Quote:

Originally Posted by soar_dude

I'll keep that in mind. The bell housing patterns on the should be the same since the 3.9 is a 5.2 with two fewer cylinders. Thanks for reminding me about the crank position sensor on the flywheel.

The bell housing bolt pattern is the same, but the location of the starter is the problem. On a nv2500 and I assume the AX15 is the same. The starter location is set up for a smaller dia. flywheel. (V6)
With the V8 flywheel, the starter would hit the flywheel, due to the larger dia. The NV3500 moves the starter out 1/2 in or so.

 

I'll look that up in my shop manual when I get home after class tonight sounds totally legit that the bell housings would be different for the fly wheel size.

 

93ragtop, I believe the Magnum flywheels, V6 & V8, are all 143 tooth. The LA flywheels have 130 teeth. Since the AX15 was only used behind Magnum V6's, it should take the larger diameter 143 tooth Magnum flywheel.

 

I used the flywheel for a 1995 Dakota 5.2 (that would be a factory nv3500) with my ax15. It swaps in the same as the 3500

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragged89

93ragtop, I believe the Magnum flywheels, V6 & V8, are all 143 tooth. The LA flywheels have 130 teeth. Since the AX15 was only used behind Magnum V6's, it should take the larger diameter 143 tooth Magnum flywheel.

OK, that makes sense!!
FWIW, I have read, that its possible to use the AX15 bellhousing along with a NV3550 transmission. This is done on Jeeps, I believe. I have no idea if it would work on a dakota or not, but if it would, IMO it sure would make install easier!!
Again, FWIW I am in the middle of putting a NV3500 in my 87 dakota. I purchased a harbor freight transmission jack that tilts. Without it, I would have never got it in. Its a tight fit on the 87. Had to tilt back and sideways to get it past the firewall-tunnel area, then then tilt back. Its bolted in, but I still have to modify the transmission mount. etc.

 

Thanks for the info on the bell housings. As far as the swaps I'm retired military and can do the work on base at the auto hobby shop which has cherry pickers and such when I do the swap the engine and tranny will be pulled as one unit and go back the same.

 

RT93, that the NV3550 might be capable of accepting the AX15 bellhousing is interesting; I've not run across that, but it sounds plausible. I knew the 3550 had the starter opening on the wrong side (for a Dodge), but I forgot about it having a separable bell housing. If it's compatible with the AX15 bell housing I'm with you, that would be so much easier to deal with in a 4X4 Dakota. We need an answer to that!

How high did you have to raise your Dak in order to get that NV in there? I've thought a body lift, or just unbolting and raising the cab, would make the job of getting the NV3500 in from underneath a little easier. But then, getting those cab mounts loose in a 30 year old truck could be an issue too.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragged89

RT93, that the NV3550 might be capable of accepting the AX15 bellhousing is interesting; I've not run across that, but it sounds plausible. I knew the 3550 had the starter opening on the wrong side (for a Dodge), but I forgot about it having a separable bell housing. If it's compatible with the AX15 bell housing I'm with you, that would be so much easier to deal with in a 4X4 Dakota. We need an answer to that!

How high did you have to raise your Dak in order to get that NV in there? I've thought a body lift, or just unbolting and raising the cab, would make the job of getting the NV3500 in from underneath a little easier. But then, getting those cab mounts loose in a 30 year old truck could be an issue too.

Here is some of what I think I was reading, https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/...-bellhousings/


I did not have to lift the cab at all. But it was tight going in. I have a kwiklift. it puts the truck about 21in in the air. https://kwik-lift.com/

 

i wish i would have seen this thread sooner. there are multiple trans that will bolt up to the nv3550 bellhousing. if you follow the offroad forum everyone runs stock to beefed up ax15.

ive been doing research for my 89 dakota magnum swap and since the ax15 is very plentiful in the junkyard by me ive opted to research it. from what i can recall the nv2500, ax-15, and nv3550 all share the same bolt pattern for swapping bellhousings.

 

Thanks for the links RT. I need a kwiklift!


So multiple transmissions can use the NV3550 bell housing, but I'd love to know if the NV3550 gear box can work with a AX15 bell housing. Keep us posted on what your research turns up.