Bout to give up on these nv4500's!

weazel

weazel

5th gear killer
Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
2,252
Ok, so I'm cruzing down the highway at 70mph headed to the county fair, when I hear what sounds like the 5th gear taking a dump. Well go to downshift at a stop sign into third, then second and all hell breaks loose! I barely make it to my local diesel shop when the transmission desides it doesn't want to go anymore. Every gear sounds like a midget inside the case trying to beat on it with a hammer. I'm getting fed up with these junk nv4500 transmissions! This is number 5!! Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? If I rebuild this one, again, what should I do? Or should I drop a 5600 in it? I am extremely frustrated with this damn thing!
 
I never had any problem with my 4500's and beat them every day. Now my 5600's is a different story. Wait till you have to put synchronizers in it $$$$$$$
 
i would just get a quality nv4500, like a new one someone stockpiled somewhere(there out there ive seen em down in memphis tn....) because you shouldnt be having that many problems.. heck ive never had one bit of problems and thats the only tranny ive ever run in a diesel including the one behind my 7.3 stroke. even my k5 blazer with the 4bt has a 4500(chevy/dodge hybrid) and i beat the piss out of that thing on and off road.
 
2 things come to mind.
First- what oil do you use?
Second- what is your trans temp running?

I was completely shocked to learn my nv4500 run 215* cruising temp with empty truck. I now have a pump, filter, cooler on it.
Hoping it runs for a LONG time now!
 
What do you recommend running for fluids in the nv4500? I have universal tractor fluid in mine it seems to be a little thin.. I had to fix my fifth gear nut already. CSnyder how much would you want for one of those new trannys? I am saving up for one right now. I think mine is on its last leg I have been babying it. Are the ones that ATS makes any good or do they just paint them purple lol
 
WheresmyPower? said:
What do you recommend running for fluids in the nv4500? I have universal tractor fluid in mine it seems to be a little thin..
Click to expand...


I have had good success with Schaeffer 75/90 synthetic gear oil.
Conklin also makes a great 75/90 synthetic gear oil too.

What these 2 companies have is a oil that doesn't "fling off" the gears, and carries around the whole transmission.
This is just my :blahblah1: $.02
 
Blue menthol in Oklahoma sells all of their 4500's with fully splined counter shafts and do a pretty good job of standing behind their work. Check end play on your crank. Call bull on me but if it's bad enough it will push the input hard enough after a while to do some serious damage.
 
Cumminsfever said:
2 things come to mind.
First- what oil do you use?
Second- what is your trans temp running?

I was completely shocked to learn my nv4500 run 215* cruising temp with empty truck. I now have a pump, filter, cooler on it.
Hoping it runs for a LONG time now!
Click to expand...

what for pump are you using to circulate?
 
new trans are 1800 with fully splined mainshafts, 5th gear updates and FASS coolers on both sides.
 
The NV4500's take Castrol Syntorq, available from Dodge or GM and I'm sure Standard Transmission, Blumenthals, or other trans specialists. I've always used Amsoil MTG. It's also made for the NV4500. I have heard Royal Purple also has a lube for it. From what I understand, these lubes are GL-4 rated. GL-5 lubes have chemicals in them that will break down the clutch material on the synchros in the NV4500.

The Syntorq is @$30 a quart. The last time I bought some MTG it was @ $11.00 a quart.

Scott
 
Thanks for the replies guys! Very good info so far!

This transmission had about 10,000 miles on it. It was a rebuilt unit. I ran Amsoil MTG in it, with an extra quart added in. I don't know what temp it ran at, I don't use a tranny temp gauge.

Rollin-Cole- yep, another one down! And I need to call the shop owner again and see what he came up with. He didn't call me back the other day, but I may be shooting for mid to late September for the dyno day. I'll text you and let you know what find out...

Lostnwalmart- why use a manual valve body? I'm interested in learning about that, I'm really leaning towards a built auto instead of another 4500..

CSnyder- how many of those 4500s do you have in stock?
 
Had some time yesterday, so I pulled the nv4500 out to see what carnage there was. Much to my surprise, every gear was still intact! So I pulled the input shaft, and about half of the teeth were missing! I thought, maybe I'll be lucky and that's all I'll have to replace.. Nope. It tore up some of the teeth on the counter shaft too!

I was curious why the dang thing failed. So the bearing that presses on it was the first thing I checked, and sure enough, it was what failed. So now that I spent the $800 on this dang thing, and the cheap azz bearing failed, I guess I'm stuck paying for another one! Joy! :doh:
 
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