The NV3500 is a light duty five-speed manual transmission with an input torque rating of 300 lb-ft designed and manufactured by New Venture Gear. The most common application of the NV3500 was from 1993 to 2001 in full size Chevy GMC and Dodge ram pickups. A more robust version of the transmission, the NV3500-HD features an input torque rating of 340 lb-ft and was used exclusively in the Dodge Dakota from 1994 to 2004.

 

If you dont mind sharing where you got your specs, I would like to hear....
Wikipedia, shows the NV3500 being a medium duty transmission......
I always wonder how the tq ratings come about, ie: why the dakota version is rated higher then the ram version.
I suspect they are the same, but the higher rating was because the dakota is a lighter truck, but that is just a guess.

 

https://www.dieselhub.com/trans/nv3500.html

 

and the FSM says:

The NV3500 is a medium-duty, 5-speed, constant mesh, fully synchronized manual transmission.

Which to believe???

 

You do understand that the weight of a vehicle has nothing to do with the input torque rating of a transmission.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDshot

You do understand that the weight of a vehicle has nothing to do with the input torque rating of a transmission.

No I dont....... and let me explain why I feel this way....... If im wrong, I would like to learn.

I will list my reasoning in order.

1. Torque input is not something that is measured like the torque output can be with a dyno on a engine. A engine puts out x tq, x hp. and thats it....
A transmission is a estimate as to max torque, over its intended use, and life of the transmission.
2. Cant find anywhere where New Venture rated the TQ input. Rather it seems to be GM has ratings, Dodge Ram has ratings, as well as Dakota having ratings, all slightly different.
3. Now, I suspect that the dakota slightly higher rating is due to the weight of the truck, its intended usage, vs the Ram.

If Im wrong, please explain.

Oh and back to the orig. post, Light duty, med, duty, etc. That would def. be based on truck usage.
Example. Dakota, have used NV1500, NV2500, AX-15, and last, the NV3500 being the strongest. There could be a argument that this is at least a med duty, or as Dakota rated it. Heavy Duty. And for a Dakota, that was as strong as it got....
On a Ram 2500 they used a NV3500, NV4500, NV5600. In that usage, the NV3500 would be a light duty transmission.

Again, if im wrong, show me, I would like to learn.

 

I would rather have an AX15. Parts are cheaper, easier to work on and proven to be just as strong as the NV3500 and there are aftermarket parts to make it stronger unlike the NV3500.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00t444e

proven to be just as strong as the NV3500 and there are aftermarket parts to make it stronger unlike the NV3500.

Would you please explain the last two in your statement.

Why do you feel it is just as strong? It would seem Mopar did not think so.

What aftermarket parts exist to make the AX15 stronger? I searched and found articles dealing with using Toyota gears to lower the ratios, but could not find anything to increase its torque capacity or life.


I am trying to learn here. I am in the middle of putting a 5.9 magnum and a NV3500 in a 87 4wd dakota. If the AX15 is as strong or stronger, it would be of great interest to me. Getting the 1 piece trans-bellhousing in the first gens is no fun.

 

They seem to hold up well behind Jeeps that have 4.7 stroker I6 motors, and small block Chevy conversions running large tires, I have seen some with 40s. Rockland Standard can build an AX15 that is rated for 385 ft lbs but they claim it has held up fine behind engines making more than 400 ft lbs. I am putting a 5.9 Magnum in my Jeep ZJ along with an AX15 and I don't expect many issues with the transmission based on what I have seen and read, but I am going to keep the 5.9 around 300 HP. If it does blow Ill have Rockland Standard build me one. However If you already have a good working NV3500 I would say use it and you can always swap to an AX15 later. Most manual transmissions are rated conservatively anyway, even an NV4500 is only rated for 460 ft lbs but I have seen them handle well over 1000 ft lbs for years with no issue other than the 5th gear nut backing off which there are fixes for.

 

unless you are always "giving it He11" it will live fine behind a 360. If you aren't "in the gas," it isn't putting out max power, even at the RPMs in the specs that show when it puts out max power.
if youre just cruising down the highway youre not in the gas that hard, even though you might be right at "peak RPM".
and it will take "some" hard use, just not "constant" hard use. even if you do some wheeling, and/or some light towing with that 360, with what "most people" consider "normal usage" that 3500 will survive just fine. as long as you use the "synchromesh" fluid and not plain 80-90/ plain 80-90 is a "GL5" spec which isnt nice to brass which is what your synchros are made of. Synchromesh (Ive seen it by pennzoil) is a GL4 spec which is what brass parts want.