Well my five speed let go saturday night. I had to haul it an hour and a half home from town. So anyways i have had enough with the five speed game and am gonna go the 6 speed route. I am also debating on whether or not to upgrade to a dual disk. I have a good pic of my truck on the goose behind my buddies 89. We decided we had better weigh the load for kicks it was just shy of 20k. And we also felt the need to go right through downtown Spokane on the way home. That was a fun little detour as there was a huge hoopfest basketball tournament going on there. We got a lot of looks (good, bad, puzzled) Anyways ill keep updating and try to get some pics. If anyone has any good advice or words of wisdom it would be greatly appricaited.

 

One word of wisdom is, if you're going the NV5600 route, make sure you get the one w/ the 1 3/8" input, otherwise you're no stronger than your NV4500. (Don't know what you broke mind you).

Also you'll be needing a NV5600 13" Flywheel.

 

which would come with a DD from SBC

 

I am going the 5600 route. It does have a 1 3/8 imput (but so did the 4500 lol) I already have the 13 flywheel in the truck (Con FE). Thanks for the imput. All help and advice is greatly appriciated.

 

what do you use the truck for? sled pulling? I have read about more nv5600 failures than i have about 4500's, at least in pulling trucks.

 

I do tug a sled around. It also tows my jeep, big goose neck, farm equipment, general truck use. It also sees some red light to red light racing when we get a chance to get to town.

 

I was not aware of more failures of the 5600s over the 4500s. That is some interesting information. Thanks.

 

what let go in it? how many miles?

 

i am not sure yet. havent got the tranny out of the truck. It did break the bd short throw. I put that tranny in my truck to replace my old one about 7k miles ago and it was supposed to have like 5k on a rebuild. I then sold my old sloppy one to a friend who gernaded his and now i wish i still had it. It is makeing a noise like a bearing or somthing. it is not locked up but it is stuck in first since i don't have a shift tower for it.

 

I was going to do a 6 speed in my rig when my 4500 blew, changed my mind when I heard the cost of rebuilding a NV5600. A few guys have told me that the G56 seems to be the strongest choice.

 

If you want a faster shifting tranny, get the g56. I would do another NV4500 myself. The NV5600 does not have a taller overdrive, it just has another gear between 3rd and 4th. So your cruising RPM will remain the same. Go drive a 6 speed first at least, I think the 4500 shifts smoother.

 

Springdale huh, either a redneck or a "native american" to live out there. Beautiful compared to the desert though.

 

Pure REDNECK! I have driven all 4 trannies (getrag,4500,5600,g56) and yes a g56 is by far supreme plus reverse is finally in the right spot. I am not trying to get a better cruise rpm just a stronger tranny. I got the 5600 for nearly nothing so that is why i am going with it unless i get enough evidence not to. Thanks again guys for the input.

 

I shelled out my 5600 two time before I detuned my truck. At 2400 bucks to rebiuld, that smarted. If you got one for the cheap, you could probley sell it for$2500-$3500. I'm going to say if your going though 4500's then you will be taking out the 5600 also. At 400ish HP the 4500 or the 5600 should do just fine, so I'm gong to say that your problem and mine were the same, the DRIVER.

 

parts are extremely scarce for the 5600 so when it breaks you may be SOL on finding parts and when you do, hope you have deep pockets.

the 4500 with a hardened shaft is being used behind some of the baddest pulling trucks out there and when it does break, parts are easy to get.

on the other hand the 5600 is a nice tranny, gear spacing is perfect for towing, and mine shifts very nicely with redline MTL and a bottle of LSD friction modifier.