heres what the back half of the trans looks like...



i finally got around to fixing the floor too.

the fluid was from teh shifter leaking...i fixed it now and it is full..

 

I've been trying to figure this out for, literally, years. It seems there were 2 shifter mounting locations, at least on the earlier (or later ... or middle?) years of the DODGE NV3500.

shadowthedakota has the more common (Ram?) forward position, which doesn't clear well on 1st En Daks.

Here's more pics of the forward-shift-position NV3500:

 

Another pic:

Edit: that sucks, I also have a rearward-shifter pic, but I'm new to this site and realize I can only post 1 pic.

 

use photobucket or something...works much better

 

So wait... the NV4500 comes out of what? 360's only??

Good thing I read this before hunting down a Ram with a 318 & 5-speed for my 1st gen (88') Dakota. Looks like I will need to hunt one down with the rear mounted shift tower if I want it to correctly fit in my Dakota?

Can anyone verify if the NV3500 is a better transmission than the AX-15?

Now it's looking like with the gear ratios I will need to find a Ram 1500 because the 2500 & 3500 have a different gearing ratio?

 

The NV4500 that Dodge's came with on the 5.9 I6 Diesel/V10 gas version is very common. The 5.9 V8 Gas is hard to find. The Diesel version can be converted to the 5.9 V8 version but you need to swap input shafts and bell housings in which you will still need the V8 Gas version to pull the parts from.

I've been looking for 2-3 months now for the NV4500 Gas and NV241 transfercase. Nothing local, the only junkyards that have them have to order from out of state. But the Diesels Versions are very easy to get a hold of.

Yes the NV3500 is better than the AX-15, the Ax-15 for 4cly and v6. The NV3500 for 5.2 V8.

 

So is the NV4500 worth searching for to put on my 318 gas? Is it much stronger or something?

Good, I will stay away from the AX-15 then! If I find a 5-speed 318 Ram is there any chance it could have the AX-15 or I won't even have to worry about getting stuck with one if I'm searching Rams?

 

Maybe the LA V8's engines had the Ax-15, but not the Magnums. The NV4500 is not really needed at all for the 5.2, Hahns5.2 has his 5.2 turbocharged and his NV3500 is handling it. The NV4500 is great for heavy loads for hauling along with a high output torque engine.

 

Thanks man!

I found a 95' Ram today in a junkyard, it's a 5.2L manual transmission so I am assuming it is an NV3500 I did not crawl under and look at the tag though. Problem is if I pull this transmission I have a 2WD truck and I do not want an open spinning transfer/front drive shaft yoke, I can't drop the 4x4 tail end can I the 2WD manual transmissions were a whole different cast??

 

good lord that tcase looks like it was dredged up from the titanic LOL