Second Gen NV4500 Shift Covers: 1995 and up (LD vs. HD)

[DirtyLarry]

Not sure if this has been covered before but I recently learned something new that I thought I would share with all you clowns.

Back in 2010 I swapped in a used NV4500 into my K10. As it turns out that used trans had major 5th gear issues and I needed a trans fast as we were a few weeks away from our annual desert trip. Luckily, I found NOS NV4500’s on EBay from a seller in Texas that had purchased a truckload of overstock transmissions from GM’s Pontiac East Assembly plant. The NOS trans was a deal too at $1000. Anyway, I never liked how the shifter stick was so long on this NOS trans and noticeably taller and goofy shifting compared to the other NV4500 I had just pulled out. Hell, I felt like Ratfink with the shift lever taller than my head (okay, not quite that tall but you get the idea). Meanwhile, the NV4500 shifter stick in the Suburban had a nice low stance and felt to have cleaner gates to boot (the NV4500 in the Burb is the original one that was in the K10. It was rebuilt before going into duty in the Burb). After doing some research I found the NOS trans I got was actually a GMT880 (Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500) unit which uses a taller shift cover and shift tower to make up for the 2” body raise GM used on the 2001 and later HD trucks. Between the HD truck unique shift cover and unique HD truck shift tower the entire shifter raises over 1.5” to 2” depending how you adjust the jamb nut at the base of the stick. This is not an issue if you want to run a custom shifter stick but I like to use the OEM shifters and didn’t like reaching up hill to grab the shifter like some biker with Monkey Bars on his hog.

I have not seen any pictures to compare the light duty and GMT880 HD truck shift covers and shift towers before so here ya’ll go!

1995-?? Low shift tower on the left / 2001 – 2006 HD truck shift tower on right


1995-?? Low shift tower


2001 – 2006 2500HD/3500 truck shift tower Over ¼” difference!


Low shift cover on left / tall on right. Hard to eyeball the height difference from this angle


A little easier to notice the difference



I sure like the shifter stick location and geometry much better now with the shorter cover and tower

The shifter is back in the location it was back in 2010



I didn't take any pic of the shift lever with the HD truck bits and pieces but the lever was way up high and even with the steering wheel. I like it much better in the lower location!

[obijuan]

Veeeerrrrryyyyy interesting. I'll have to double check what's in my blazer.

['63GENIII]

Just took a look at mine. Its the light duty style. Good eye there Larry. I think I remember seeing some sort of spacer that the Dodge guys were using to shorten up the throw on their 4500's. I didn't give it a second thought back then but this post has me thinking about it. I like the throw on mine although I have thought about shortening the shifter by @ 2" or so.

[snj8198]

Interesting info Larry. I have a '96+ in mine. Only mod I made was heated and bent the shifter base at about the 7:30 position to bring the stick a little closer into me.

I know we traded or did a swap a few years back but I never did you that smaller diameter stick. It looks like we are using the same shifter stick, but where did you get that knob? I like it better than the factory stocker im using.

[DirtyLarry]

I thought the different in shift covers between GMT880 HD trucks and everything else was interesting as well. Never saw the difference in covers and shift towers discussed anywhere before.

Originally Posted by snj8198

Interesting info Larry. I have a '96+ in mine. Only mod I made was heated and bent the shifter base at about the 7:30 position to bring the stick a little closer into me.

I know we traded or did a swap a few years back but I never did you that smaller diameter stick. It looks like we are using the same shifter stick, but where did you get that knob? I like it better than the factory stocker im using.

Yeah, the stick I installed on the K10 back then when I sent you the aftermarket AA lever was a 92-94 C/K shift lever stick with a GM/Workhorse P-chassis 15982540 shift knob. Those knobs are no longer in production but NOS knobs can be found online. I bought a pile of them through work to hoard. The K10 and Suburban have the exact same shifter sticks and shift knobs…..and now, the same shift covers and shift towers. I documented the knob part number in the NV4500 swap thread from back in 2010 but that thread is such a mess numerous hijacks it is hard to find any info in there

[snj8198]

I'll dig through that thread and see what I can find for a number. If you find a part number for the knob you are using in these pics lemmie know. I much prefer it over what I have. They are the same thread right?

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by snj8198

I'll dig through that thread and see what I can find for a number. If you find a part number for the knob you are using in these pics lemmie know. I much prefer it over what I have. They are the same thread right?

I just gave you the part number in the last post. You know, the one you just replied to 15982540

[snj8198]

oh geez haha, i swear im thobber ofither

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by snj8198

oh geez haha, i swear im thobber ofither

It’s been a long weekend here too. Way too much sugary Easter Candy!

BTW....the shift knob part number is 15982540