Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What to do, what to do???

[Boomer II]

I hate driving around wondering if and when my 5th gear will back off for the third time. I had to drive from Grand Junction Colorado to DFW in 4th one year pulling a loaded goosneck.

My delimma is, if I go to the hassle of pulling & upgrading the 5spd, why not do the 6spd swap. By the time I buy the kit against what I'd spend to upgrade the NV4500 + what the 5spd would bring, just how much extra would I be out? Anybody been their and done this? I've already got a heavy duty clutch, would it work with the 6spd?

 

[willyslover]

Boomer II. . there was a thread back a couple weeks ago about this... lady poster , do not remember her handle sorry . . she was stranded [again] type of post. . went into this info. sorry best I can do right now other than suggesting you go to / call Standard Transmission in Ft. Worth with questions

 

[Reb.B]

Do u have the upgrade nut? its so easy to change, . . don't even have to pull the transmission. Just pull the back aluminum cover, change the nut and u're good to go until the other fifth gear retaining ring pops off. Fixing the nv 4500 is a lot easier than converting to a 5600. U have to drill the flywheel for the larger clutch and get a new clutch for the larger input shaft, put in a new cross member... it really isn't worth it. In my opinion the main problem with the NV 4500 is the shift from 3rd to 4th. To solve that just install Gov springs. Reb

 

[Briar Hopper]

Your fifth gear nut has backed off twice already? Proper installation is critical, 300 ft. lbs. of torque with special tools, to install. Even that is no guarantee it will stay on. (I'm not suggesting that it wasn't installed correctly, just saying it's always a possibility)

A fully splined mainshaft is available to install in the 5 speed, that will eliminate the fifth gear nut problem. Total cost, plus installation, is less than you might think. Standard Transmission in Texas has those shafts, so does Blumenthals Heavy Duty in Oklahoma City. Of course, you can also buy a remanufactured transmission on a core exchange basis, with the mainshaft already installed. Maybe a better choice to go that route, depending on how many miles you've put on your existing transmission, and it's condition.

 

[Boomer II]

Last time around I had the latest nut installed, so far so good. I just don't want to ruin a hard earned vacation with this same problem happening again. I'll check Standard out since I live in the DFW area.