’99 Ram manual transmission - rebuild or replace

[bcbender]

Yeah. I had 4:10s on my truck so running highways in 6th was not an issue since I was above 2200 almost always... My friend's truck has 3:73 and he ended up putting two mufflers on his 05 due to drone and still complains about it...

 

[Gearclash]

Funny thing was I noticed no drone whatsoever in the driver’s seat.

 

[SAndreasen]

Pictures of my nephew’s truck, my trailer and load. 250 mi one way run. Truck handled the trailer and load easily; however, running loaded in 6th gear produced a head splitting drone for the front seat passenger so I was forced to run 5th when loaded. Otherwise it was really quiet in the cab, lot better than my ‘99 Cummins. View attachment 139370View attachment 139371

If you are running light loads like that rebuild the nv and get on with life . I run 30 gross all day long. Sometimes 35

 

[Gearclash]

I have been in the 30-32,000 gross in the past. Used to be we hauled corn with GN trailers, that was a workout. Think I saw 33,000 once. Glad that phase of life is over. Any heavy hauling I do from now on will likely be occasional. Even so, I dislike the 5 speed ratios even running around empty.

 

[SAndreasen]

I have been in the 30-32,000 gross in the past. Used to be we hauled corn with GN trailers, that was a workout. Think I saw 33,000 once. Glad that phase of life is over. Any heavy hauling I do from now on will likely be occasional. Even so, I dislike the 5 speed ratios even running around empty.

I always wanted one those gooseneck grain trailers . I don’t mind the gear ratios sure they could be better but you’re not driving a semi it doesn’t hurt anything to run rpm’s up high then shift that helps a lot .

 

[Gearclash]

We had two grain trailers back then. One was a Donahue (16 foot maybe?) with a hoist type box, held around 300 bu. My brother pulled it with his ’97 2500 Cummins, automatic. The other was a Killbros 350 dual center dump box on a short stout Redi Haul trailer. It was good for 325 bu usually. I pulled that one. The few times I kept track of fuel use I found I averaged 8mpg over the whole tank. 50% of miles were loaded. Didn’t help that the box was kind of tall and wide, had the aero of a parachute. When I drug a CIH MX170 halfway across the US I averaged 9 mpg and that was just as heavy and 100% loaded miles LOL!

 

[SAndreasen]

We had two grain trailers back then. One was a Donahue (16 foot maybe?) with a hoist type box, held around 300 bu. My brother pulled it with his ’97 2500 Cummins, automatic. The other was a Killbros 350 dual center dump box on a short stout Redi Haul trailer. It was good for 325 bu usually. I pulled that one. The few times I kept track of fuel use I found I averaged 8mpg over the whole tank. 50% of miles were loaded. Didn’t help that the box was kind of tall and wide, had the aero of a parachute. When I drug a CIH MX170 halfway across the US I averaged 9 mpg and that was just as heavy and 100% loaded miles LOL!

They are a big trailer built like a backwards parachute but boy I would love to have one . My big gmc only gets 5 mpg so even at 9 that’s a quite bit better . Only time I ever got that low mileage was running 85 on the interstate at about only 20,000 pounds but I kept it right to the floor for 8 hours round trip

 

[Turbo Terry]

I drove a new Cummins 6 speed in 2005. Not long but I loved it. Brand new not even broke in it was very smooth. It would be my choice also

 

[Gearclash]

Opened the NV4500 up and this is what I found. Any supplier recommendations for the input shaft and counter shaft?
It doesn’t make sense to swap to a 6 speed as much as I would like to. The money that would cost could better be put toward a different pickup as the cab on this one is too small, and I would like to get into a DRW if I get something different.

 

[NIsaacs]

https://torqueking.com/product/1019...1-1-4-x-10-spline-dodge-nv4500hd-input-shaft/

https://torqueking.com/product/1070...v4500-transmission-countershaft-for-dodge-gm/

https://torqueking.com/product/1000...mplete-nv4500-bearing-and-seal-kit-for-dodge/

 

[GAmes]

Don't forget Standard Transmission and Gear – Tremec – Borg Warner – New Venture – Getrag, Cummins, 4 speed transmission, 5 speed transmission, 6 speed transmission

 

[Gearclash]

$700 ish to fix the transmission -- I think I can live with that.

Any comments about putting a stock size input shaft back in? If the input shaft size is increased what becomes the next weak link? I’m running at 300 engine hp presumably.

 

[Ozymandias]

Either fix it as cheap as possible to sell and replace truck - or do it right and replace the transmission with a better unit. Stringing band-aid's together is nonsens.

Jm2c

 

[GAmes]

Any comments about putting a stock size input shaft back in? If the input shaft size is increased what becomes the next weak link? I’m running at 300 engine hp presumably.

Of all the NV4500 I had that failed (12) none broke the input shaft. I dynoed 313/756

 

[Gearclash]

Either fix it as cheap as possible to sell and replace truck - or do it right and replace the transmission with a better unit. Stringing band-aid's together is nonsens.

Jm2c

In this situation the only thing “better” is the closer gear ratios of the 6 speed. This NV4500 can clearly handle the power. The ONLY reason it failed was a lack of oil and I will be impressed if you can show me a 6 speed that will survive that.

 

[Gearclash]

Of all the NV4500 I had that failed (12) none broke the input shaft. I dynoed 313/756

Dynoed at the wheels? If so probably at least 350 at the flywheel? I should be plenty safe then.

 

[GAmes]

Dynoed at the wheels?

Yes, and spent most of it's life towing commercially.

 

[NIsaacs]

The ONLY reason it failed was a lack of oil

Did you check/drain the t-case? That might be where your transmission oil went. If they don't have an external oil leak it is easy to neglect checking the oil level. You may want to reseal the t-case at this time.

 

[Gearclash]

Did you check/drain the t-case? That might be where your transmission oil went. If they don't have an external oil leak it is easy to neglect checking the oil level. You may want to reseal the t-case at this time.

I neglected to mention it but your suspicion is correct. When I drained the transfer case there was a lot of gear oil in it from the 5 speed. There was also leakage from between the 5 speed and the transfer case. Had I been better about checking the oil level or even changing it, this NV4500 would still be humming along happily. It is what it is. Back when my brother was running a ’97 2500 Cummins, he was rebuilding the automatic roughly every 30,000 miles at a cost of around $3,000. He figured the 10 cents a mile cost was peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

 

[BigPapa]

Back when my brother was running a ’97 2500 Cummins, he was rebuilding the automatic roughly every 30,000 miles at a cost of around $3,000. He figured the 10 cents a mile cost was peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

If he’d build it with the proper heavy duty parts like a Goerend VB, TC, and various other parts, it would cost a bit more but would perform much better and last a LOT longer. In the long run, much cheaper per mile.