First of all I have a '97 2500 4x4 ext cab 5spd, also I just got it about 3 weeks ago and it WAS running great. While driving home from work I shifted from 2 to 3 and it felt a little harder than normal going into gear, I didnt think to much of it then I was in 5th around 60mph or 65mph. When it just popped out of gear, not loud at all, kinda felt like an old truck when they pop out of gear some time. I pushed in the clutch and because it felt like it was still catching, I couldnt get it in 4th so I pulled to the side of the road. Well I got to the side of the road and I had no gears at all. it would go into 1st through 5th and reverse but there was nothing there. So now the truck is towed home and I have no gears at all. Its been a great day let me tell you. From what I can think of I lost my 5th gear nut and all and when it went it took everything with it. Well I guess its new transmission time. Oh well I guess new transmission will be my Christmas and birthday presents for a bit.

 

big problems are not fun thats for sure. atleast you don't have to buy a whole new motor like i do. that's gonna kill the wallet thats for sure.

 

Yeah that sure would, no matter how you look at it, it still sucks

 

i agree new tranny, new motor...... that's money that could be spent on upgrades lol

 

Thats what I had planed to do Christmas week, I guess it will have to wait.

 

Your transfer case didn't somehow pop into neutral, did it?

If it turns that you do need a rebuilt transmission, I'd look for one with a fully splined mainshaft/5th gear.

 

There are many things that can go wrong with either a gearbox or a slushbox....

I myself would rather have manual gearbox woes rather than automatic woes...

At least you broken truck is still a stick

 

It might be simpler than you think. I've run into several trucks that have exhibited the same problem, all it was is a worn out ball on the end of the shift lever that allows the shift forks to get out of phase and jam. You can take the top off the tranny from inside the cab and get things back in phase with just a screwdriver. What's happening is it's trying to go into two gears at once, which is impossible. As long as you shift carefully this fix will last until you have time/money to fix it right.

 

I have seen this problem many times, the shifter ball gets worn out and gets yanked out of its seat(most of the time this happens coming out of rev) then the trans is stuck in gear....the shifter will feel very loose, like its not connected to anything. Then you have to pull the shifter, and with a screwdriver or a prybar line up the rails (pop it out of gear) and reinstall the shifter...........However I don't think this is his problem, to me it sounds like the shifter ball has broken off or a set screw in the rail assy has worked loose, still not too bad to fix

 

Or he could have just broken the center outa the clutch!

 

Or the input shaft

 

Well it was ALOT more than that. A buddy of mine manages a transmission shop so I took it to him this morning. He got it taken apart and this is what it was. The 5th gear nut and everything came lose inside and DESTROYED the transmission. Also when it siezed the transmission it also DESTROYED the input shaft and still fairly new SB clutch. I went by after work and he showed me the carnage. It was sure a mess. The only thing salvageable in the transmission was the case. So I'm having him put in a heavier duty transmission with a FULLY splined 5th gear shaft and also a 1 3/8 input shaft with a new SB clutch. So there is my Christmas present. So what I have learned and want to pass on to every one else is. If you have a 5spd MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR 5th GEAR TAKEN CARE OF OR IT WILL COST ALOT OF MONEY!!!! But a 5spd on its worst day is still better than an auto.

 

Amen to that.

 

ummm why is that? everyone seems to bash on the autos, but any tranny behind even a slightly modded cummins is going to say bye bye

how much have you dropped in your tranny now after your 5th gear nut, your two south bends, your input shaft and whatever else you tossed in for go fast goodies?

i'll gladly drop my $3500 for a GB tranny and keep 40+ psi as i shift through the gears

-Josh

 

Wow, sounds like you must've run out of fluid to cause that much carnage. I lost a 5th nut on mine one time in Colorado pulling an rv and drove to Texas in 4th w/ no problems. Then later I broke the 5th/rev shift fork from speed shifting and it was all chewed by 5th gear. Wow, sure was alot of metal in there but it still works fine. I get alot of NV4500 in the shop for repairs and the number one killer is no fluid.... Good luck.