I'm looking at buying a '93 W250 5spd. I've heard that the NV4500 is a better trans. What problems does the Getrag tend to have and what is the life span compared to the NV4500?
Thanks!

 

I dunno. I've heard of problems with the Getrag being weak and also heard the space between 3rd and 4th is to far to give good performance. The 3200 RPM govenor spring is supposed to cure the spacing problem but supposedly the engine was detuned because the Getrag wouldn't hold the added torque.

I figure when/if mine goes out I'd deal with it then but the conversion cost is to high right now.

They also say that it should be filled with a good 5W30 synthetic oil and overfilled by one quart which will help with the lifetime.

Edwin

 

I believe the bearings go out in the getrag. I have removed 2 of them, my 2WD truck got a 6 speed and my 4WD truck just got an NV4500 a few weeks ago. My 2WD truck knocked out the getrag after I started putting close to 300 HP to it.
My 4WD truck is only putting out, Im guessing 200, HP and it couldnt take it.
My 4WD truck had 272K on it though.
If you dont crank up the engine much It may be OK for a while
Good luck

 

The main weak point is the input shaft bearing. Overfill by a quart to keep it lubed and the trans will do OK. Mine is holding up OK, and Stomp (the 1st gen HP god) is still running a Getrag. They aren't tolerant of abuse, but if you apply the power smoothly they will hold plenty.

 

huh?

 

607 HP with a VE pump qualifies you for the HP god position, doesn't it?

 

I'd definately say Stomp is a god, but not the only one , don't forget Brian Block with 627hp VE pump #2 only.

 

Wow! I hadn't heard about that. That's with one of those "big head" pumps I assume?

 

Dang! What the ___ is a big head pump? and how could you ever get near 600 ponies with a VE on pure #2?

 

Even overfilling the Getrag won't help pulling heavy up a hill on the freeway. The oil holes are too small to keep it cool. Makes a really gross sound when the input shaft bearing burns dry!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

 

Yep 14mm head and rotor VE pump, same as big bad Mr. Stomp.

 

Didn't Stomp have a custum KTA head made?

 

KTA's real name is Brian, and I think his last name might be Block . . . My understanding is that Brian had a run of those heads made, and sold them to anyone who would pay the $400 or so that they cost to be manufactured (Old Smokey was on that track too, and I think they may have ended up combining forces). I think that if there is enough demand, he could and would have another run manufactured, but I believe that all of the original run have been sold. They have a larger diameter plunger (14mm vs. 12) and larger passages in the distributor head. I believe that they may be a reproduction of a discontinued head that Bosch had used on another application.

Regardless, I think that the Getrag can be nursed pretty well if kept full of oil -- I had not heard of problems with the input bearing running dry if the tranny was over-filled. You had that happen though, Mark?

 

What you just said, Alec, is what my understanding was.