transmission question

[Daniellane]

what all manual trannys were available? all i ever hear of is 4 speeds

[gchemist]

If you want a power OD replacement, you can't beat the NV4500.
http://www.nv4500.com/

[TravisMartin]

Was the NV4500 ever OEM in Chevrolet, or is it aftermarket only?

Travis

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by TravisMartin

Was the NV4500 ever OEM in Chevrolet, or is it aftermarket only?

Travis

From the web site:

In 1992 Dodge and General Motors trucks started appearing in showrooms with one of the most versatile transmissions ever to be offered in a production truck: the New Venture Gear 4500. This transmission is a fully synchronized (except reverse on GM models) five-speed gearbox with all of the strength and low-gear benefits (and then some) of the older creeper gear four-speeds, plus 27-percent overdrive. The cast iron case is combined with massive gearsets in an almost compact 200 lb. package. As far as driveability is concerned, this unit surpasses the rest with smooth, short action and very distinct shift gates. It has become an extremely popular manual-trans swap and kits are available for Jeep CJs, Wranglers and Cherokees; Toyota Land Cruisers; Chevy Blazers, and 1966-77 Broncos.

Commonly referred to as simply NV4500, the transmission is identified by Dodge Truck as NVG4500, while Chevrolet and GMC designate it as the MT8 and MW3. The manufacturers' code names for the two transmissions are different and so are some of the internals, yet both gearboxes are made at the same New Venture Gear assembly plant. General Motors applications include it as an option in 3/4 and 1-ton fullsize trucks with a GVWR of more than 8500 pounds (some literature shows 1/2-ton availability, but we haven't seen such a truck). Dodge versions are used in 3/4 and 1-ton trucks, mostly with Cummins diesels and V10's


Sounds like heavy duty 3/4-ton 92-up GM trucks could have it. You need to look a the option codes to know for sure. I know there is an NV3500 that is found in the light duty trucks but don't know what vintages or how much power it can take.

[hatzie]

Hate to be a wet blanket but... I've been down this road. The NV trannies are not an easy weekend project. I have done one. I will not drive an automatic on a diesel. I have a buddy that sold his SM465/NP208 and went with a B&M tow built 700R4 & good used NP208 because it was much easier and less expensive overdrive.

Do your homework and total your parts cost for each option. Then add 25% to the total. This is the real cost when you include the parts you left out of you guestimate including that dead reverse switch I found and pigtail to hook it up.

Both trannies in 2wd use a VSS pickup for an electronic speedometer not gears. 4x4 has the speedo drive in the transfer case.

The NV3500 is cheaper than the NV4500 and will work up to 300ft lb torque. Stock '70s and '80s 305 and 350 under 230 hp with close to stock tires should have no problems running a good 1993+ GM MG5 NV3500 as a daily driver. Modified engine, off road with big tires all bets are off.

Hydraulic pedals from an 85-87 are mandatory for the NV3500. You can't swap the bellhousing.
You can get manual clutch adapter bellhousings for the NV4500 but not as cheap as the 85-87 pedals. Adapters are probably easier to install.

There are at least 5 early variations "ancestors" in the GM evolution that lead to the NV3500 gearbox. They "look like" but are not a 3500. You don't want the ancestors.

Transfer cases are where it gets complicated. Novak and Advance Adapters are good resources on what transfer case will fit and how.

I put info together on wikipedia based on my research into both transmissions. It's not 100% complete but it's a good "jumping in place". I did my best to make sure there is no mis-information.

New_Venture_Gear_3500_transmission

New_Venture_Gear_4500_transmission

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Daniellane

what all manual trannys were available? all i ever hear of is 4 speeds

For our vintage trucks, off the top of my head:

RPO M20 Saginaw SM465: three forward gears plus a "granny" 6.22:1 low gear, floor shifted

Two RPO Saginaw three speeds, RPO M62 and M64, column shifted, available with different low gears based on driveline package

RPO MY6 manual four speed, floor shifted, three forward gears with 4th being an overdrive.

K

[clinebarger]

Dodge didnt use the NV4500 until 94 before that they used a Getrag 360 thats a real POS. Wiki seems to lump everything together. Diesel and V10 versions have bigger input shafts and there called NV4500-HD

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

Dodge didnt use the NV4500 until 94 before that they used a Getrag 360 thats a real POS. Wiki seems to lump everything together. Diesel and V10 versions have bigger input shafts and there called NV4500-HD

I added the input shaft diameters but the rest was already there. Dodge used that POS Getrag on the diesels till 1994. They rolled out the early LD NV4500 in late 1992 for the 1993 model year on some V8 trucks.

[clinebarger]

Well that goes to show you ive only had dodges with diesels. Ive never seen a old body dodge with a NV4500.

[b454rat]

Hmm, if that info is correct, I need to start looking at the early 90s Dodges for the 4500. But anything 1 ton up here is getting harder to find, let alone anything with a 4500.

There is a GM dually in a yard here that had the 4500, but was gone by the time I get there, even then the truck had 300k on it. Buddy works at a late model yard, the years he's been there, has yet to see one come in.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by b454rat

Hmm, if that info is correct, I need to start looking at the early 90s Dodges for the 4500. But anything 1 ton up here is getting harder to find, let alone anything with a 4500.

There is a GM dually in a yard here that had the 4500, but was gone by the time I get there, even then the truck had 300k on it. Buddy works at a late model yard, the years he's been there, has yet to see one come in.

The dodge has a 7/8" longer input shaft with a 0.115" larger pilot. You can swap in a GM input shaft assembly or a custom bellhousing $$.

4x4 not so much. Your transfer case options are limited by the Dodge spline count, clocking, and drop RH vs LH.
Jeep Forum 4x4 GM vs Dodge tail shaft/housing discussion

-Dave