I see all knds of adaptor kits made for the NV4500, but never seen one for the Getrag G360. However I have heard guys have mated thier NP205 right upto the NV4500 with no problems. Can you tell me does the butt end of a NV4500 look the same as a Getrag G360 4x4 tranny?

 

Yup, the butt end looks the same but it's what's up front that makes the difference.

 

Whats the difference between both transmissions? Which one is better? I noticed that there is alot more getrags then nv4500's, why is that?
Ben

 

NV4500 is 94 MY and up, 93 MY and back have the Getrag. Its said by everyone that the NV4500 is built a lot better than the Getrag

 

The NV 4500 was not introduced behind the cummins untill 1994, at that time the getrag was retired. I use an NV because they are a little stronger, and quieter. Plus I like the way they shift. This is not to bash the getrag, I have seen many stay together, but if you plan on major power increasesof do a lot of heavy towing than the NV is what you want. just be sure to do the 5th gear update ....

 

'Cause you're in the 1st gen forum No 4500's were factory installed in 1st gen trucks, so the only ones you'll see here are custom applications. Now that I've said that, somebody is bound to claim they have a 93.9998 model with a factory crew cab, p-pump, nv4500 and a Dana 80

At any rate, the 'rag does have a pretty bad rep...some of it earned, some fabricated. Apparently, there were a boatload of them that were assembled without the proper preload, which led to the early failure of many units. Once that particular SNAFU was tended to, the 'rag became a decent transmission...but the damage had already been done, and nobody has trusted them since. IMO, there are two things that make the 4500 superior to the 'rag: First is the ability to shift quickly and smoothly...rowing the average 'rag is an artform that requires patience and practice, and it still won't hold a candle to the 4500, and I believe it comes from poorly designed syncros, though I have no data to back this up. Second is the compactness of the 4500...it's really a 4-speed with an overdrive tacked on the back. The advantage, IMO, is a shorter distance between the bearings holding the mainshaft and countershaft....kind of like an inline 6 engine has 7 main bearings for 6 pistons VS 5 mains for 8 pistons in a V8 The 'rag is physically longer, so there's more chance for shaft flex, case flex and all kinds of other weird stuff that breaks things when holding big power. The upside is that the rag is a brick...no silly cast aluminum overdrive unit that pukes retaining nuts and splits in two when worked hard....all cast iron with the rag. They are getting cheaper and cheaper to rebuild, and a decent 10-ton press and some patience is about all you need to make one right again. Ask some of the fellas running twins and big fuel how many 600+RWHP dyno pulls the rag has put up with...and the 70+psi blasts on the street For the money involved in the swap, I personally don't see the justification. It took about 450 in parts to build mine and I've flogged it for 35k now with nary a whimper...not to say that I'm overpowering it by any means, but it has dealt with some decent power following my completely amature rebuild. Long live the 1st gen...all of it

 

Did you do your rebuild yourself? I bought a 4x4 tailshaft and plan to purchase the mainshaft and a rebuilt kit, and would like to do the work myself.

 

yup...most of it on a piece of cardboard on the garage floor...oh how I can't wait to finish my house and start on my very own garage....ANYWAY, it's not rocket science, but there are some precision tolerances and the thing is just plain bulky and akward to handle, so a fair amount of mechanical sense is handy, as the sheer weight of the thing alone can be overwhelming. There are some things I would have done different, now that I've tried it, and I'm saving pennies to build up my core.

 

I have straight piped ex. so maybe if i had a muffler, but i have never heard any noise from may Getrag!

 

Maybe the noise was just my teeth rattleing in my buddys old beater none the less I like my nv4500 but I did not have a getrag to start with, if I did I would of kept it but the TH400 in my truck was not going to cut it so since I had to buy a trans anyway I went with the NV...

 

Thanks guys,
I have hasd no trouble with my getrag is just works fine except how slow the syncros are. But other than that I love it
Long Live First Genners

 

Don't forget the elusive factory installed 47RH.

 

if you have a auto and do the swap you have to chang the input to 29 sp or get a t case with 29 sp in it (thats what I did)

 

I Put an NV4500 in my 92 4WD.
I put an NV5600 in my 92 2WD. The 6 speed is awsome but expensive.
I scattered both my Getrags.

 

frostie, what was the actual failure pattern on your 'rags? Bearings, synchros, catastrophic blow-up - or what?