my 1998.5 2500 has been nothing but trouble when it comes to the current transmission. couple nights ago i was towing a 10k trailer up a minor grade and blew third gear out. This tranny has had nothing but bad luck. So i talked to some buddies and they suggested putting a nv5600 in it. I do tow alot so it makes sense but i dont know what other parts i need besides the transmission itself(like driveshafts etc.). Any comments and help is greatly appreciated!

 

I would keep the NV4500. get a rebuilt one with the 5th gear fix, upgrade the input shaft, and overfill it with oil. should hold up to anything you can throw at it...

NV5600 isn't any better. I ripped every single tooth off of 5th gear and snapped the intermediate shaft that 5th and 6th are on in my old one...and I wasnt even towing or loaded with weight..just floored it in 6th from a 55mph rolling start and it broke :-/ got a new one with some fixes in it and running tranny coolers and extra oil now..

 

if you really want to do the swap, you will need the HD xfer case, and drivelines from a truck that had a NV5600 in it. probably need the crossmember for it too.

also note its a very HEAVY trans..weighs ~ 400lbs with no oil in it. it also runs a different oil than the NV4500...you need to run synchromesh transmission oil in it.

 

The new transmission won't bolt up to the transfer case of my nv4500?

 

it might. not positive on that. would definitely make sure you have the HD transfer case..its easy to tell..the HD xfer case has a PTO plate on it just like the transmission.