Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) NV4500 syncronizers, lined vs. brass

[kentdiesel]

While installing a SBC clutch I decided to change the mainshaft in the NV4500 to a fully spined one. Since this takes you fairly deep in the trans I decided to put a bearing and syncronizer kit in also.



I noticed the original brass syncros for 3rd,4th and 5th are lined with a fiber material. The replacement syncros are brass with no lining.



My question is: Those of you that have changed syncronizers from fiber lined to plain brass did the transmission shift better, not as good or the same?



As always, thanks for the help.

Kent

 

[WDaniels]

kentdiesel,

Like I just stated on a different post here, I just did mine and my syncros are not brass! They are lined with some organic lining but no brass.

WD

 

[SRadke]

I put syncros in a NV4500 out of a 96 ram. The sincros I put in had the fiber lining. I don't know what to tell you.

 

[LSMITH]

The brass synchros get you away from the Syntorq fluid, you can run ordinary gear oil. The fiber synchros are stock, the brass are aftermarket upgrades. Call Blumenthals and ask them what is available and what the advantage of each are.

 

[JWalsh]

I plan on doing the same to my transmission. Where did you get your parts? Does the Fifth gear need to be pressed on to the shaft or does it just slide on. My original slides on and off too easily.

 

[SRadke]

Fifth gear slides on and is held tight by the infamous nut.

 

[nixonbe]

How hard is it to go throught these trans?

I am on the hunt for my first CTD and am wondering how hard it is, for someone that has never done any transmission work before but has pretty good general mechanic skill, to do.



thanks,

Brandon

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Originally posted by JWalsh

I plan on doing the same to my transmission. Where did you get your parts? Does the Fifth gear need to be pressed on to the shaft or does it just slide on. My original slides on and off too easily.

It is supposed to slide on and slide right back off. The little bit of play it has on the shaft is what will unscrew the 5th nut. Now, if you take a transmission such as mine that is slightly abused, it wont come off because every spline in the transmission is twisted and it takes a big hammer to get off. It took about 30 minuets to get the gear off after the nut was off of mine.

You can get parts cheepest through bluemthals. As far as skill level, you need a service manual and a friend to help. A torque wrench that goes to 350 ft*lbs and the special 5th gear nut socket and mainshaft spline socket to get 5th apart. A GOOD set of snapring plyers. A small punch to get 5th shift fork off. A dial indiacator for endplay. A good sturdy bench and normal hand tools.

Keep track of every part becasue several can fit in diffrent places or flipped over. Take you time, if it takes you all day to do it, its better than doing it quick and toasting a bearing and re-rebuilding it. ALso, do not take the shift collars off the hubs unless you have to, the little dogs under them can be a pain in the butt to put back in.



get the brass synchros. and make sure you tell them you want a shim kit.

 

[kentdiesel]

synchro info

I talked to Standard Transmission and Blumenthal and they both used solid brass synchros for 3rd,4th and 5th in their rebuilt NV4500 transmissions. They both said the factory fiber lined synchros had given some trouble with the lining coming off.



The bearing and sychro kit I got from Standard Trans had solid brass sychros for 3rd, 4th and 5th gear and fiber lined synchros for the dual cone synchronized 1st and 2nd gears. I did not ask but I think fiber lined is all that is available for 1st & 2nd gear.



Even though the fiber lined synchros worked great in my transmission I am going with solid brass synchros for 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. I will post the results after I drive it awhile.



It seems to me that aleast some people who have bought rebuilt NV4500s have changed to solid brass synchros and didn't know it or notice a difference. The rebuilders I talked to like solid brass better and if the rebuilt NV4500s did not shift good you would hear complaints on the forum. With these two things in consideration I made the decision to try solid brass synchros and see for myself which I like best.



I am staying with the Castrol Syntorq oil to make it a fair comparison. The overall condition of the gears in my trans leads me to believe this is good oil and the test Joe Donnelly done shows it is hard to find any replacement oil that has less drag (which means less friction, ie, heat).



Also,

For someone completely rebuilding their NV4500 the quad4x4.com. master kit looks very complete and worth considering.







JWalsh,

The fully splined mainshaft and gear I received has a interference fit. You definitely can not slide it together by hand.



Thanks,

Kent

 

[Jff24Gordn]

My kit from Bluemthals this spring had 1 and 2 as brown friction material, 3 and 4 as brass, and 5 and reverse as a black fiber (carbon fiber?). As far as how it shifts, Ive been acoused of being the fastest 5 speed shifter on the track. And it has the $$$$$$$$$$$ dodge moprice oil.