Manual trans supplier - mysteryman

[bgilbert]

Background: One of the best TDR issue/article I've read, Volume 48 May/June/July 2005 on page 64- The First Turbo Diesel. For those of you that didn't read it, or newer members, this would definately be one of the back issues to order. It discusses how the Dodge and Cummins relationship started. The background history of the experimental 'mules'- trucks that Cummins put in the pickups and courted Dodge to select the 6BT. I've read this article numerous times.



Taken from the article: "We also had to select a manual transmission supplier. There were three major contenders: Tremec, Getrag, and New Process. Getrag was chosen because they were the only company that could meet production timing requirements. Even at that, manual transmissions were not available for the first diesels and were in limited availability for quite some time. "



To think we could've had a NP435 maybe or a Tremec 5 speed... If it was a 435, then we'd have both the auto and manual transmission equipped trucks with no overdrive . I find it very interesting this article and the selection of the Getrag. I wonder what our other options would've been??



Mysteryman or any others have any additional background information or thoughts on the engineering and or selection of the Getrag?

 

[Greenleaf]

Sould have borrowed the design from John Deere's 5020

 

[1stgen4evr]

I have not read the article as that was the issue just before I joined. I did however install a Perkins in a Ford (two in fact) in the late 70s and before that a Case engine in a Scout. We had a Cummns in a Chevy crew before the 89 Dodge came out. I can tell you that the transmission was a serious block, or a bit more to the point the available ratios to get the torque to the ground. There were NO options as to the 3. 07. Oh it was listed but no one could deliver it. The Munci in the Chevy was adequate for the load but the ratio was elcrapo. So without an OD, the engine was topped out on rpms. No one could guarantee that the market would buy into the diesels and even Dodge probably had to think long and hard about what combination to use. Doubtless had anyone been able to look in a crystal ball and see that they (the diesels) would dominate the market as they have, several suppliers would have been champing at the bit. And yes a lot of other things might have been forthcoming much sooner.



My take as a total outsider.



James

 

[pepecat]

I recall reading in one of mysteryman's posts about why they chose the getrag 360 over the nv4500 and it was because it handles better under vibration tests under load... ? Or something to that matter but I am sure he can and will chime in

 

[DVolk]

manual trans supplier

I really don't find that accurate ,its all whom bids the for the contract ,

there was tons of choices to which there was was ware houses cramed full of trannys ,because i know for a fact that fuller could have handeld the contract they were already produceing trannys for Paccar and Freightliner and International to go behind there medium duty trucks this includes Allison

for which had bell housing and trannys avalible in the 70;s Then Clark had 5 speed trannys sitting in ware houses ready to go as well

 

[Low 00's]

Hey DVOLK, how much rail pressure are you running to get 500rwhp out of a small cam 855?? :--)

 

[DVolk]

manual trans supplier

To answer the question of how much rail pressure im running in my 350 small cam 855block im not real sure ,as the fuel pressure guage broke :-{}

the guage was so bounceing so much i think the spring inside just gave up so

I need to go buy a glycerian filled guage up to im assumeing 300 psi because

it would bury the one thats in it .



When I fire the old girl up she will burp a littel at first because the timeing and

fuels been cranked up



I bought it as is but i do know the mechanic were i bought the mechanics lean out Hardy diesel in Portland said the prevous owner of the truck

told him to leave the timing as it was because it had a special setting ,



The truck gets it on and i sware once the the front wheels lifted when i got on it once a stop light ,not bad for a old farm truck :-laf



but then my old 335 would put out 480 just timing mainly

 

[SGibson]

The decision must have been made by the same team that put the 604 in the minivans, an equally inept trans as the getrag. Never knew what all the fuss was about till I owned one. The np540 would have been a better choice IMO, close ratio's,a 2-3 shift that's inline,better shifting action, and I believe np or nv was still owned by Chryco in 89. It's a direct in top transmission but w/3. 07's and a higher gsk it would be no biggie. I am going to look into it when my getrag goes south.

 

[pepecat]

"an equally inept trans as the getrag"

why not just $ave yourself some money and wisely rebuild the getrag properly and be done with it before you do some irreversable/more damage?

Mysteryman has gracefully posted many tips about this and they have helped everyone enormously.

 

[DVolk]

manual trans supplier

I dont know why they didnt just stick with thea modified 727 and adapt a transaxel for the mini vans ,those weak crappy things .

my sisters 96 town and country been back to transmission shop 3 times since rebuilt,all electronis in those are a junk ,all they needed was a speed sensor on the speedo,not that junk inside

 

[ARhine]

Has mysterymans "getrag tips" been made a sticky or posted in a faq somewhere. I was trying to find them.

 

[pepecat]

m-man

it was easy to find in mysteryman's prev. postings, which BTW I recommend rummaging thru to find more good info.

http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151380



btw it looks as though you yourself posted in response to this thread lol