Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Who's busted a 5-speed with too much HP?

[JGK]

A recent conversation with a transmission guy about putting new syncros and bearings in my NV4500 moved to some comments about the 5-speeds breaking down as the horsepower goes up with twins and big turbos. The end result was a suggestion to dump the 5-speed for an NV5600 swap since I'm in the process of gather parts for a mild twins set up.



My question is, how many Rammers are running with 450 HP or higher on their NV4500 and have busted it? Not the 5th gear issue. I'm talking about other gears, etc. Not a lot has been said about it happening that I've noticed.



Anyone care to share?



Thanks,

-Jay

 

[CSnyder]

Jay, I dynoed my 2000 at 326 without the Bluechip box and I have broken 4 reman 5 speeds since last August at that level. It is always something different that breaks too. This last time it was 2 shattered gears. If your rebuilder is in MN I would look elsewhere because to be honest I dont think these guys are really rebuilding these trannies they get as cores but rather fixing whats broke and calling it a reman. I guess my original transmission lasted 188,000 miles before the 5th gear fork broke in 2 so if your rebuilder is actually doing a complete rebuild I would just stay with the 5 speed. PM me if you need any more info. Chris

 

[Forrest Nearing]

5600's break too...



I'd go with a full tilt auto w/ a real warranty and the ability to hold more power than a 5600 can

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

They break more from very heavy loads (very heavy towing) or shock loads (like drag racing, sled pulling) than from horsepower per se. I ran up to 800 hp without breaking mine, Standard Trans parts in it. They have lots of experience building these trannies. 800-std-tran, www.standardtransmission.com

 

[pwerwagn]

I've beat the F outta mine for the last 170K and no problems. Drag racing, street racing, lugging it etc. has a fully splined mainshaft and a 13" luk with the stock input. no probs so far...

I second Forrest's opinion though. I wish I could afford a fully built billet auto so I could ditch the 4500...



--Jeff

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I second Forrest's opinion though. I wish I could afford a fully built billet auto so I could ditch the 4500...



--Jeff

it hurts... I got my truck for just over $9k... with all the billet guts, I'm gonna have ~$7k in just my transmission!



it's a tough pill to swallow, but if you're already considering dropping $4-6k on a slow shifting, poorly warrantied 5600/dual disk combo, it begins to make more sense...



but I feel ya, I've come "this" close to ditching my current truck and getting back into a 5sp and just throwing a dual disk in it

 

[pwerwagn]

dropping $4-6k on a slow shifting, poorly warrantied 5600/dual disk combo

yep, my point exactly. I wouldnt do it, no way. I dont like the way the 5600's shift. besides, thats to many gears!!!

Im saving for the auto. trying to make the 4500 last as long as it can!!!

 

[JGK]

I'm glad to hear from you, Joe, since anyone who's been on here long enough knows you were one of the original high-HP guys long before the 6-speeds were available. Thank's for the input.



My rebuilder is local here in Idaho and I went ahead and had bearings and syncros replaced since the transmission was out for a new clutch anyway and I couldn't have the truck down any longer for scaring up a 5600 and associated conversion parts. But I'm still thinking of doing the swap if I can find a good deal on one.



As to a swap to an automatic - man, I'd never live that down from a friend who has a '98 short bed with an auto that I keep ribbing :-{} (real men drive manuals, etc. ). He's had his transmission out about 6 or 8 times trying to get it right, but he's after perfection and does some racing at the local strip. He seems to have it right for now and is doing pretty well, too, for moderate bombing.



Anyway, I don't tow much and don't plan to race or pull with mine. It's a daily driver and I'm just bombing it for fun and thrills. I'll continue to pursue the 5-speed to 6-speed conversion, but I'm still interested in hearing from others.



More comments/experiences requested...



-Jay



Edit: Just saw the above 2 posts after submitting mine. At this point, since I already have the dual disc clutch and the proper cross member, etc. it would just be a matter of the transmission itself, the adaptor plate and driveline changes for the most part.



I plan to drive a co-worker's '01 6-speed in a few minutes - never drove one actually - so that my skew my opinion. But even with the exta shifting, the main issue is the strength of the transmission. From what I've been told, it will last much longer at the higher HP than the 5. Isn't that generally true?

 

[Highfinance97]

I have dropped my NV4500 about 5 times. 3rd gear twice, The overdrive clutch gear twice,and another rebuild because of bad bearing noises.



I think all my problems come from the TQ and also because of the fast shifting from drag racing on the street. I also added a short throw shifter and im sure that didnt help



Heres one of my NV4500 threads



Michael



P. S. About a month ago my friend tony (Dtroy) Broke his overdrive clutch gear racing a ricer on the highway :-laf

 

[pwerwagn]

I'm glad to hear from you, Joe, since anyone who's been on here long enough knows you were one of the original high-HP guys long before the 6-speeds were available. Thank's for the input.

yup, and joe was even running the smaller input shaft with no breakage!!!!

 

[DPS]

DO NOT get a 5600!!!!!! parts are 3 times as much and are often not even available. Also many time you will break a 6 speed before a 5 speed in the first 4 gears over drive excepted.



Josh

 

[BPonci]

Broke (3) 5speeds (2) 6speeds and 7 clutches and 2 of them were DDs.

 

[JGK]

Josh,



Yeah, my transmission said as much about the rebuild cost. He said he can do 3 5-speeds in the time to do 1 6-speed, and the cost ratio is about 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of doing the 6. He says he can get the parts. But we all know they're scarce and could get more so over time.



I drove my co-worker's '01. It shifts smooth. And its nice to not have the huge jump from 3rd to 4th. But it's an extra gear to row through. I'd get used to it.



So far it's sounding like the 4500s that are failing are remans that may have not been done right. Stick with the known suppliers/rebuilders, Standard Trans, Blumenthals (?), etc. , don't thrash and bang it too hard, and you're likely to be OK.



Of those that have broken them, what kind of HP are we talkin' here?



Jay



Edit: BPonci, you're brutal!

 

[Highfinance97]

So far it's sounding like the 4500s that are failing are remans that may have not been done right. Stick with the known suppliers/rebuilders, Standard Trans, Blumenthals (?), etc. , don't thrash and bang it too hard, and you're likely to be OK.



Of those that have broken them, what kind of HP are we talkin' here?



Jay

<B>550?



Michael

 

[Jff24Gordn]

I have not broke reverse or 1st-2nd. A stock input shaft is plenty strong enough to break the rest of the transmission. And that was at 300hp and alot of shockloads.

 

[zstroken]

The 5 speed seems to be a little stouter once you put the big shaft in it. I know of a puller that broke the output shaft on the 6 speed and went back to a 5 speed since they hadn't had any problems with it once it had the big input shaft.

 

[MMeier]

I have dropped my NV4500 about 5 times. 3rd gear twice, The overdrive clutch gear twice,and another rebuild because of bad bearing noises.



I think all my problems come from the TQ and also because of the fast shifting from drag racing on the street. I also added a short throw shifter and im sure that didnt help



Heres one of my NV4500 threads



Michael



P. S. About a month ago my friend tony (Dtroy) Broke his overdrive clutch gear racing a ricer on the highway :-laf

WTH is a "overdrive clutch gear??!!

 

[DTroy]

WTH is a "overdrive clutch gear??!!

It's also called the "fifth gear clutch hub". Looks like this :