Hello everyone I am debating if I should junk my nv6500 and get a 5 speed nv4500HD. Can this be done on a 99 2500 4x4? Has anyone done or heard of this being done?

Whats the issue with the NV5600? Would be an easy swap otherwise.

Ok the 6th gear gave up otherwise it's running ok. It will go in 6th but will not engage. I have the transmission out and particularly disassembled I will know what exactly went out tomorrow (I think it's the input shaft).

What's necessary to do the swap?

Depends on how you use the rig, if you are not too wild on your mods and power or towed a lot and needed the extra gear to stay in a particular power band I would keep it, if just a daily driver or competition or modded rig with a bit more power I would go with the 4500.

 

For the swap I think they use a different master slave cylinder setup, can't remember if the tranny length dimension is the same, I think so but not sure, if it is the same there would be nothing else I can think of other than clutch if the shaft diameter is different. If the tranny length is different then you will need front and rear drivelines from a 5 speed rig as well.

Thanks for the info... The truck got a mild mod, edge, cold air and down pipe. I'm not big on getting ton of HP out of the truck nor use it as a dragster. I am going use it for my hobby which is buying and reselling cars. The most I would tow ( total with trailer) maybe 8000 lbs.

I would keep the 6 speed then if possible.

The trouble is that I can't find parts for it. It has a 1 1/4 input shaft that has been discontinued, there has been an updated shaft after 2001. So I will spend a lot of money trying to put this thing back together. Unless you know a parts web site I could get parts from.

Here you go.

 

http://www.quad4x4.com/qu12001.html

 

http://www.quad4x4.com/NV5600_Transmission_Parts.html

I know I check them out but if you read the fine prints you see that they don't have much for 98.5 to 2000.5

I will contact them tomorrow when I know what's exactly wrong with my transmission. I really appropriate your help.

Another company I used to work for rebuilds them and has access to parts as well. They have several locations. They even offer exchanges on the NV5600, they have them in stock usually.

 

http://www.inlandtruck.com/

Reman is probably out of my budget. I'm just ganna rebuild it myself. Fist time taking a NV transmission apart it's little frustrating.

The NV 5600 is a pain in the butt as compared to any other mainly because of the retarded shift rail system some drunk engineer dreamed up.

Haha I know and the parts are very hard to find not to mention the price tag.....I think I will go take mine apart today and see if it's an easy fix if not then it's going to the local dump and I'm getting a nv4500. I just don't understand why having a 6 speed was necessary in a truck like this. When the O.D is .73 and 5 speed is .75

It does not make any sense....

After almost rebuilding the whole truck from engine to transmission I am convinced that there is no such thing as a reliable truck.(at least my dodge isn't ) They all have issues some major some minor but the reputation of cummins is very high. I never thought I would find so many mis-engineered parts and problems with it.

So far a cracked block then the 6th gear.... What's next the rear end and drive line, ECM, Vp44, fuel pump..... I think I pass.... This is by far the worst truck I ever worked on and owned, so many problems can't believe it. When or if I get it running it's going on CL. Done with this pice

Haha I know and the parts are very hard to find not to mention the price tag.....I think I will go take mine apart today and see if it's an easy fix if not then it's going to the local dump and I'm getting a nv4500. I just don't understand why having a 6 speed was necessary in a truck like this. When the O.D is .73 and 5 speed is .75

It does not make any sense....

5th gear is 1:1 on the 5600 just like the  4th in the 4500.

 

Pardon me I miss read your post on the gears

Edited September 18, 20159 yr by dripley

I'm just fed up with this truck bro... I not a big diesel guy and I should have bought one. For what I want to use the truck a petrol power truck would have been better. I do have to say when the truck ran it was very fun driving it.

You will be in the same boat if you pick up an NV 4500 if it doesn't have the updated main shaft, they had chronic issues with 5th gear nut coming loose from normal harmonics. If you do look for an NV4500 and you find one that came out of a 6.5l GM diesel you must remove the counterweight on the main shaft. I have seen several guys put them on GM diesels and forget to install the mainshaft counter weight and snap their crank shaft on the old 6.5 diesels.

Well what are my options then? Maybe I should swap an automatic transmission into, it it seams to be holding better... Lol...

Another option would be to take this junk to the dump and get 300 dollars for it then take that 300 dollars and add another 49700 to it and buy a new one....

Before I put in the NV4500 I will make sure to weld the nut so it never comes apart....

I used to work on VW diesels I thought they have chronic problems, now I see that they were actually decent diesel. Minus the fuel injection pump....