Anybody torn into a GM NV3500??

[averagef250]

Sorry for the non-bump question, but anybody ever worked on one of these? So far all I can say is GM really had to try to make thier 90's trucks as sh*tty as they are. I'm trading the rebuild of a '93 chevy getrag NV3500 5 speed for a decent '72 F-250 4x4 and this transmission is killing me. It splits in the middle, but this transmission will not split! EVERY single bolt is out of this tranny and I can only get it 1/4" apart, no more. I'm almost to the point of taking the 8 lb sledge to it.

[averagef250]

Alright, fingered it out! The tranny uses a single rail shift mechanism with a heavy detent at the forward end of the shift rod in the case. That detent was holding it together. GM and dodge books both list a special tool to remove the funky plug that keeps the detent and spring against the rod, I made quick work of the plug with the old gas wrench. Aluminum transmission cases allow any steel part to fall out when they're heated to around 500 degrees!

Still have to figure out how to get the guts out of the rear half of the case, but that's for tomorrow. I assembled an M5R1 and a 4x4 ZF5 before noon today, installed the ZF5 and a single mass conversion clutch in a '94 7.3 truck in an hour, test drove it for an hour or so then racked the 93 K1500, pulled the trans and t-case and spent several hours scratching my head over how it comes apart.

Working on 90's GM products gives a guy a real deep seated hatred for those vehicles. Some things they do are so rediculous and would have been so simple to do a different way that could have made it so much easier. Just one of a dozen possible for-instances I could point out pulling the NV3500- Anyone ever pull a GM t-case and notice how the 6 bolt pattern is set up with 3 bolts on the top and 3 on the bottom whereas most everyone else has 3 bolts on either side so they're all easy to get to?

[Jake11]

Seen the 400 overdrive explode-O-matic trans? The one the bellhousing
just flies/breaks apart?

[Wes]

I have seen the 4l80e bell housing crack all most all across but only in 14000+ lb gvw P chassis with drive line brakes. Of corse the knucked heads assigned these trucks 17000 lbs of crap in them.

[averagef250]

I have seen a broken case 4L80E, it was just a corner though. Broke off when a friend was pulling his engine, the alignment peg cracked the bellhousing. I have personally welded up and reinforced 4 chevy diesel NV4500 bellhousings. They hang a 200 pound transmission off an 800 pound boat anchor of a 6.5 diesel with a bellhousing that's thinner than a pringles potato chip.

[averagef250]

Just wanted to re-idderate I hate General Motors products. GM products are the leading cause of suicide among people who have to work on them. It would warm my heart to read more 90's GM bashing posts.

[Jake11]

OK

Had a customer's ace employee drive K20 on fwy. Oh, my,
it was in 4W-hi. Well all kinds of stuff just flew out from under
the truck. Like driveshaft, front diff. center section, and other
misc. parts during the explosion. Same "driver" had come into
the shop 2 or 3 times before, complaining it vibrates. All times
I just happen to notice it's in 4W-hi. I talk to this guy and ask,
why you got it in 4W on the fwy? He says, I like four wheel drive.
I kid you not.

I do my best to explain that 4WD is like for snow/mud and stuff
like that and not for fwy driving. What a waste of time. I made
a pretty good paycheck.

[Jake11]

Another "K20" story. Truck comes in, 700R4 no more workee.
I get the job, tear it down and it's like destroyed. I build it and
ship it. The truck was being operated by the owners "son".
On phone, service writer ask's, how did it break? Son borrowed
truck. Went 4wheeling and was just driving along. It just exploded!

Several weeks go by. Time fly's. Then surprize, the K20 is
on a flatbed in the driveway. I ask driver whats up. Says, I don't
know. I drove it up on the bed. He drives it off the bed and parks
it. I'm scratching my head. I get in and start to pull it in the shop.
Bang bang, kerblammo. The ring and pinion are making noises.
People run out of the office to see what the racket is. They see
me driving it and go back inside. I don't get that part. Anyway,
"son" was just driving along and all the teeth just fell off the ring
gear. Another nice paycheck

[cooltoolguy]

interesting, my 94 k1500 gmc is pushing 200,000 miles on the origional trans, transfer case, i switched the motor at 175,000 but the old one was not too bad, just tapped in the mornings.(guy i gave it to put it in his kids suburban and is still driving it!) I beat this poor truck and put it away wet, it has at least 800 lbs of tools in it at all times, plus towing a 16 foot trailer in OD, i blew the rear twice (first time i drove on it for a week missing three teeth in the ring) second time it was locked (sand to pavement + hard right turn = bad) but now i have an auburn in it. dont know, maybe it was built on a wednesday

[averagef250]

That's not a GM bashing story!

I know they're not horrible trucks, but seriously, ever work on the same vintage Fords, dodges and toyota's? Fords are by far and away the most user friendly and affordable to fix.

Is your '94 an auto? If it is and you tow anything in OD with a 4L60E and have 200K miles on it you have the worlds only 4L60E to make it past half that many miles without failure. My dad is a dyed in the wool GM fan, He drives a '96 chevy 2500 2wd 5.7/auto. He's old and he drives like it and that thing lost the 4L60E at 55K miles. It only has 80K miles on it total, looks great, but has rattles everywhere, the CPSFI injectors are going out now, I've done the intake gaskets on it 3 times, the gov-lok rear posi is broke and locks the tires now and then. The truck's just a pile from a design perspective.

[Jake11]

Yup. Built a few 700's/4L60's. If they make 60K their on borrowed
time. The GM's had a 50K warranty. GM tran's are a big POS.
They use "Allison" now. Can't really complain. Made me a few bucks.

[averagef250]

Yeah, making a living off GM's poor engineering is a big positive to it. Cummins Dodge NV4500 5 speed 5th gear issues have been my bread and butter lately.

[19674x4]

my buddy lost 4th gear in his doge 5speed hear last week, cummins 93. with only 91,000 on it

[averagef250]

Yes, He has a Getrag 360, If he wants to pull it out, pour gas on it, light it on fire and dance around it in celebration I'd be happy to drive down and join in.

They are garbage 5 speeds, might hold up behind a V8, not a cummins diesel. The '94 to 2002 cummins used the NV4500, a far better unit that will hold up for a very long time behind a 160 horse 5.9. If it's a nice truck and worth hanging onto the NV4500 or even 5600 is the way to fly.