It just bothers me some because that fluid destroyed my ax15 pretty much.

 

Out of curiosity, why do you believe it destroyed the AX15? I have never had the AX15. My 87 has a NV2500, and it does call for 10w30 motor oil.Is that synchromesh fluid the correct fluid for the AX15?

 

Just to answer my own question, Novak says the oil should be 75-90 GL3 (gear oil) http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge...ns/manual/ax15


This may be wrong, I just dont have any experience with the AX15.

But, if it is correct then using the synchromesh fluid in that transmission would shorten its life.

 

Yeah it was changed with Valvoline Synchromesh and the condition of the transmission changed dramatically in like 1 year. Rattles and worn out synchros and even some other sound once it got hot if u tried to back up. I don't want anything like that to happen with the nv3500

 

I am currently looking at doing an AX-15 to NV3500 swap in my Dakota. I haven't found info on whether the driveshafts are the same or different between the two. Did both the front and rear bolt right up to the transmission? Also, does the transfer case bolt directly on to both?

 

Both driveshafts and the transfer case all bolt right up with no problems. Make sure your nv3500 comes. From a Dakota bc the tower position for the ram one is different.

 

Okay guys nv 3500 is in and functioning and I drove it for the first time tonight. For u guys planning to do this swap I have one last thing of advice. And I also have questions for those of u driving this tranny currently.

1# when you do this swap using the original shift rod you will have to bend the rod, because the rod hits the dash in 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Also be prepared for clutch to engage in slightly different position.

2# I spent alot of money to use OEM Mopar fluid for this tranny and here is my question, exactly how noisy is this transmission with some of u others that use it? Mine seems to have a bit of a whine louder than the ax15 by quite a bit I think and when letting off the gas in gear it just seems to have a noisy whine compared to the ax15. Also in about 25-30mins of driving in town 30-50 mph the transmission is considerably hotter than the transfer case. Hold your hand on the middle of it and after 10 seconds or so you can still hold your hand on it just little uncomfortable but tolerable. What's some of u other guys that r very familiar with this tranny think about this?

 

Did the shifter come through the floor in the same place as the AX15? I wonder if they gave you a ram transmission rather then the dakota transmission.

As far as getting hot, I have no idea how much heat they build up.

Noise, can be caused by gear wear etc. But I do remember reading that the latter (I think 97 and up?) had a different gear pattern in order to cut back or eliminate transmission noise.

Hopefully some others will chime in that actually have experience with the nv3500

 

Shifter came through the floor in the exact same place just the shape of the tower assembly is different so it causes the rod to hit the dash.

And idk how noisy these transmissions are but it is considerably noisier than my ax15 and seems like it got hot awfully quick to me.

 

Hopefully ragged 89 will see this. He is the only one I know changed to a nv3500 and has it running. I feel sure there are others, just dont know who.

Again, no experience here, but I wonder if the shift tower is from a dakota. And again, I dont know if there is any difference. I do have one from a 2003 or 2004 dakota that I will be using in my truck. If there are any measurements or pictures that would help you, let me know.

IF the transmission is getting too hot, and IF it is making excessive noise, I would suspect a bad rebuild. Hope thats not the case though........