Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Nv4500 Woows!

[MM800]

I have a small fortunate in a 98 NV4500. A year ago I lost the 5th gear nut for the 3rd time. I had a local guy replace it and the main shaft to a fully splined. When I got the truck back, it was tough to shift. I got to looking at my parts box and the main shaft was still there. He forgot to put it in. About 5000 miles later 5th gear started acting up. I took it back to the same guy ( I know my fault). He told me 5th was gone, teeth missing, 1st and reverse were shot too. All parts replaced, new bearings, and synchros. Another 3000 miles and now the teeth have come off of 3rd gear. The truck is proably an honest 300 HP. This guy is telling me it is my fault and that the transmission won't take this kind of power. Is he right or is he full of **** and is assembling this thing too tight. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Highfinance97]

I'd bet its the rebuilders fault.



when we rebuilt mine (first time rebuilding a transmission) it didnt stay together very long :-laf



Unless... . When i use to drag race i went through 3 NV4500's and i think that was from shifting so fast (this was before i rebuilt the transmission)





Michael

 

[Mhannink]

these trannies really hold power very well i think its the rebuilders fault

 

[JWestley]

I've got 450 on a rebuilt 4500 and it takes it like a champ. If i am not mistaken it has a fully splined input.

 

[Bloomy]

To add to your thoughts, my truck during the summer runs to the 420hp range with a handful of truck pulls and plenty of towing. It has 4. 10's so my primary drive gear is 5th. I have 214k miles on this transmission without any rebuilds or 5th gear replacements. I have done some clutches until I finally went to the SBC DD. The 1 3/8 input shaft is the only modification to the transmission. So they can definitely hold the power. Maybe I am just lucky with the amount of towing I have done in 5th and not ever having to replace it. The transmission does rattle pretty good especially when you are in 4th gear and pass 1900rpm. I won't say its the rebuilder, but these trannies can hold some power.



Thomas

 

[Highfinance97]

The transmission does rattle pretty good especially when you are in 4th gear and pass 1900rpm.

Thomas

Mine did that right after i put in my South Bend DD. at about that same RPM



I dont think it does it anymore,unless im just use to it :-laf





Michael

 

[csevers]

It is not uncommon to shell the teeth off 4th gear (input shaft) 3 rd gear, 5th gear on the main shaft and counter shaft, Even 2nd gear with LOTS of hp truck pulling. 1 st gear is pretty stout and so is Rev. I would guess that he is messing something up and OR getting bad parts. Find someone else to build it that has done Nv4500's.





Craig

 

[b.ferrara]

my has 296k on it and I started having problems at 276k. in the last year I've had the transmission rebuilt twice. The guy warrantied his work so he did the 2nd time on the arm. Then I tried buying one from from a company that advertises in the TDR publication and now just put in one from Dan's quad 4x4

The local guy who did twice has me for $700 and the the other corp has me for $1200 they also warrantied it so only paid once for 3 trannies. I had the 3rd one shipped to Dan in Montana he went through it and suggested a couple of kits that totalled $200, the torgue king was $1300 and he charged me $300 to install it and shipping to NY was $139 for a grand total of $1,900.

so as I told my wife $3,800 a year of stress but it's 40k cheaper than a new truck. Give dan a shout it's worth the 2 grand.

 

[Got Smoke?]

25 pulls so far, everyday driving (25K mi a year), too many 3rd gear launches to count... ... I'd say the NV4500's are pretty stout!



Oh yeah most of the above was @ 470HP & 1000Ft/Lbs.



Find someone who knows what they are doing, and doesn't leave spare parts once reassembled.

 

[tgordon]

IMHO, find someone who knows what they are doing, or someone who is actually willing to stand behind their work, literally!



Troy

 

[bgilbert]

Or the operator?



How are you driving the truck? Exactly what are you doing that's causing these failures?

 

[MM800]

The sad thing is as of late (last 2 years) pretty easy. A trailer know and then (5500#) not really any distance (100 miles round trip). I had a seriouse blow by issue since replacing the head and head gasket. So if I baby it ( low boost, low rpm it really doesnt use too much oil). Thats when I lost 3rd gear, after about 1000 miles of this type of driving. Truck has about 300,000 on it. transmission was originaly replaced 100,000 ago (opeator error, run out of oil due to seal leak). I was told the other day that the cluster gear needs to be replaced if any other is replaced. In other words if I understnd it right, any gear that is in contact with another (due to wear) needs to be replaced so as to match.



Thanks For The Input

Jeremy

 

[FATCAT]

Give dan a shout it's worth the 2 grand.

Ditto on Dan from Quad 4X4. I just went with a brand new NV4500 with the Torque King mainshaft. Its worth it and I don't have to worry about the darn transmission (knock on wood).

 

[arthr31]

hi all,



I don't mean to hijack the thread, but this is related, and very timely for me.



In a couple of weeks I'm going to have my clutch replaced and was considering doing the 5th gear nut at the same time. My question is, is it enough to just replace with the updated nut, or should I go with the new fully splined shaft and nut, etc. etc. ?



I know that if the gear that the nut is currently on is messed up, I should just go for the fully splined shaft and do the whole repair. However, if I go with the updated nut (granted that all seems OK), should it hold OK?



Truck is a daily driver, pulls about 3-4 times a year, probably about 4-7K when I do pull. However, i do haul a lot of heavy stuff in the bed- I think nothing of putting a ton in the back and making a quick run between properties (10 mi, back roads, rarily geting to 5th gear). however, even with this said, i'm the third owner of the truck and I have no idea what the other drivers did...



Truck currently has 118,000, probably about 320-350hp, and transmission is pretty smooth... What would you do?



Thanks for any and all input... now i'll stop the hijack

 

[b.ferrara]

arthr 31 I did all the updates, they work for awhile but eventually let loose.

I remember years ago guys were going as far as welding the nut on and that even didn't work. With 118k your has alot of life left contact Dan at Quad 4x4 and talk to him it's the way to go.

 

[getblown5.9]

if you think a 4500 is pricey, try having a 5600 go out twice in 7 months. the first time i sheared every tooth off 6th gear, this time the guy swears nothing is wrong but it was making some serious noise. i guess ill see when i put it back in.

 

[arthr31]

Thanks for the response, b. ferrara. .



I'm having massdiesel do the clutch, so maybe Scott can look at it and make a judgement either way as to either an updated nut, or the full spline route...



I want new DVs (one is leaking anyway) so if I have to do the full rebuild of the 5th gear, no DVs... :{

arthr 31 I did all the updates, they work for awhile but eventually let loose.

I remember years ago guys were going as far as welding the nut on and that even didn't work. With 118k your has alot of life left contact Dan at Quad 4x4 and talk to him it's the way to go.

 

[Signal73]

John at tri county machine in CT has a nice 5th gear nut fix



tricountymachine.com