Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) How far can you go without 5th gear.

[kcv67]

I just got back from vacation, lost fifth gear and still went on my way 1500 miles later I am ready to fix it. Is the 5th gear fix the way to go or do I need to rebuld?

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

I figured I'd give the updated nut a try because my 5 speed did not in my opinion need a rebuild. (shifted fine,fluid came out very clean). I put the updated nut on it and staked it @199k miles. I'm at 226. 5 now. If it slips again,I will put the fully splined mainshaft. Its not a job you want to do over again if you can help it.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Casey, I saw where one of the members here has gone 12,000 miles without 5th gear

Sorry to hear that happened on your vacation. A couple NW Bombers saw you on your trip, one in Oregon and one in Montana . . . Mark K says you wouldn't wave back at him. . . but then I see he ignored you right back :-laf

 

[RT66DOC]

Casey, I saw where one of the members here has gone 12,000 miles without 5th gear

That would be me.



Now over 13k and a year. Runs great. Gonna get a roundtuit one of these days. FWIW, I get >18 mpg with this 4 spd set-up.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Hey Doc,You need to change your signature to a 4 speed NV4500 :-laf

 

[jacqnbill]

I just got back from vacation, lost fifth gear and still went on my way 1500 miles later I am ready to fix it. Is the 5th gear fix the way to go or do I need to rebuld?

I lost the 5th gear and drove from Abiline Texas to San Francisco with no problem. Fuel milage was almost the same. I had the gear repaired and lost it again 20k later. I installed a Standard Transmission from Ft Worth (1450 dollars) with the upgraded shaft. Don't know how long it will last. Sold the truck.

 

[TKemper]

I'm almost embarrassed to say this, but this October will make 2 years without 5th gear. I've had a complete rebuild kit and mainshaft for about a year, but keep putting it off. I lost 5th towing a boat to S. Carolina, funny thing is it made it there while towing, but lost the gear at the begining of the trip coming home empty. The truck will still do 70 thanks to the 3k GSK, and I used it to plow all last winter. The trans does'nt make any noise and still shifts OK. I've got a 98 24v auto that I'm driving now for the most part, so I'll be tearing into that trans soon enough. Later... Todd

 

[Boomer II]

I lost 5th three times, twice on long trips. The improved nut is worthless.

I've got the fully splined shaft setup now, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[R C Cola]

Check previous thread

Brad gave a good response to this one. Expecially if you tow a lot. How many times do you wish to take the transfer case out and make a repair.

Tack weld and you never will go back for the same problem.

Good Luck... R C

 

[Forrest Nearing]

that's what my buddy has done on all his car hauling rigs... when 5th goes, he has the updated nut installed and then has it welded... never had one come off once he started having them welded.



Forrest

 

[BrandonThompson]

Mine is welded as well. Pulled it out and did it ourselves. Seems to work fine 10K later and i hope it remains that way.

 

[kcv67]

How did you weld the nut? Did you weld it directly to the shaft or to the gear and washer?

 

[R C Cola]

Weld

3 small tacks directly to the shaft. The down time cost me far more than paying someone for the proper fix. There is almost no stress on the weld tacks, just there to keep the nut from turning. I also will let you guys know if I do develope trouble with this. Mine is a high miliage, high torque, heavy load application. I average about 10,000 miles a month between 15,000 and 26,000 pounds. So far no trouble. Good luck... . R C

 

[edmeyers]

i am putting mine back together right now i torque the nut until i twisted the impact drive adapter off then i user my 150 torque wrench until i busted it too good thing its a craftsman ha ha then i drilled the shaft about 1/4" deep where the set screws go in ran them in until i broke all the 1/8" allen wrenches i had. i had the old nut set screws and used them in behind the other set screws and thinking back now i should haved installed the old nut behind that and drilled the shaft again but oh well next time right ha ha

 

[djbobo]

How for can you go without 5th gear?



4th!



I know - everyone likes a little a**



Is this fix visable from the outside cuz I've got over 200 k with no probs pulling heavy ... ..... I bought it used & tow in 5th quite often. How worried is one to be.



dj

 

[SRadke]

I have a neighbor that put about 100k miles on his in 4th. At the time he was driving about 120k per year and simply didn't have time to fix it. No harm done.



-Scott

 

[edmeyers]

seems like the perfect fix for fifth gear i to just take the gear and nut out, install a gearvendors overdrive and you never have to worry about fifth gear again. LOL

 

[shiffer]

Go for 6

Lost my 5th gear at 180k (on test drive after putting in #10 plate, worried me for a minute) repaired with improved nut and lost it again at 187k. Decided I did not want to do this again, so bit the bullet and installed NV5600 from Blumenthal, bout $3400. LOVE it, would do it again in a heart beat. My truck is at 1500 after a 2800 rpm shift for all 6 gears. As far as how long you can go with it out. If anyone has a chance to see one that has the back case off, you will see you can do almost no damage with 5th out.

 

[edmeyers]

how much did the whole conversion end up costing and which one of peter's clutches did you use.

 

[shiffer]

cost of conversion from blumenthal was around $3400 came with Southbend 13"con fe clutch, NEW transmission, flywheel and conversion kit (just a mounting bracket,trans case rod ext. and B/U light ext. ) Paid 200 bucks to have my drive shafts sized and new u joints installed at same time. Don't 'member how much U-joints where but it is worth it to change them while the driveshafts are being worked on anyway. Install took me most of the day, but was by myself. The 5600 is VERY heavy. recomend you use a lift. I have a lift, but could only find a floor model transmission jack to rent. So I installed the transmission on my back (ouch) and lifted it up when I had it in to finish up. I have since bought a dual stage transmission jack. But towing is such a breeze now, and after much research Blumenthal has the best kit at the best price, I found one company reselling the Blumenthal kit with a $1k markup just for handling, don't remember who it was though. Hope all this helps.



Scott