I finally brought myself to admit that one day I will need to upgrade my transmission. I have started shopping around craigslist and kijiji for a used nv4500. One that I can build up until I decided, or am forced to install. I noticed I can get a 2wd nv4500 out of a cummins for around 1000-1500. But I can get what I thought was the same thing out of a Chevy 2500 6.5L for around 300-600. What gives? Aren't they the same minus the bell housing?

 

I'm pretty sure the input shafts are different.

 

Would they be interchangeable? I would be putting Better ones in anyways

 

From what I have gathered on-line...the Chevy NV4500 is the same basic unit as the Dodge one. As stated, the input shaft will be different...as well as the front bearing retainer. The mainshaft, especially the output shaft spline count, will more then likely be different. The cases, counter shaft, and gear ratios should all be the same though. The tailshaft housing will probably be different as well.

Not sure if it will be cheaper to swap all those parts or go with a dodge unit?

 

That's what I was thinking. It would be nice to have a built one for the same price as a stock dodge

 

Be careful, 92-95 Chevy units use a totally different case as well. They followed the old GM truck trans pattern, and it won't bolt up to any Dodge bell.

96-up started the direct bolt case, it was also when they went to an internal slave cylinder, so it should be easy cheesy to identify.

Input shaft, Input shaft retainer, and main shaft is different at the minimum.

Edit: just re-read, I see you are building this as a 2WD, just get the 96 up, change the Input shaft and retainer, and run Chebby stuff for the output.

 

There is a light duty and a heavy duty version. Only Dodge with a Cummins or V10 used the heavy duty version. You can not fully convert an LD to an HD and you will still have a weaker case.

 

I am definitely no expert...but I have done a ton of reading on different forums. And I have come across so many contradictory statements, but many seem to say that the gears, bearing and case are pretty much the same. Is this true...I can't say for sure...but it is what I have come across more then once.

Having said that...I personally would go with a cummins/V10 unit. At least then I would know for sure I had a tranny that was originally built to handle the power/torque of my motor. Possibly more money...Yup...but I would have peace of mind.

 

I haven't seen anything other than the gm bellhousing incompatibility, dodge hd had larger 1-3/8 input gear requiring different clutches, you can interchange top covers from dodge to gm, 4x4 output adapters are the same 6 bolt circle pattern, chevy has the biggest output shaft, pretty sure most or all gear ratios are different.

 

I got a lot of info from advanced adapters in paso robles ca. in the nv4500 section when I did mine 10 years ago. pirate 4x4 has some good links too.

 

just went to the advance adapters and found the "tech vault" for the 4500, only 1993-1994 had the different gear ratios, gm and dodge shared the same from there to the end of production, I stand correcting myself.

 

So from the sounds of things I should pick up one from a dodge just to play it safe. Can anyone tell me what I would need to do to it to beef it up? I'm thinking I'll run a dual disc clutch because I'm looking for around 400-500hp

 

i'm sure i will catch holy heck for saying it but the truth is evrybody has good intentions on HP. 300 to 350 pretty easy. 350 to 380 turbo & injectors with a little fine tuning. 380 to 400 a little more fine tuning. and this is just my opinion anything much above 400 p pump it caz its a lot easier and more bang for your buck. Takes a lot of coin to make a ve put out 500 and yes it can be done but as i said they spent the $$$. Then you have the 14mm head controversey and will it work and be reliable on the street ??? And the answer is yes if your willing to do it right. Most on here are against a p pump but someone once said is a camaro still not a camaro after a single plane intake and a big holley or better yet modern fuel injection ? only difference is now its a better camaro !!! I'm probably speaking to soom as you havent told us how your going to approach the hp your looking to achieve. Just remember you dont need any more then you can make hook up. The 4500 would be nice but i would think about putting the money in an automatic with a lock up convertor. Once you hit 2nd lock it up and the ratio's are a lot more favorabe to going fast. Just my .02 cents

 

The cummins input fits in the 94+ ones because they have the same ratios. Needs the bigger bearing retainer for the bigger shaft... maybe some fudge work req'd if the chev nv4500 uses an internal slave.

Drill the lower holes in the 'Dodge' position if they are not the same already.

A perk with the Chevy is the fixed-yoke on the 2wd.

 

I know 500 hp is a stretch. And it's not going to happen overnight. I just want to be sure that as I gain on the motor end I won't have to worry about the trans. A p pump is certainly not out of the question yet. There are a lot of 2nd gen engines around here that I can salvage from. As for putting an automatic in it, I have way more fun shifting it's a personal preference and since it's only going to be a weekend and summer toy, I would like to keep it a manual