How goes it, everyone. I am new to this forum, and I have some questions. I have been thinking about putting an NV 4500 in my pickup. It has the A518 right now. I did not mind the tranny until I started pulling with it, at which time it displayed its weak side. My cousin, who has a pickup similar to mine, told me that he that it would cost him about $3000 to beef up the A518, so it would be a better pulling tranny(he is looking for a newer Dodge pickup now). Anyway, I know that this website ( www.high-impact.net) sells Nv4500 conversion kits for Around $3500, but I have also heard some conplaints about this place. Has anyone here ever bought one of these kits? Has anyone here did an NV4500 or 5600 conversion in a 1st gen period? I just need some info and opinions.

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

They delayed me about 4 weeks in finishing my NV4500 conversion. We ended up buying some of the missing parts from other vendors.

 

Im in the middle of a 4500 to 5600 conversion. I broke my 4500 last friday mornning. (Im selling it) I looked and found 4500's for 800-1200$ plus a core I think....and Id really rather have a 6 speed so I found a 5600. My truck makes 500-1100+ pretty easy though so I like the idea of the heavier 5600. I didn t really think I d ever break the 4500 though.....it comes as a surprise. It happened in 5th pulling a small grade at 70mph.

Im pulling it tomarrow.....figure its worth about 400$ in parts. It has a fully spined main shaft (if its still good) and has had 5th fixed...Its a 4x4 trans.

I would think that for 2000 you could do a 518 to 4500 swap pretty easy, no matter which way you go.

 

www.quad4x4.com if you want the nv4500 conversion, brand new 4500 for that price no core needed, not a reman. Most of the pullers anymore are eating em up with auto's. You can drop as much $$ into a 4500 and pulling clutch as you could to beef up the auto and be done with it. Most pulling clutches need reworked etc each season, thats more $$. I'd build the auto if I was building a puller. Of course that would be if I already had the auto. Don't forget you'll need a transfer case from a manual truck. You're auto t-case has a smaller input or the like. More $$$....

 

If it would take the same amount of money to beef up the auto, I would certainly prefer the NV4500. Simply put, I don't like autos. I have no real interest in sled pulling with my pickup, I just want it to be a better trailer puller, and I know that a stick, whether it be a Getrag or NV, will do a better job than an auto, even if it is beefed up. I would have bought a Getrag if it came in the pickup, but I heard that the A518 is stronger, so I decided that it would be OK. The pickup only had 102K when I bought it.

 

Ah ha, trailer pulling, not sled pulling. Should have said towing not pulling. Then yes a stick would be more appropriate for towing. Still gonna cost alot for converting. Don't forget the t-case.....

 

If you go with the 4500 conversion you might want to also consider converting over the a 13 1/4" clutch as well. That combination is working extremely well in my brother's 92' and he's a tough critic of things that don't work when he spends cash....just a thought....

pb...