Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Dumb 5spd question

[plongson]

This may be too obvious to some but, can the fully splined replacement main shaft in the NV4500 be changed while the trans is still hanging in the truck? After pulling the tail end off and the shifter out, it seems the main shaft should follow.

 

[B.G. Smith]

The mainshaft extends all the way to the front of the trans. and rests inside a bearing in the input shaft. There is at least one snap ring up there that will have to be removed before the shaft could come out, the manual shows it being remove (with all the gears) from the top opening of the trans. case. bg

 

[plongson]

Oh well, It was a good shot anyway. Tha last trans I had apart, once the shift forks were out of the way and the tail was off, the main shaft came right out, but that was on my 56' Fairlane. It has needle bearing in the front and not a cone though. Thanks for the info...



PS BG, have you had any trouble with your 5th gear??

 

[NBowlin]

that is right where i am at right now. i twisted the mainshaft off right at third/fourth grear. you couldnt tell by looking at it. you had to spin everything and hold the one side and it wouldnt turn it in 3rd/4th. i tried to take everything out the opposite side from 5th gear. all you can do is put a little play in it. thats when you could see the breakage i had. you have to take all the guts out to do anything with it. and the 150 dollar stinkin wrench to mess with the 5th gear nut.



in regards to that do any of you know any tricks to getting the old one off anf the new one on? i bought the updated one with the shaft. i couldnt swing 150 for a wrench i was going to use once. sorry to take away from the original post, but he may have the same question soon enough. thank you

 

[SRadke]

I'm not sure whick wrench you're talking about. There are two sockets that he manual says you need, one to hold the shaft and the other to turn the nut. I did without hte one on the shaft by puting the trans in 1st gear and having a guy hold the clutch disk on the input shaft while I turned. This povides a 5:1 advantage for him. It may also be possible to get it in a bind by placing it in two diffrent gears at the same time with the top removed... not sure?



The second socket goes on the nut. One choice is to drive it off with a hammer and chisle. This works but not well. I made a socket on the lathe from a piece of double strength pipe (I think it was 2"?). I turned the inside out to slide tight over the nut then drilled 1/4" holes through at each notch in the nut and slid a steel dowel down into each of them. Weld a not or something on the back to get a wrench on and you're good to go.



-Scott

 

[NBowlin]

yeah the one that looks like you need a spanner wrench. the one with the slots. that would be the one. when i ordered the rest of the parts that is what i was told that socket/wrench what ever costed. i was thinking of taking a spindle socket hacking off the end and welding it to something. they only cost well shouldnt be more that 30 bucks, but i am guessing the one on hand wont fit or somthing stupid like that. just wonderin if any of you clever ole timers :-laf knew any little tricks. thanks i appreciate it.

 

[markdixon]

I believe miller makes a cheap socket to fit the nut. it cost around $30. 00. I don't have the part # on hand the tool works ok the socket would probably be better tool do a search you should find the part# and vendor.

 

[plongson]

Sounds like instead of having a dowl pin jig touring the country, we need a 5th gear nut socket making the rounds

 

[jrobinson2]

quad4x4.com Has the 5th gear nut tool for $45. 00.

Jared

 

[TPlasek]

I used the redneck special to install mine,



a 4 foot long pipe wrench with the transmission being in gear. 45k trouble free miles so far.

 

[SRadke]

Originally posted by NBowlin

Just wonderin if any of you clever ole timers :-laf knew any little tricks. Thanks i appreciate it.

As old as I feel I was born way back in '82. Not complaining but I missed out on the whole muscle car era.



-Scott

 

[plongson]

... I missed out on the whole muscle car era.



-Scott

DAMN... And whata time that was too!!! They didn't turn sharp, but they sure went "straight" fast...



Me, circa 1954

 

[NBowlin]

i was born in 82 as well.



hey i got that nut off with a pipe wrench and a pipe. got it all apart, back together, no left over parts

everything worked aside from fifth gear wouldnt work... . it was on of the things with teeth on it on backwards. put the 5th gear nut back on with a spanner wrench, a pipe two guys hangin on it then a few bounces until the wrench's life ended. so its broken spanner wrench tight and has the set screws in her. hope it works.



i took pictures of the broken main shaft i will get them on here when i can talk the camera's owner into sending them to me, for those if any that are interested.



also another thing that is worrying me is that when i ordered the parts from standard trans. i told them i needed the oil to refill it. they sent a gallon. i dont have a owners man. or anything. is that all it is supposed to hold? if not what can i add something else to it or no? cause it will take 2weeks for it to get here if its not enough, and the poor truck has been sitting 2. 5 weeks as it is. i have a brand new usb turbo that i havent even gotten to take past 30psi i want the truck back!!

 

[jrobinson2]

I think it takes 4 qts stock and 6 qts with fastcoolers.

Jared

 

[SRadke]

Yep, 1 gallon in stock form.



-Scott