NV5600 In My First Gen Just Completed!

[Marty1]

#ad


First let me say MANY thanks Gil Hugley & PDR for all their help. Without advice from these guys this job would have taken 6 weeks instead of 3!

Just got my conversion finished last night & it works so slick I'm not sure why more guys haven't done it.

I used the Mopar later model adapter/clutch housing as opposed to the one Advance Adapters sells. It requires using a couple extra parts that way but nothing major.

Here's a rough list...

New Adapter from 1999 & up-$200 new... $100 from PDR!

New Starter for 1994 & up-$200-$700 depending if you buy OEM

New Clutch lever & spring-$50

Stock 12" Getrag clutch & flywheel will work if you buy a 1999 NV5600... will not if you buy 2000 & newer with the larger Input shaft.

New clutch Slave cylinder needed from 1994 & newer... best to get a jobber one as Mopar sells the Slave , Master & reservoir as a sealed unit & charges $200 for it, then you'll have to modify the new master cylinder push rod. That's the way I went but I'm told you can just buy a jobber slave & leave all your stock master & reservoir.

You'll need to modify the coupling that fits between the transmission & transfer case... actually I shouldn't say that... you can remove the rear transmission seal & the stock coupling will work but if you leave the seal you will have to machine 3/4" of the coupling down to fit with the seal-1. 940" is the size you need. You'll need a lathe or maybe $50 worth of machining work done if you go this route.

You'll have to modify your stock exhaust slightly as the transfer case moves back 6".

You'll need to lengthen the wiring for your reverse lights, speedo & transfer case wiring.

Shorten rear driveshaft & lengthen the front... best to measure but roughly 6".

You'll need new gear shift lever, knob, cap & nut.

You'll need to build a fairly complicated bracket for the transfer case shift lever mounting... I may have the cardboard template I made if anyone needs it & you'll need to extend the shift rod by 6" or so.

You can modify the stock transmission crossmember & mount to work with a little fitting & welding. You can see what I did in the pictures.

Cut the new hole in the floor & weld the old one up & you're ready to go!

I bought most of my parts through Dodge & I had an open bill there. I can get a copy with part numbers if anyone is serious about it installing one of these in their First Gen.

I got a steal on a transmission off Ebay... new in the crate from a Dodge dealer in San Diego for $2200 but I suspect you won't want to buy that from Dodge at retail which is well over $4000!

I figure with all my parts I'm just around $4000.

It's not cheap but I wouldn't trade my truck for an 04... it's worth it to me! I love passing the 2004 trucks running light while I'm towing my car trailer thanks to the guys at PDR!

The most difficult part was trying to deal with the Dodge dealer since they are all on computers which are not conducive to conversions!

Seems they can't do anything without a VIN number so I found a 1999 on Ebay with a 6 speed & used that Vin number! Ha Ha!

Hope some of this useless information helps someone & doesn't scare you away!

 

[83 crew cab]

with the 6 speed and the OD unit what kind of rpm are you turning at 70 ? the set up sure looks cool George

 

[Marty1]

#ad


Funny you should ask... that's how I did the Getrag in at 49,000 original miles!:{

I guess in double overdrive with 4. 10's, 70MPH is around 1700rpm. I have 19. 5 Alcoas on it so it's actually somwhere inbetween 3. 54 & 4. 10 taking the larger tires into consideration.

I was merrily driving down the highway in double overdrive pulling 10,000 lbs at about 70MPH. I thought all was well until I pulled off for diesel only to find the Getrag wouldn't shift no more.

I think we'll limit the NV5600 to 5th+Gear Vendor while towing even though it's probably strong enough to handle it.

I think I sub-consciencely did in the Getrag on purpose! Oo.

 

[cguthrie]

Hey Marty, who's truck is the one that's pulling yours. Do you know how much lift that truck has. Very nice conversion story.



Chris

 

[Marty1]

Chris,

That was my truck up until 3 months ago. I added a leaf in both front & rear to lift her up. 4" up front 2" in the rear.

It road pretty rough... I think I'd go a different route next time.

I was told if you bought the Skyjacker 6" lift rear springs & then removed the 4" rear blocks, then use the Skyjacker 2" lift springs on the front you can get a good ride out of them.

The Air bags work great on the dually but they're awfully spendy.

I miss that blue truck... the auto makes them like driving a sports car but I must admitt, even with the DTT transmission in that truck I just don't like the feel of the auto transmissions in the First Gens. Just feels like too much slipage in those non lock-up torque converters.

Mine just got too hot while towing for my likings.

Here's some better pictures of it with some 36" Power King Bias Ply tires I had on it for a while... . they look great but boy, did they rid bad!

Ol' Blue

 

[bgilbert]

Marty, super fine job you did there. Two sweet looking first gens there. Bill

 

[dan brooks]

Very nice! In a way I really regret buying an auto - mainly because I can't use an exhaust brake - but trying to swap from the juicebox to a manual would be a nightmare. If the parts fell into my lap I might consider a 6-speed, though...

 

[MMiller]

Got a question. If a 2000 and up truck was found say wrecked, would the flywheel, starter, and adapter take care of the front of the transmission? I dream of someday getting a twin disc street clutch and a 6 spd, for occasional truck pulling, and lots of trailer pulling.



Thanks



Michael

 

[Marty1]

Michael,

Yes, The Flywheel, Starter & Adapter off a 2000 will fit & enable you to bolt up the 6 speed & start the truck. May as well get the 6 speed too while you're at it!

The Adapters are the same on Auto & Manual on the late model trucks so that won't be hard to find.

As I said, If you go with a 2000 or newer NV5600 you'll need a new style 13" clutch & flywheel for the 1 3/8" Input shaft. If you go with an NV5600 from 1999, they use an 1 1/4" Input Shaft & a stock 12" clutch & flywheel from your 89-93 will fit & work fine.

 

[bgilbert]

But according to my CTD 'Buyers Guide' 1999 was the first year for the NV5600, and said 'late availability and soon withdrawn from sale. ' So maybe this would indicate there wasnt very many 1999 NV5600 6 speeds. Making it even harder to find this '99 6 speed. Come on how bout that Eaton Fuller transmission conversion!! Which probly would cost more in the long run. Bill

 

[truckstom]

WOW, great thread... and the red one made me drool...

 

[MMiller]

Thank you. Your new truck and old truck looked pretty sweet. Makes me a little embarassed that mine doesen't look that good anymore.



Now anybody wanna donate a 6 spd truck?? Heck I would even do the swap straight up!! I'm sure my old getrag would live a couple of days behind a HO!!!



Michael

 

[Marty1]

Thanks guys,

You're all too kind but the praise really goes to guys like PDR who keep coming up with great new ideas for us & have the expertise to advise us when we tackle these crazy projects.

I originally planned on having Piers do this conversion for me but I decided why not do the small projects myself & spend that money on having PDR install a set of twins instead!

Maybe that's what I'll get my wife for her birthday... won't she be surprised!

 

[CAROLINA CUMMINS]

If only my truck looked half as good as those two:--)







Steve

 

[Marty1]

Thanks very much Steve!

I really prefer the look of my blue single rear wheel truck. The dually really looks like an after-thought on the First Gens but I sure like the way the red dually tows compared to the SRW!

 

[cwienenga]

nv5600

thanks for the info and pictures. mine is auto but most would still apply. how does it shift,heard they're pretty tight?



thanks

cliff

 

[Marty1]

Cliff,

I like it. It's a bit notchy but you quickly get used to it.

I haven't towed with it yet but very soon I will & think the closer gears will be a big improvement.

I really love the auto but I think the 6 speed is the way to go if you're towing more than once in a while. I sure prefer the auto to & from work. I live in the big city here in Vancouver & traffic lights & traffic jams suck with the manual transmission.

Oh well, you can't have everything!

 

[JJump]

NV5600 applications

What other vehicles are these transmissions installed into, or is the late Dodge TD Pickups the only application? I certainly would be interested in doing this if swapping out the Getrag were required.

 

[Marty1]

Not sure about that. I think just late model Dodge truck but I guess a wrecker could tell you for sure.

You'll have a tough time finding one for under $2000 but even rebuilding a Getrag comes close to that figure.

Some people are really sold on the NV4500 once you've turned your power up & the gears don't seem so far apart.

The deciding factor for me was that I know lots of guys with 4500's that have had problems, albeit mostly related to the OD nut, never the less I don't know anyone that's had problems with the 6 speed. I did hear about Gil Hugley buying a 5600 only to find out it was junk... so I guess they aren't indestructable but nothing is if you try hard enough to wreck it!

 

[1 locomotive]

I gotta see more pics

you got the stuff ! is that trailer made from a airplane ?/ nice !! I gotta know, how do you use two overdrives ??? also what about that power waggon ??? looks in great shape !!