Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) NV 4500 to G56 6 speed conversion !!!

[JBeasley]

hello, sorry i was gone so long. i,m building a house and got a new baby 3 weeks ago, so you can imagine how busy i,ve been. i think you could probably do one without a body lift. you would definetly have to do some "hammer molding" to the floor pan and even then the whole top of the trans. is going to set against the floor pan. i had allready put a body lift on my truck several years ago for other reasons, but i'm glad i had it because it made this swap alot easier. the floor pan hitting is really the least of your worries. it would hit the bottom of the 4x4 shifter and it would also be in the way of the linkage. also with no body lift the trans. to engine bolts on top would be almost impossible to get to. i'm going to put together another complete kit for this swap and try to do an article in TDR with alot of pictures. i'm going to do it on a truck without a body lift. i'm sure it can be done it's just alot more work. i didn't think a body lift was such a big deal, i've had one on the last 4 dodge cummins i've owned. they are cheap, easy to put on and makes working on anything under the truck alot easier with the body not setting right on top of everything. on anything else i think they look retarded, but you can't even tell on a dodge. iv'e always gone with a 2". anyway it may be a while before i can do an article with everything else i have to do right know, but i will.

 

[CTD12V]

Hey, thanks for the update and answers JBeasley! Congrats on the baby and good luck on the house.



I've never really paid close attention to what a Dodge looks like with a body lift--I just know I generally dislike the looks on anything else I've seen it on (you know, Chevys, Nissans, Toyotas ). I know what it's like to lack the time to do anything, but I can't wait until you get the write-up done! Oo. Hope you can find the time for it soon.



Thanks for the info!



CTD12V

 

[therabbittree]

any updates and pics?

Thanks,

Deo

 

[ewcmr2]

FYI for anyone reading this old thread...



You don't need a body lift to put a G56 in a 2nd gen Ram. Just notch the transmission crossmember 1. 5" and it slips right in.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Would it be possible to get some pics of this conversion? For example, the "notch" Ecmr2, I thought the earlier posts indicated you needed a crossmember from a later model. Did you use your 97 cross member or a later one? I plan on keeping my 98 for a good while and wouldn't mind tackling a 6 speed conversion.

 

[GAmes]

Thanks to ewcmr2 I have been putting the parts together for the swap. Here is a pic of the crossmember mockup for the welder/fabricator. If you do a search he has posted the measurements and other essential info. I have been taking pictures of my progress and plan on a post when the swap is complete. In a nutshell, the mount has to be placed 1 1/2 inches lower and 2 1/2 inches behind the current NV4500 attachment point. This is a 2WD, I have no knowledge if 4WD measurements would be different. However the crossmember I am using is out of a 4WD and is the same as my crossmember.

 

[ewcmr2]

A bunch of info is at https://www.turbodieselregister.com...94-1998/205340-12v-six-speed-swap-speedo.html



'98+ would be easier to modify since it starts our wider. I used my '97 crossmember because I already had it... and if I'm cutting/welding anyway why source ($) a '98+ that would still need cut/welded (just not as much).



I'm not the computer type, I can e-mail pics but not post. GAmes pic gives you the idea or maybe he will post a pic of my completed crossmember.

 

[GAmes]

... ... ... . maybe he will post a pic of my completed crossmember.

No problem. From two angles

 

[magoo]

hey pete from pennsylvania im looking to do the same swap

if u had and info that would be great

happy with 5 speed? or do u think u should have went with a 6 speed

 

[CCiatteo]

What is the going price for G56 box, used but in good shape? There is on craigslist local to me for $2600? is that good bad or about right?

Chris

 

[GAmes]

What is the going price for G56 box, used but in good shape? There is on craigslist local to me for $2600? is that good bad or about right?



Chris

If it includes the transfer case and the shift lever I would say the price is fair. I paid $2200 for mine but had to buy the shift lever because the seller had thrown the original into the metal scrap pile. Shift lever costs about $100 new from mopar4less.

 

[CCiatteo]

If it includes the transfer case and the shift lever I would say the price is fair. I paid $2200 for mine but had to buy the shift lever because the seller had thrown the original into the metal scrap pile. Shift lever costs about $100 new from mopar4less.

So if its just the box, then its not such a good deal.....



Thanks for the info. I am very interested in your swap so keep us posted on the details.



Chris

 

[GAmes]

Like I said, I plan on a lengthy post when I have it together. That said, I don't want to steal any of Eric's (ewcmr2) thunder. I would have never started this project had he not paved the way. He has also gone out of his way to provide me info and photos.

 

[ewcmr2]

What is the going price for G56 box, used but in good shape? There is on craigslist local to me for $2600? is that good bad or about right?

I'd offer less. I got mine shipped to me, with shifter, for $2200.

 

[magoo]

Nice job. I did a auto to NV4500 in my 97 about a month ago and it was alot easier than I thought it would be.

hey pete from PA im doing same conversion as u just did if u had any tips for me that would be great plz email me at -- email address removed --

 

[GAmes]

hey pete from PA im doing same conversion as u just did if u had any tips for me that would be great plz email me at -- email address removed --

Pete might not be a member any more. His post was 3 years ago.