Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) NV4500 Rebuild....need help!

[Cummins724]

My nv4500 broke today & is coming out in the morning. I have a appointment to get it rebuilt tomorrow afternoon, but have some questions. What mods should I do while it is out? Is their better bearings to use for better reliability or better syncros? I figure that I'll do it right while it is out. Any trick parts out for these trannys yet... like bulletproof parts etc. I want nice smooth shifts & would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[24VChev]

New fullysplined mainshaft with 5th gear to match, updated 5th gear nut and the rest is good. Just use the right oil in it and you should not have any problems, what let go?



Malcolm

 

[Cummins724]

Its been giving problems going into R, but today I was shifting 3-4th & clunk,clunk. I tried to keep going 100ft to my jobsite & it seemed to only happen going to 4th gear... then it got real bad when loading it on the trailer. Sometimes it would jam in R & not want to come out. Then it got noisy sitting still in neutral. It isn't the clutch for sure, but It sounds like the input bearings. I will know more in the morning, but luckily my friend said $200 to pull it & install. The transmission shop said it will be rebuilt tomorrow.

 

[Cummins724]

New fullysplined mainshaft with 5th gear to match, updated 5th gear nut and the rest is good. Just use the right oil in it and you should not have any problems, what let go?



Malcolm

I thought the 99 up had the updated shaft/nut?

 

[MarkMiller]

The "updated shaft" is aftermarket. Not original equipment, so it didn't come with any of them. I could be wrong, but I have never read that it came OE in any of them. (I have three, one in my 95 Dodge Cummins, 1989 Jeep w/ built smallblock, and just yanked one form my 99 Dodge Cummins in favor of a 5600)

 

[Cummins724]

I found out that 3rd gear broke a small piece off & it fell into the cluster & damaged it. The transmission is being rebuilt & should be ready for pickup tomorrow. I had to get the new cluster, 3rd gear, input shaft. I am getting a complete rebuild while it is out... . Better to do it now then later. The guy said $1500. for parts/labor..... Sound about right?

 

[BLively]

ive got a quick question about pulling the 4500, on the transmission crossmember, is there a total of 8 bolts holding it to the frame, or 4? i started pullin it out the other night and it got dark on me, and i didnt have any lights. i havent had a chance to check it out since then.

 

[Cummins724]

I paid a guy to do it this time, but if my memory is correct... . there are 4 in the crossmember where it bolts to the frame & 4 where it bolts to the transmission/t-case.

 

[BLively]

ok cool, so now all i have to do is start beating on the cross member with a hammer now, right? i guess i can relieve some tension!! thanks for the help!

 

[supersonic]

There are a total of eight (8) bolts holding the crossmember to the frame. In the center of the crossmember there are two nuts that hold the back of the transmission.

It is easier, after you have all the bolts out, to use a floor jack to raise the trans up till it barely touches the floorboard, this gives you more room to work the crossmember out without interfering with the studs on the isolator, remember before jacking the trans up, to remove the bolts that hold your exhaust hanger. On most trucks it is easier/nessasary, to use a port a power to spread the framerails a bit so that the crossmember is relaxed enough to be coaxed out. You will want to tap the crossmember up a bit as it is sort of "V " shaped to the frame, then wiggle/hammer it backwards till it drops through the straight part of the frame. Good luck!

 

[HPetrat]

What "supersonic" said is correct. Should be 8 bolts, I've never spread the frame myself, just raised the transmission up and worked the crossmember out with a 10lb dead blow hammer.

Now re-installing that thing all by yourself... Oh the praises to the DC engineers on that one! :-laf



HP

 

[LUnderwood]

just a thought talk to a dodge tech, there is a patter how it comes out and goes in. Its acctully in one of there tech info updates ive got laying around, ill see if i cant find it!

 

[BLively]

ok, so there is a total of 8 bolts. ok, hopefully i can get back under the truck saturday and finish the job. i borrowed a port-a-power from a friend of mine, so im gonna try that route. thanks for letting me know that info! it will be really helpful in getting that thing out as fast as possible.