Hey neighbor, PM me on your trucks stats maybe I will relieve you of your burden.

 

Apache,

It's not so much a problem with Dodge or Cummins. Dodge, and GM as well, have used this tranny behind gas engine trucks for a number of years. The difficiency in the 5th gear design really boils down to the fact that the torque impulses produced by the Cummins, combined with the amount of torque it applies in the low RPM range, causes harmonics to be created and passed through the tranny that this 5th gear nut in some cases can't handle. You can blame New Venture for that design flaw, not Dodge or Cummins. Not trying to flame you, just stating a fact.

Even though this flaw is frustrating and a cash drain if not resolved properly - see Infidel's link to Standard Transmission - they are pretty expensive to replace with anything else that comes close, such as NV5600. The upgrade mainshaft and gear nut from Standard Transmission costs $298 and some change and I've read several places that this totally fixes the problem.

These trannies really are capable of handling a lot of power and are worth making them right, IMO. Yeah, it's a shame that we, the end-users, too often have to rely on ourselves to work through issues like this, but at least we have such a great resource of knowledge and help from the vast number of people here at DTR. For my own truck, even though I'd like to upgrade to a newer 6-speed, the cost of doing that is too much for me to seriously consider. However, the replacing the mainshaft and nut with the splined unit that truly fixes the problem is definitely in my plans.

Steve

 

I also know how you feel. I tow in 4th 99% of the time. Unless I'm going down hill. With my tire size and gears my rpms are around 2000 at 55mph and 2500 at 65mph, give or take a little. The real reason I dont mind it so much is it does keep me from speeding while towing, the exhaust brake works better at higher rpms, and the truck does pull better in 4th. A little noisier but better. Although I do plan on getting the fully splinned shaft if anything fails or maybe even if or when I get a new clutch. The reason this happens is because the shaft isnt fully splinned and the nut at the end of the shaft, which I believe is reverse thread?, also turns with the shaft rotation so the engine pulses cause it to literaly vibrate off. I have read of guys trying to weld the bolt on but that has lead to something breaking and parts getting in the rest of the gears.

 

Dont mean to insult anyone, Im just really dissapointed right about now. In the 4 years and total of 3 trucks, I might of totaled 60k miles between the 3. Repairs have cost me more than what I have spent on most trucks Ive bought to start with. I rarely do ant towing, if so its 7k or less. The engines have been great with the loss of 1 IP on a 93, but everything else has been lacking in what I would have expected, brakes,hard parts bodys, Ive hade mostly Dodge trucks thru the years so its not like I comparing them to chevy or ford. Im not true to any brand just mt wallet or bank account by now. Just was hoping for a better truck. Twice Ive had to flat bed a Dodge to the repair shop with my chevy. Not cool or funny, specially when my neighbor had a Ferd and see`s me doin it.

 

So now that I have looked at the standard transmission site, what would I need to buy to make this tranny last. While the tranny is out is it worth changing any additional parts that might go wrong later.

 

Every time I get a trans yanked, the rear main is replaced,I it hasent been done previously, check the trans seals, Pilot bushing , and clutch should be checked.

 

Don't mean to be so ignorant but I saw that there are two NV4500 transmissions. The NV4500 and the NV4500HD. My transmission started to pop out of fifth gear last year. It never did fail but the mechanic at the dealership said it needed to be replaced. He ordered a new one, under warranty of course, and installed it. Took that opertunity to upgrade my clutch at that time also. I was led to beleive that the replacement transmission was a better model and I would probably not have that issue again. Does anyone out there know if this is a fact, and that they have fixed the replacement units so that the fifth gear will be a thing of the past or not, and what is the difference with the transmissions with the HD model?

 

The 4500HD is for the V-10 and the Cummins and the 4500 is for gas. So I have read. Different size input shaft is the difference.

 

Thats not accurate.....my girlfriend had a NV4500HD in a 98 1/2 ton V6 gasser. Believe it or not.

 

Sorry, just getting my info from dodgeram.org . Guess you cant trust anyone anymore.

 

No reason to be sorry....I couldnt believe my eyes when I seen the sticker under the hood....I should have replaced that tranny before she traded the truck off.

 

I stopped by the today just for grins to see what they would charged to fix this nut problem. They told me that you have to replace the gear, and their estimate for parts and labor was right at $1000.00. I borrowed a two wheel cart to get my chin out to the truck and left. Are they in something insane. If thats really what it cost to get this fixed, I'm just going to a rebuilt 6 speed for not much more than that. Can anybody out there give me what it cost them to fix this thing. I am also looking for a parts list needed to change over to a 6 speed transmission.

 

It initally was gonna cost 3-4hrs labor + parts,I figured around $450. This also included trans seals. after messin with the truck we decided to yank the trans completly cause the clutch chattered a little, it was smoked also. Total was $1300 for 5th gear fix, new rear main, trans seals, syntorque oil, HD clutch kit, and flywheel work. FYI, this was a 95 4x4 CTD. Swell design eh?

 

when I did mine last summer I tried to do the 5th gear nut with tranny installed but stripped bolts on the rear of the tail shaft case and ended up pulling the tranny anyways then I ended up replacing the clutch and everything I was around 160,000 but I just bought it with 152,000 + 3 months earlier if you have the right place you could do it in a day I did mine in the yard because truck would not fit in shop doors good luck

 

can someone please give me a list of tools and where you get them?

also, where do i go to get the parts?

i'll order the parts tomorrow and have em here in the next day or two.... have it in 5th gear by christmas!