV4500. That means I would ALSO have to fab side motor mounts for the engine. Can be done, but that is a lot of fabbing.
Two more problems. 1. No mechanical speedo drive on the NV4500. A speedo signal converter is available, but adds $400 to the cost of the swap. They are really cool, and programable. Used on on a 68 El Camino when I swapped in an engine and trans from a Suburban. 2. This one may be the deal breaker. My only park brake is a set up mounted to the rear of the trans with a band around an inverted drum. There are no provisions to mount that to the NV4500. Don't like the prospect of no park brake. Then I am back to swapping to a rear that has park brake cables. If I swap the rear for something like a 4.10 or 3.73, then I don't need the OD trans.

So, giving up on the idea of finding an OD trans for this one. I BELIEVE New Process made a 542 (without the L) that is an OD trans, but I have never run across one at any price. Swapping out the rear is probably the best bet, but then I need to either get wheel adapters or have the hubs redrilled, or carry TWO spare tires. I really like my cool 17 inch wheels, even if they are split rims.

Just thought I would update for anyone thinking of changine things around on a C50.

[396ci]

Reach out to member pjmoreland

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=15081

He put an nv manual in his 4x4.