Converting 5 speed to 6 speed

[dieselboy25]

Has anyone out there converted an ETC 5 speed (NV 4500) to a 6 speed (NV 5600) with either size input shaft? I am looking to get rid of the 2-3 and 3-4 gaps with my current transmission when I upgrade my clutch. I tow a horse trailer that is around 10,000lbs. I have talked with Peter at South Bend briefly about this and he offers a conversion clutch kit. I also know Enterprise Engine has new NV 5600 listed on their site. Is this conversion practical and cost-effective or should I just get a gear splitter?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[MikeR]

Practical just to get rid of the gaps? It all depends on how much money you have to spend. It would be easy to convert your '99,just the cost of the transmission that's the big question.



Why don't you just get a US Gear overdrive to split gears. I think that would be the best of both worlds.



-Mike

 

[dieselboy25]

Mike,

I looked at the US Gear site and the Dual Range Auxiliary Transmission for the Dodge and it priced (retail) within a few hundred dollars of the NV 5600 from Enterprise. I just don’t know what else is required to convert between the two. I am also concerned about the 5-gear nut with my current NV 4500. I don’t always drive my truck to horse shows so I am looking for a solution that is for less mechanically mind people (girlfriend) to use. I am not very familiar with the US Gear product so I may be ignoring an obvious answer.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[MikeR]

If you get an early 6spd with the small input shaft(just like my truck),then you won't need the conversion clutch kit. The later style(2001+) will of course need the different clutch.



I looked into this back when I had a '99 5spd. Once your clutch thing is figured out,all you'll need to do for the swap is: shorten the rear driveshaft,lenghten the front driveshaft,and get the longer tranfser case shift rod... that's it,pretty straight forward.



Email me,I have a number to a place that sells remanufactured US Gear O/D units for about $1200.



-Mike

 

[massdiesel]

Hey guys I just did the same thing and went thru the same thoughts your are right now. This what we have a 12v 3500 5 spd hauling a 42ft horse trailer always weighing over 15k and does see in the 20k mark and we thought about the trans swap and the overdrives forget about the gear vendors they will not last. The nv4500 we have beat this trans thru the pavement with 400h. p. and it has failed, 1 broken input shaft did the upgrade to the 5th gear nut at the same time. We did also lose a trans and transfer case due to a case failure. This truck also has 200,000 miles and only tows so we are very happy to say that the nv 4500 is the choice to stay with and we chose the us gear unit and it is the perfect setup being able to split every gear when need be no more gaps in between gears. Most of all pepole can use it or not because we do have women that drive it. So my recomendation is due the 5th gear splined shaft and nut and a usgear trans and you will be very happy and goodluck on your choice.

 

[trbotrk]

MIKER--I would like to hear more info on those rebuilt usgear units. I haven't figured out how to email with this new system yet