Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 5th Gear Fix

[Oliver88]

At 101,000 miles I still have original clutch and fith gear. I figure the law of averages will catch up with me soon. Probably in Illinnios this summer about 700 miles from home. I think I'm gonna order the main shaft fix from Blumenthals and a Southbend clutch. A friend of mine is a mechanic but hasn't worked on NV 4500 transmissions but has done others. Does anyone have any instructions or needed advice for us doing the main shaft change ourselves? The clutch should not be a problem for us. Are there any other sources out there for a new main shaft besides Blumenthals and Standard Transmission? Thanks,

Greg

 

[johnjackson]

Oliver88



Workinging on NV4500 is some what different than working on older ford or chevy pickup standand transmissions I have worked on. Are you sure you want to change shaft and all? My fifth gear fell off at 142k. I got the upgrade nut from Standard Transmission and did the nut replacement right in the truck. Droped the transfer case and trans tail housing and surenuff there was the nut ratteling around on the tail shaft. Pushed fifth gear back into place. Cleaned the threads with acetone then applied locktight green. Then the new nut with the two cross bolts. I locktighted those also. Then there is a notch in the shaft that you peen the lip of the nut into. I did that and also pieened the nut in three other places around the lip into the threads . I used a pnumatic hammer with a point tip. Hammer and punch would work also. Nut wasn't too handsom when I finished but who sees it? 170K now and still holding.



John

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

It is not that big a deal when fifth gear fails. You can still drive it home@ 50 mph or so. :{ Mine just let loose at 199k. Yours might go longer or fall off tomorrow. I'd drive it till it fails. Same with the clutch. You'll usually get a fair warning before you get stranded somwhere.

 

[Forrest]

I lost mine around 50k, no warning, just sudden RPM.



I was chatting with someone the does a lot of towing. His RAM is totally stock. He lost his @ around 30k, then again before 100k after the dealer fix.

 

[Deezul1]

Mine came off and I used the "latest" DC nut and peened the poop out of it and it came off again not too much later. Now has a Blumenthal shaft in it