I have a 1998 dodge ram 1500 club cab slt laramie 4x4 shortbed. it has the 318 and my build sheet from dodge says it has a nv3500HD heavy duty transmission and the transfercase is also HD. nv231HD I believe??? and it said heavy duty suspension as well. I heard it was a rare combination of the 3 I have not heard of a 1/2 ton with a heavy duty 5 speed and I was wondering what the difference is between the two. my truck has 221,000 miles and still running strong no smoke no leaks nothing. it has harland sharp1.7:1 roller rockers, flowmaster, new plenum gasket and is chipped riding on 33" maxis bighorns. If I want to build up my 318 with upgraded cam and etc. will my transmission and transfercase be able to handle the power my motor will put out without ruining the input shaft and etc or should i sell it and get a 2500 with a nv4500? also can 3/4 ton front springs and rear leaf springs from a diesel fit on my truck? it has a leceling kit and an ad a leaf in the rear and i want more lift and beefier suspension as it squats with the bed loaded down.

 

That driveline will take anything a small block will throw at it... 2500 springs will drop right into place, but I wouldn`t bother with the front springs. Fact is, I would recommend air bags instead of 2500 springs. Keep your nice ride when empty AND get added payload capacity when you need it.

Just don`t get too crazy with heavy stuff in the bed, the 9.25 is a tough rear end, but it`s no full floater...

 

Heavy Duty NV3500 just means that it is the heavy duty version of the NV3500. Every manual transmission Ram 1500 came with the same type of the NV3500. NV3500s came in Jeeps, S-10s, Dakotas and other vehicles.

NV231HD is the heaviest transfer case the 1500s could be ordered with. Good TC.

Your truck also probably has the Heavy Duty service group, too. Bigger radiator, bigger battery and alternator, transfer case skid plate, and I think the Trailer Tow Group.

Your truck will handle the mods, as long as you mantain it.

 

Only the 2500 front springs will go right into place. The rear leafs on a 2500 are 3" and the rear on half tons are 2.5".