Auto to manual swap
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Auto to manual swap
I daily drive a 93 W350 with the 360 Magnum in it. I’m pretty new to this world, especially with dodges, so I’m looking for advice on the swap.
My truck was a plow truck its whole life, so the trans is pretty much gone. A friend told me about the nv4500 transmission and said that it would be a good option, but that was just off the top of his head so I’m not sure if that trans would even be compatible.
So, is this transmission a good option? If not, what other options should I be looking at? Also, what else am I going to need to go along with it to complete the swap?
Thanks you to anyone who replies, and if there are any other threads you could link me that’d be great! It’s been very hard finding info on this topic. Thanks!
My truck was a plow truck its whole life, so the trans is pretty much gone. A friend told me about the nv4500 transmission and said that it would be a good option, but that was just off the top of his head so I’m not sure if that trans would even be compatible.
So, is this transmission a good option? If not, what other options should I be looking at? Also, what else am I going to need to go along with it to complete the swap?
Thanks you to anyone who replies, and if there are any other threads you could link me that’d be great! It’s been very hard finding info on this topic. Thanks!
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Clayton MI
NV4500 is what came in the manual trans, heavy duty trucks. 
So, yeah, it's do just fine for ya. They are getting rather fun to find though.... best bet is to find a donor truck that has one, and buy the whole truck. That way you get everything you'll need. Doesn't matter if it runs and drives, so long as the trans is good.
So, yeah, it's do just fine for ya. They are getting rather fun to find though.... best bet is to find a donor truck that has one, and buy the whole truck. That way you get everything you'll need. Doesn't matter if it runs and drives, so long as the trans is good.
Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Parker, SD
Make sure you get a Light Duty NV4500 also the HD version has the bellhousing for the Cummins and I beleive V10 and they don't interchange IIRC, someone else can verify this. The input shaft of the transfer case is also different and requires changing or getting a different case. I do believe the NV4500 was not available until 94 though? Finding a donor in a 93' and older chassis would be best for you and would probably have a Getrag either a 4 or 5 spd
EDIT: just doing a little googling on my own to clear my brain on this, I believe the getrag was only offered behind the Cummins, the gassers had a variance of the NP435 4spd, with the NV4500 5spd coming to market in 93 for the gas world, so your absolute cherry find would be a 93' 360 5spd 4x4 donor, I do believe the 318 and 360 flywheels do not interchange, nothing a little parts rummaging couldn't fix
EDIT: just doing a little googling on my own to clear my brain on this, I believe the getrag was only offered behind the Cummins, the gassers had a variance of the NP435 4spd, with the NV4500 5spd coming to market in 93 for the gas world, so your absolute cherry find would be a 93' 360 5spd 4x4 donor, I do believe the 318 and 360 flywheels do not interchange, nothing a little parts rummaging couldn't fix
Last edited by dodgetruck2; Nov 28, 2022 at 08:41 AM.
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Agree on a donor truck if at all possible. The magnums have a different balance than the older engines.
If you have to piecemeal it, the 94+ nv4500 from a v8 may be easier to find. Pedals and hydraulics can be sourced from an 88-93 with a 4spd or 5spd. The 5 speed is a few inches shorter than the OD auto, so driveshaft lengths need to be changed.
As for HD or not, terrible terminology as all nv4500's are a heavy duty trans. The difference is the input and output size and they can be swapped. V8 ones fit V8s; the v10/diesel version is the other. Chevy ones are different again. You can actually mix and match some interesting combinations.
If you have to piecemeal it, the 94+ nv4500 from a v8 may be easier to find. Pedals and hydraulics can be sourced from an 88-93 with a 4spd or 5spd. The 5 speed is a few inches shorter than the OD auto, so driveshaft lengths need to be changed.
As for HD or not, terrible terminology as all nv4500's are a heavy duty trans. The difference is the input and output size and they can be swapped. V8 ones fit V8s; the v10/diesel version is the other. Chevy ones are different again. You can actually mix and match some interesting combinations.
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Been struggling to find an nv4500 donor in my general area. But there are a lot of 2nd gen ram 1500’s which, from what I’ve looked up, can have the nv3500?
This is just my daily driver, which will almost never tow. As long as it can go 65 on the highway here and there then it will work for me.
So, if I find a 4x4 2nd gen and confirm it has the nv3500, it would be the best move to buy the whole truck and get most of the parts from that? There are very little 1st gens in my area so finding parts for them is very difficult, especially manuals.
This is just my daily driver, which will almost never tow. As long as it can go 65 on the highway here and there then it will work for me.
So, if I find a 4x4 2nd gen and confirm it has the nv3500, it would be the best move to buy the whole truck and get most of the parts from that? There are very little 1st gens in my area so finding parts for them is very difficult, especially manuals.
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
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From: orangeville ontario
i would say you are likely better off to just get the auto trans fixed. if the job is done right it should likely last another 20-30 years with no issues. plowing is always hard on transmissions so if you are not plowing it will last much longer. even if you buy a transmission to swap in you really don't know if it needs work till you are using it. my friend recently bought a standard truck to try and get away from the auto trans issues and has trans that needs new syncros and no shop wants to touch the manual transmission because of the age. at least shops will still usually rebuilt the auto's.
Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Parker, SD
Been struggling to find an nv4500 donor in my general area. But there are a lot of 2nd gen ram 1500’s which, from what I’ve looked up, can have the nv3500?
This is just my daily driver, which will almost never tow. As long as it can go 65 on the highway here and there then it will work for me.
So, if I find a 4x4 2nd gen and confirm it has the nv3500, it would be the best move to buy the whole truck and get most of the parts from that? There are very little 1st gens in my area so finding parts for them is very difficult, especially manuals.
This is just my daily driver, which will almost never tow. As long as it can go 65 on the highway here and there then it will work for me.
So, if I find a 4x4 2nd gen and confirm it has the nv3500, it would be the best move to buy the whole truck and get most of the parts from that? There are very little 1st gens in my area so finding parts for them is very difficult, especially manuals.
The nv3500 has mixed opinions, back when I 5spd swapped a 2nd gen I felt the 3500 was not heavy enough for me and opted to finding the 4500 from a 2500 and found a donor to suit
I do believe the 3500 will fit in just as easily so its really up to you and what you would like to find