New Owner Questions

[MWehmeyer]

Had my truck for 5 days now and have a ton of "dumb" questions. Manuals are on the way.

Truck is 91. 5 W250 4x4 5spd - so here goes... .

1. What's all the discussion on manual transmissions between 'Getrag' and 'NVxxx'?

2. I notice my rig sits a bit lower in the back - don't see anything noticeable so I'm thinking rear shocks might be gone?

3. Can anyone tell me where the jack is supposed to be? I found the lug wrench and jack handle on the right fender where the placard says they're supposed to be but my intercooler pipe is where the picture shows the jack to be?



Thanks in advance!

Mike

 

[BTighe]

first off, welcome to the tdr. tons of great people.

sagging in the rear sound like you need new rear springs

dont know anything about 1st gens

 

[dan brooks]

The Getrag is the manual transmission that came in the 1st Generation trucks. NV4500 is a later model 5-speed, and the NV5600 is a 6-speed. The NV4500 is generally considered an upgrade for the Getrag, but requires some work. The NV5600 is better, but requires even more work.



Shocks will have little to do with ride height - that is a function of the springs, so if it's squatting in the rear the springs are probably a little weak.



The normal location for the jack is on the radiator support near the lower passenger side, below the radiator overflow tank. It's pretty well hidden - I discovered mine after I owned the truck for several months.

 

[JLEONARD]

Mike,

Welcome to the asylum!! Oo.

Jay

 

[tugboatphil]

Welcome Aboard, Mike!



If your truck is like both of the ones I bought, the jack is long gone. Mine is not quite sagging in the rear, but my rear springs have seen better days. Your previous owner may have done a lot of overload towing.

 

[MWehmeyer]

Guys thanks for the quick responses and warm welcome!

On the springs what's the recommend course? Junk yard or new and what's a rough order of cost for something like that? Truck was used by a landscaper so it probably did a bit of overloaded hauling.

I don't expect the jack to be there - just trying to figure out where it should go although I'm think'n a High Lift might be a better solution.

Had the shift boot off the rig this weekend trying to figure out if I could adjust the shifter angle (I'm short so the 'throw' to fifth is a reach) and noted that the cut out in the floor pan is pretty rough - like it's been reworked so I'm wondering if the transmission I have is stock. How would I tell in terms of markings on the transmission case?

Mike

 

[Bluebird]

Welcome to a great and informative site! No questions are dumb around here. I ask stuff all the time and get outstanding responses. Warning: You may become addicted to you CTD, and your family and friends will notice it and become very concerned..... Patrick :~)

 

[TKingsbury]

Does your truck have lift springs in the front? If so, it may be nose high and not sagging. That's the way mine was when I got it, a little nose high. I just put a set of Skyjacker Soft-rides in the rear of mine. I put the 6" lift ones and took out the blocks. They ride alot better than my old ones, but do squat a bit when you put some weight in it.

Travis. .

 

[Paychk]

Had the shift boot off the rig this weekend trying to figure out if I could adjust the shifter angle (I'm short so the 'throw' to fifth is a reach) and noted that the cut out in the floor pan is pretty rough - like it's been reworked so I'm wondering if the transmission I have is stock. How would I tell in terms of markings on the transmission case?

Mike

The Getrag will have "Getrag" cast into the drivers side & maybe even the numeral "360", can't miss it.



BTW Welcome!

 

[bgilbert]

Mike on the spring height, try finding a good spring and alignment shop in your area that does big rigs and heavy duty trucks. You can have the rear springs rearched, and have a leaf added to the spring pack. Not just a simple add a leaf, but a true rearch where they heat up the leaves and 'rearch' them, then add a thicker or longer or stronger leaf to the pack. Much cheaper than a set of new leaf springs. Stay away from JC Whitney leafs. As far as price goes, for rearch and add a leaf job runs about $200-300. You can remove the shifter lever and heat it up and bend it to your likeing. Or you might be able to heat it up and bend it in the truck, don't know, but the previous owner of my truck heated and bent my shifter lever. Welcome the TDR !!

 

[TKingsbury]

I bent my shift lever, actually the part that goes into the trans, I left the lever straight. The shifter does interfere with the ashtray a little, but I can still use the lighter as a powerpoint without trouble. If you need your ashtray to fully extend without interference you will have to bend the lever and not the part at the trans. You can heat and bend the trans part without removal, but be sure not to melt out the rubber at the bottom of the lever where it screws on. This is probably clear as mud, no?

Travis. .

 

[MWehmeyer]

Guys thanks for all the good info - having the springs rearched this week - $350 by Benz in Portland and I know they're a reputable shop.



Mike

 

[bgilbert]

Mike, let us know how the rearch goes, and if you're happy with it. Make sure you get before and after wheelweel heights. They should be able to get it to almost any height you want, within factory specs though, no huge lifts or nothing.

 

[MWehmeyer]

Good point - will measure that in the morning - I'm shooting for "level" when they're done but I guess I never thought about there being a factory spec for wheelwell height.

 

[MWehmeyer]

OK - just got the wee beastie back from the spring shop and boy did they do a nice job! Measured the wheelwell heights last night before I took her in and they were all over the place so when I took it in this morning I told them I was shooting for level and they said they'd take care of it. Turns out that left spring measured an inch flatter than the right - guy said that "the snap had been knocked out of it". They took 'em apart, rearched, added a leaf, put it all back together again with new eyebolts and U bolts in about 4 hours for just over $300. Of course, now I've got to figure out if the shocks are any good :-laf

 

[bgilbert]

Well we gonna get to see a pic of the wee beastie?? What were your measurements before and after? Are ya level now, little higher in the rear? They will settle over a period of time, could be a week, could be longer, but this will depend on their work, how much heat they put to them in the rearch process. Was this a front and rear rearch? Are ya happy?

 

[MWehmeyer]

OK, managed to load a picture of the beast over in my gallery