Well, after all my big talk about how great manual transmissions are compared to auto's, it is time for me to eat my words. I was doin 70 mph down I20 and something clunked, started grinding, and I lost all power to the wheels. I pulled over, and after grinding to a halt, tried to figure out what was going on. Underneath the truck looked the same as before. It starts and runs okay, but it will not go into any gear, and if i let the clutch out, even in neutral, it kills the motor with no forward motion.

Luckily for me I had a friend who was nice enough to flat tow me 60 miles back to base with his 06 Dakota 4.7.

At this point I can only speculate on what might have happened, but I will probably get started tonight on it. Hopefully I will get the transfer case off tonight.

I am thinking:
*Best case scenario* The well known 5th gear nut problem occured, and after the nut backed off 5th jammed against the case or something, and at the same time the shift fork broke, causeing the transmission to be locked into the jammed 5th gear. I don't even know if this is possible though. From what I have heard, the 5th gear problem usually lets you keep driving in the first 4 gears.

*Worst case scenario* I will have to rebuild the whole unit, gears, mainshaft, countershaft, etc.... Hopefully damage is not that extensive.

 

Well shat dude!!

Hopefully its the best case scenario. The final case scenario is yanking out the armadillo that snuck up in there.

Take some good pics for yourself. Get it documented as it may help you down the line. I have a feeling that was already in your deck o cards though.

Good luck and few busted knuckles wished upon thee.

 

get pictures of the destruction!!!! Hopefully its not to bad of a fix for you..

 

Haha thanks I will. If its major I will be taking the time (and $$$) to go through the entire tranny, transfer case, and throwing a zoom full kevlar clutch at it. I'm pretty sure that soon after the motor will blow though, knowing my luck thus far with this thing, haha.

 

Well, I got the transfer case out, and then went to drain the transmission by removing the PTO cover, but nothing came out. I think i found my problem. Here's a pic of the busted up front piece on the transfer case, and the dry as a bone innards of the tranny.





Dunno why they arent quite in focus, but you get the idea.

 

that trans looks exactly how my buddies 93 ranger trans looked. he lost every gear except for 4th and reverse. that was a fun drive back my house from about 15ish miles only using 4th gear starting and stopping.

good luck with it. hopefully a new nv4500 doesnt cost you too much!

 

I have no idea how much I will have to replace, but I have to prepare myself for 'everything,' to be the answer. I don't really want to buy a used transmission, because then I will spend the money one another high mileage unit that may or may not last. So I plan to just man up and pay the $$$ for parts, and do it myself.

 

I got the tranny out today, here are some pictures of the carnage.

 

Looks as dry as a west texas windstorm had been through there!

 

are they any upgrades you can do as far as strong gears and such?