Lost 5th gear AGAIN.
 

Yesterday, I was headed to Quartzsite, AZ. Stopped at the "Border Patrol" checkpoint and was just getting back up to speed. When I shifted to 5th gear, there was nothing there, no noise, nothing. Transmission has been acting funny for a while. Downshifting to 3rd gear when in a hard uphill pull it would sometimes act like it was trying to go between 2 gears. Not a loud grinding, more like running over the "Rumble Strip" along the interstate highways. How much of a problem would it be to replace my 5-speed with a 6-speed. Many times it would be helpful, when towing to have one more gear. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

finding a doner truck for the 6spd conversion would be nice but if you keep the 5spd make sure you you get a fully splined main shaft ,that will be the last time you lose 5th http://quad4x4.com/NV4500%205th%20Ge...0Solutions.htm check out this link

Replacing with the 6spd is not a simple bolt in. You have to change everything from the block back. And there is a lot of guys hate the 6 spds durability and they are hard to find parts for. The 5spd can still be fixed, found or replaced. And the 5th gear can be fixed permanantly by the new shaft or otherwise. You only gain a bit of an advantage in that you get one gear inbetween 4 and 5 on the six speed, but the final drive is taller in the 6spd, which is not as good as the 5. The 1 to 1 ratio is the same in 4th on the 5er or 5th on the 6er. I have had 6 trucks with the 5er, my neighbor has the 6 and I won't go up to the later in years because of it.

If the truck is 2WD, it is just a bolt in job. If 4WD, then it's more complicated. Did it to my 99 2WD. Bought an 01 6 speed, new clutch and pressure plate and bolted it in. 6 speed is a much slower shifting transmission, but I love the gear spacing.

Ken

I believe I got some good advice on this issue. Just put a SB clutch in and lost 5th a week later. First time in 209K. Someone suggested the fithgearrepair.com part. Bought one 145.00 shipped and had mechanic install it. They really liked that part and said I never had to worry about this again. They even used my original nut, just tightened it back in place. The discussion about this part started somewhat of a firestorm on the board. Don't have enough miles on the truck since to judge the part but mechanic said he will use this on his truck when he loses his 5th. The catch is it only works on a 4x4

The guy who talked me into buying my truck had this problem a lot. The low end torque and his habit of fast shifting made 5th self destruct. He finally took it to a shop around here that buids race trucks (spin off from Gravedigger I think) and they completely reworked the case. That was 6 years ago and the truck/tranny is still going strong. He still likes to idle it in 5th (35mph) going through the neighborhood too. He says it's to be nice to the neighbors but that doesn't explain the maniacle laughter when he does it.

It did start a bit of discussion, didn't it?
I installed the same part (although I installed a new retainer nut). Got a few thousand miles on the repair, with @1000 miles of hauling/towing. Holding up well so far.........

Mine is still doing well with about a thousand, I am the king of 35 MPH 5th gear use......[laugh]

Put 5th through hell this weekend haling 12 round bales on a 30' goosneck. Purrrred like a kitten. :cool: