FORD saves single mom!!!!

[SOOT]

Marshall's Mom here!!

Picture this... my 99 Dodge 3/4 ton cummins 4wd with a borrowed gooseneck (another story), 3 teenage girls (not mine) 5 horses and gear happily rolling along to a barrel race. Got it?

Then the dreaded attack of the fifth gear loss, again, or so I think. I ease the truck into 4th and soon take our exit. Downshift into 3rd only to have nothing but rpms! Same thing for 2nd and granny!!! Now we are sitting under the interstate in the middle of the lane!! The only gear I have is 4th with a large very loaded trailer. Put it in 4wd you say, won't engage. Well... I found out I can start a load in 4th, but sure makes the clutch stink!

So on to the barrel race, good place to be broke down with horses. An uncle of one of the girls with me showed up and thoughtfully loaned me a Ford. So we come home in luxury with a full crew cab and FIVE forward gears. Now my sorry Dodge is stranded 175 miles from home and I have a Ford that needs to go 250 miles to its home. Hmmm... .

Then last night the brother of the Ford owner comes by to tell me HIS Dodge transmission went out Saturday and he needs the Ford to rescue him!!!

So based on personal experience and unofficial research, here is my conclusion... Dodge owners need to keep a Ford on standby!!!!

Any ideas? I think I feel better after venting some frustration.

Karen

 

[duaneparks]

Sorry to hear about the failure. Good thing you were as close as you were to the races... that could have been a lot worse.



As a 5speed owner, I have a thought...



If/when my NV4500 goes south, I'm replacing it with a NV5600. I'm saving my pennies as I write this. The 5600 has better gear spacing, especially for towing, IMHO.



There is a reliable fix for the NV4500 though. It's not cheap, but it is a permanent fix with replacement parts. I'm sure others will chime in here with the name and experience with it (I have no experience with it obviously!).



Now as far as driving around in a TRUE CREW CAB, well, sometimes I wish the Cummins engine was an option in the F-250/F-350's (blasphemy, I know). I read a post on here once that suggested buying a Cummins engine and the F-250/F-350 of your choice, put the PSD on ebay, and install the Cummins in the Ford.

Duane

 

[SOOT]

Thanks Duane

My son suggested something like that. He works on these things, but seeing as he lives in WY and I am in TX, it is somewhat difficult to use him.

Thanks for the suggestion. Now all I need is money.

Karen

 

[jwinnie]

Extend your transmission's life!!

In my experience the NV4500 is a good transmission. It just has a tough time dealing with the torque of the cummins. After years of research I have developed a fool proof way to make these trannys last as long as they would in a Ford application. After the transmission is fixed fabricate a block of wood 1. 5" square. With some double sided tape place the wood under the accelerator pedal. This will keep the pedal from going down more than half way and your power output will be equal to the Ford. Your transmission will be much happier



Good luck!!



John

 

[John Berger]

Re: Extend your transmission's life!!

Originally posted by jwinnie

In my experience the NV4500 is a good transmission. It just has a tough time dealing with the torque of the cummins. After years of research I have developed a fool proof way to make these trannys last as long as they would in a Ford application. After the transmission is fixed fabricate a block of wood 1. 5" square. With some double sided tape place the wood under the accelerator pedal. This will keep the pedal from going down more than half way and your power output will be equal to the Ford. Your transmission will be much happier



Good luck!!



John

:-laf :-laf :-laf YEAHH!!!! That's too funny.



Sorry to hear about the transmission trouble, though. That was awful nice of that Ford guy to loan you his truck. You sure he wasn't trying to get rid of it before it had problems? :-{}

 

[Ray Torresdal]

how many miles?

How many miles on the 5 speed? I've wondered about longevity, as I approach the 120,000 mile mark. I've also been told that the 5th gear problem is not nearly as prevalent in the later trucks?? (mine is a '01) I too, think that when my 5 speed dies, I'll look hard at a 6 speed.



Ray

 

[Deezul1]

My 5spd rebuild with the upgrade mainshaft, new 5th gear and nut, new bearings, new seals, synthetic oil and R+R was $950. Shop a little for someone thats not trying to get rich on 1 customer and doesnt go "huh" when you ask about the fully splined mainshaft.

 

[SOOT]

She has about 155,000 heavily loaded miles on the truck.



It also has DDII's, been piped, had the wastegate tied shut and has a boost fooler. So not exactly stock After I shattered the stock clutch at about 125,000 miles I put in a Con "O".

 

[SOOT]

FORD broke!!!!

OK ya'll will love this!!! Monday morning the Ford refused to go inot reverse or 1st. My youngest son and I had to push it! Do you know how heavy a crew cab diesel is? Then the brother of the Ford owner showed up to borrow it 'cause his Dodge transmission died over the weekend! He said it looks like the clutch is going out on the Ford! So now I'm driving a used-to-be-red 1989 Toyota that hasn't been off the ranch in years and is not street legal, but runs like a top. Finally, something dependable! If I could just figure out where to hook up the gooseneck!!!

Karen

 

[duaneparks]

Re: FORD broke!!!!

Originally posted by MMclain

OK ya'll will love this!!! Monday morning the Ford refused to go inot reverse or 1st. My youngest son and I had to push it! Do you know how heavy a crew cab diesel is? Then the brother of the Ford owner showed up to borrow it 'cause his Dodge transmission died over the weekend! He said it looks like the clutch is going out on the Ford! So now I'm driving a used-to-be-red 1989 Toyota that hasn't been off the ranch in years and is not street legal, but runs like a top. Finally, something dependable! If I could just figure out where to hook up the gooseneck!!!

Karen

Revenge is sweet. They say trucks don't have souls, but I'm here to tell you, they do, as you witnessed.



I fully believe a truck can get mad at you for nothing more than driving another vehicle. Mine does. Luckily it doesn't mind too much when I drive the girlfriend's car though.



Your Toyota must be a happy truck, and the Ford might be upset having to play 2nd fiddle to a couple of Dodges. Seriously though, good luck with the transmission deal.



Duane