Getrag in a 94 and up model.... Can it be done??

[Six_Man_Diesel]

How bout it boys, can it be done??? How much work is involved???? What parts will inerchange???

 

[pcorssmit]

What on earth would you want to do that for?



Pete

 

[Six_Man_Diesel]

Buddy of mine has a 96 model with an auto that has bit the dust. His old truck was a 90 model I believe, (wrecked) and he asked if I could find out if it was possible, so I did.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

getrag in a 2nd gen, youd still have to get the 2nd gen parts for the clutch hydrolics and petals, fly wheel etc. spend the money and go NV4500 or better yet how about a NV5600 ?

 

[bflood]

Doesn't sound like a good idea (especially if you plan on doing any heavy hauling) even if it can be done. I've heard the GETRAG has poorly designed bearings. Don't ask me for more details, all I know is I burned up my GETRAG several months ago while hauling my 14000# GNflatbed 2200 miles cross country (100K on truck). :{

It started vibrating with a light 5th gear growl on the empty outbound trip, just crusing at 60-65mph. The bearings cooked 1/2 way back with loaded trailer. I've just installed a temp gauge as some bit of insurance if this rebuilt starts to go. If this one starts to go I'll strongly consider an upgrade conversion rather than pour money into a pit.



BTW, I got ripped off at the boonie Dodge dealer to boot but thats another story yet to be published.



Sorry but I can't be upbeat about the GETRAG.



Best wishes!

 

[Evan A. Beck]

The Getrag is a piece of junk... I just replaced one last week in a 92. We opted to put in an NV4500, and what a good choice that was. It turned the truck into a whole new vehicle. Drivability is so much better now, and it is a pleasure to drive.

 

[4020Deere]

IMHO, The Getrag isn't all that bad of a transmission. It's built pretty heavy, actually. Although the problem with the bearing failures are common, it seems that Getrag didn't have enough oil in the case of the transmission to give the front bearing enough lube. The way to solve this is to 'overfill' the transmission by 1 quart. I had read about this in a Chrysler service bulletin a few years ago. I did this to mine, and haven't had a problem. I did have to have mine rebuilt at 150K miles, but only because one of the countershaft bearings was 'squeaking'. This is one of the bearings that is always submersed in oil too. The rest of the transmission internals looked to be in great shape. In 1993, the NV4500 was used on HD trucks with gas engines, and the Getrag on Cummins equipped trucks. Looking over my manual, the NV4500 doesn;t look to be as heavy of transmission as the Getrag is.

 

[bflood]

4020Deere, thanks for your info. I had heard recently from a friend about overfilling the transmission too. I plan to do this, I now have the parts. I'm putting a Tee into the fill plug with a close nipple. Off the Tee, I'm putting a temp sensor on the bottom and a 2" nipple and cap on the top for overfilling. I plan on getting cooling extensions (depending on cost) that mount off the PTO ports on either side which add 1qt each and help cool the fluid. I forget the name of the manufacturer but I have it bookmarked and right now I can't find it.



Your the 1st person who had anything good to say anything good about the GETRAG. :-{}



Standard Transmission has a writeup on this transmission at http://www.standardtransmission.com/dodge.html.

Good read

 

[ScottB]

How exactly are you guys geting the extra quart of oil in the trans. I need to be doing this.

 

[4020Deere]

Scott,



You'll have to take the shifter boot off, then take the shifter out. This is done with a snap ring pliers. It's a pretty big snap ring, so be prepared with a good snap ring pliers. Once the shifter is out, just pour in the extra quart. To re-assemble, get an extra hand. The shifter is spring-loaded, and it's tough to try and hold it in, while re-installing the snap ring. Get a buddy to hold the shifter down in while you install the snap ring. The whole job should only take about 20 minutes or so.

 

[Mel Fuelling]

Or put 2 ramps down on the right side of your pickup and drive

up on them. It will then hold about another quart. If you want

to put more in, park it on something steeper.



Ryan Automotive, a well respected manual transmission and

rear end shop in Council Bluffs, IA, recommended that I run

an extra 1 1/2" of oil to better lubricate the main shaft bearings.

I don't think they have anyone else trying it but they said the

Getrag should stay together behind the Cummins if the countershaft preload is maintained and if I could keep the main

shaft bearings better lubricated. They said that International

used to build a truck with a transmission that burned out main

shaft bearings and when they increased the oil level to cover

the mainshaft, no more transmission problems. I've been running my Getrag overfull for 5,000 miles, no leaks. I hope

it will go at least another 395k before it needs another bearing kit.