School me on NV3500 transmissions...

[82355]

Thank you.

Martin

 

[Larry]

Hooking up the internal or external slave is absolutely non issue. All you need is two GM quick disconnect to -4/-3 fittings and some -4 line. I made mine in the street truck in about 10 minutes.

NV3500s are 4:1 first gear in a fullsize and 3.5:1 in an s10.

4:1 first gear might not be granny but its nothing to scoff at when it comes to getting big tires rolling. That being said Ive towed numerous cars with mine and its terrible.

I stand corrected. Not sure why I thought it was 3:09….maybe because it “feels” so high . The 1998 K1500 I had with the NV3500 couldn't pull a greasy string out of a Coke bottle with out using 4 low.


GM Silverado: 4.02 3.21 1.49 1.00 0.73 3.55

GM S/T: 3.49 2.16 1.40 1.00 0.73 3.55

Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Dako: 4.01 2.32 1.40 1.00 0.73 3.55

I drug my little ’68 1800 miles from Colorado to Detroit back in 1999 when the Z71 was a year old. It tore the arse out of it to pull this load across country. 5th gear made an odd gurgling sound after this trip until the day I traded it off. I had to add my own receiver hitch to this truck as GM did not offer towing packages with the NV3500……for good reason. They didn’t want people towing with it. The poor little 1/2 ton couldn't handle the weight of the BB in front of the GMC so I had to turn the GMC around backwards to even out the load. It was a fun truck to drive though, except in Detroit traffic.

 

[campfire]

4:1 first gear might not be granny but its nothing to scoff at when it comes to getting big tires rolling. That being said Ive towed numerous cars with mine and its terrible.

I stand corrected. Not sure why I thought it was 3:09….maybe because it “feels” so high . The 1998 K1500 I had with the NV3500 couldn't pull a greasy string out of a Coke bottle with out using 4 low.

...

I had to add my own receiver hitch to this truck as GM did not offer towing packages with the NV3500……for good reason. They didn’t want people towing with it.

Is the terrible towing performance an issue with the transmission or with the anemic gears that are common in 1/2-ton trucks?

I really do want to believe that there is a tranny out there that is both sturdy and geared well for the road.

 

[Stomis]

Is the terrible towing performance an issue with the transmission or with the anemic gears that are common in 1/2-ton trucks?

I really do want to believe that there is a tranny out there that is both sturdy and geared well for the road.

1st gear is just too high to tow with a stick. Axle gearing doesnt really matter.

 

[tRustyK5]

I towed a 4400 lb camper trailer with my '88 GMC 1500 short wide. 350, Getrash, and 3.42's with 27" tall tires. No issues at all, and that was from Vancouver to the Okanagon via the Crowsnest pass (Hwy3). I didn't feel it was any issue getting things moving, or maneuvering in the campground. Being 2WD I had no low range to cheat with either.

mine was one of the "glass" versions. I'd think the saving grace for it was it was just a 2WD short box pick-up. I was young when I had it though, definitely sidestepped the clutch more times than I can remember. I never had an issue with that tranny until after it was stolen. A few months after I got it back a roll pin in the shift tower broke and it ended up stuck in 3rd gear IIRC.

I sold it with about 70,000 miles, tranny still shifted fine. It was never a quiet tranny. I did take it in and complain about the noise several times when it was less than a year old. Was told it was 'normal'.

 

[Mikey von]

Is the terrible towing performance an issue with the transmission or with the anemic gears that are common in 1/2-ton trucks?

I really do want to believe that there is a tranny out there that is both sturdy and geared well for the road.

Have you driven an Nv4500? While maybe not perfect, it is very streetable and easy to drive.

 

[campfire]

Have you driven an Nv4500? While maybe not perfect, it is very streetable and easy to drive.

I have driven one, with a 6.5TD, and I thought it was quite fine on the street. I wouldn't have any hesitation to use one at my location (and I do plan to use mine).

This thread was started because I was (am) wondering how well they do in the mountains (my intended purpose for the Suburban). Seems like I would like having the extra gear while cranking up mountain passes. The NV4500 that I have is slated for the Blazer. But I'd prefer to have a stick in the Suburban as well (eventually).

 

[campfire]

Have you driven an Nv4500? While maybe not perfect, it is very streetable and easy to drive.

How happy are you with your swap? It's the best thing since sliced bread, right? I'm definitely keeping your build in mind as I plan mine.

 

[Mikey von]

I have driven one, with a 6.5TD, and I thought it was quite fine on the street. I wouldn't have any hesitation to use one at my location (and I do plan to use mine).

This thread was started because I was (am) wondering how well they do in the mountains (my intended purpose for the Suburban). Seems like I would like having the extra gear while cranking up mountain passes. The NV4500 that I have is slated for the Blazer. But I'd prefer to have a stick in the Suburban as well (eventually).

How happy are you with your swap? It's the best thing since sliced bread, right? I'm definitely keeping your build in mind as I plan mine.

I am in the mountains too. Usually when pulling big hills on the highway, I just drop into 4th and it will just go. I just did around 400 miles round trip and it does great. Pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. Low 4x4 and low gear is just crazy badass when having to crawl over downed logs and what not. At least with the power my 6.2L is pumping out, I only am wanting more gear when I have a trailer behind me. Then the 3/4 split is a bit wide. Would it be nice to have a closer split at all times? Yes, but not needed.

 

[campfire]

I am in the mountains too. Usually when pulling big hills on the highway, I just drop into 4th and it will just go. I just did around 400 miles round trip and it does great. Pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. Low 4x4 and low gear is just crazy badass when having to crawl over downed logs and what not. At least with the power my 6.2L is pumping out, I only am wanting more gear when I have a trailer behind me. Then the 3/4 split is a bit wide. Would it be nice to have a closer split at all times? Yes, but not needed.

I'm fairly certain that my 6.2 will never crank out as much power or torque as yours does. So I think that I will have a harder time with the split than you do. But it sounds like it's not really an issue either way. I don't have many occasions to trailer through the mountains.

 

[kennyw]

I have driven all over this country in a 1979 K10 with both a 350 V8 and a 6.2L diesel in the same truck. Both were in front of the same SM465. Neither one had issues in the mountains until you added 2000+ lbs over the weight of the truck.

 

[Stomis]

I towed a 4400 lb camper trailer with my '88 GMC 1500 short wide. 350, Getrash, and 3.42's with 27" tall tires. No issues at all, and that was from Vancouver to the Okanagon via the Crowsnest pass (Hwy3). I didn't feel it was any issue getting things moving, or maneuvering in the campground. Being 2WD I had no low range to cheat with either.

mine was one of the "glass" versions. I'd think the saving grace for it was it was just a 2WD short box pick-up. I was young when I had it though, definitely sidestepped the clutch more times than I can remember. I never had an issue with that tranny until after it was stolen. A few months after I got it back a roll pin in the shift tower broke and it ended up stuck in 3rd gear IIRC.

I sold it with about 70,000 miles, tranny still shifted fine. It was never a quiet tranny. I did take it in and complain about the noise several times when it was less than a year old. Was told it was 'normal'.

My opinion maybe a little biased because of how tires the motor in my truck is but I find myself slipping the clutch like mad to get going with a single car trailer and a 4000lb car on it.

Plus the welder-gene on the back, tools, racks, 33s w/ stock gears etc but I would still except that first to be issue with a pristine truck.

 

[RootBreaker]

I've been contemplating an auto-to-manual tranny swap for quite a while now.

{reads thread thinkin... love my smc465... would love extra gears... big gap 3rd-4th only used when hammering throttle anyway... }...

Well hope you figure out something ...



Funny thing I did the swap back when the thing called... internet... was not even invented...

I had a turbo 400... nasty shiftkit and it was a neck breaker... went to stick and guess what.. I WILL NEVER OWN A WHEELIN RIG WITH AN AUTO AGAIN!!!!!

So plan1 - don't think of swapping....
Plan 2 - rip auto out so you have to do something...


I took my body off my auto and put it on a 1978 Chevy tailoring special 8400gvrw...

My auto

My new drivetrain

Mess in the yard (1988 fyi)