Need help with my 1989 Dodge Cummins
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Topic: Need help with my 1989 Dodge Cummins
Posted By: ACD19farmboy
Subject: Need help with my 1989 Dodge Cummins
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 8:50pm
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Does anybody here know if a normal 4 or five speed transmission out of a Dodge truck would fit on my Dodge Cummins engine? My Dodge truck has a 3 speed auto. it gits 16 1/2 mpg, I'd like to get 20, i herd the 5 speeds in the Diesels got 20 but if i find a old gas Dodge truck with a manual transmission would it fit on the Cummins engine??
Thanks, Cordel.
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Replies:
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 8:57pm
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They used the NV4500 trans. Same basic unit GM used too. Not sure if the gassers have the same trans bolt pattern though. The trans shouldn't be that hard to find, it's all the other little stuff you'll need. Your best plan would be find a wrecked/junked one with the manual trans. That way you would have all the little parts, pedals, etc to do the swap. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: kip in cny
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 9:01pm
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you would go through alot of gas trannys when pulling plus making a auto into a stick is not fun. For the cost of parts and do it you self work get a car to drive around. That what I did I hate the car thing but it gets 30mpg. But start looking for a diesel bell housing. ------------- 160 CA 920diesel 5020 HD-3 |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 9:04pm
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The bell housing on the NV4500 is part of the case. Can't change it out... ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: Leonard
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 9:44pm
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Cordel, I'm with Brian, try and find a wrecked one and swap parts. Much cheaper than buying it in pieces.
Leonard
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Posted By: ACD19farmboy
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2010 at 10:54pm
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I think I'll just look for another Dodge Diesel that has a 5 speed!! |
Posted By: On-the_road_again
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 7:19am
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The manual trannys where not that dependable ...
I would stick with the auto
Jim
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Posted By: Amos
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 7:45am
| The first years of the five speed are indestructable. About 92-93 they started changing them and had different issues with each change. Have never seen a broken five speed from the first three years. They are hard to come by, as they are real useful in other arrangements that you may be inclined to build up with there all mechanical fuel pump, hydraulic clutch, etc. My dad keeps coming up with more places to use the engine and transmission than I can find trucks, wish he would stop getting ideas. |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 5:21pm
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The 48RE auto trans was absolutely not up to the challenge of a Cummins. Changed out a few of them under warranty. Jim is the first one I've ever heard say anything bad about the 5 speed. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 7:37pm
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Surely you can find a wrecked one around with a 5 speed, thats the way to go ; go to - JUNKYARDDOG.com - type in what your looking for and it,ll give you some options ; you should be getting about 25 mpg. with that motor reguardless of the trans ; |
Posted By: 7060
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 8:37pm
| Like Brian said the Dodges used the NV4500 which is the same tranny Chevy used on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Chevy used a NV3500 in the 1/2 tons. I have a 91 Chevy k2500 with the NV4500 and its a pretty smooth shifting yet tough tranny. Dodges automatics were prone to failure, especially behind a 5.9 cummins. They also had problems with the torque converter draining down after setting, which causes slow takeoffs until warmed up. Ive never been inside an auto but they say you can build one of the dodge autos to near bullet proof but it would cost you. Are you planning on pulling anything with it? I forgot to mention though that the input shafts are different between the Chevy applications and Dodge. |
Posted By: jrjuday
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2010 at 9:40pm
| The 1989-1993 Cummins trucks DID NOT use the NV4500, they used a Getrag 360. 1994 was the first year for the NV4500. Unless you do a lot of highway driving I doubt you would ever recoup the cost of converting to a 5-speed, unless your auto was trashed and needed to be replaced anyway. Go to the Turbo Diesel Register website for all the info you'll ever need for your Dodge/Cummins. |
Posted By: ACD19farmboy
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2010 at 10:18pm
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Thanks for all your help!!!
but I think that I'll just look for another Dodge diesel with a 5 speed, but my Dodge diesel gits 16mpg and DougG you said i shood be gitting around 25mpg reguardless of the trans??? how can i make it do that?????.
Thanks Again, Cordel
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Posted By: On-the_road_again
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2010 at 10:25pm
Brian,
I don't want to get into this but the 5 speed trannys do not hold up
to regular use towing - I know because I had one.
For that matter - neither do the automatics ....
That is why I drive an F350 with a 7.3 IDI and a ZF five speed.
Almost 1.3 million miles on the same powertrain & counting ....
I speak from experience here, towing day in & day out all over
the country.
Jim
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Brian Jasper co. Ia wrote:Posted By: ac45
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2010 at 2:08pm
| The getrags had problems with synchros, the nv4500 had problems with the 5th gear nut, they are both good to ok transmissions much better than an auto dodge used. The nv 5600 6 speed is by far the best, it is the only transmission that can come close to last as long as the engine |
Posted By: Joe(TX)
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2010 at 10:07pm
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Thre are a lot of people that would disagree with the statement that the automatics did not hold up. I put over 150,000 miles on a truck that had 111,000 when I got it, and that was an automatic. And no, it was not babied.
What is the rear end ratio? The 4.10 will not get the mileage that the 3.55 does.
Also the 89 was not intercooled and did not get the mileage of the later ones.
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Posted By: 7060
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2010 at 10:34pm
| Im sure there are exceptions to this, but dodges were noted for their tranny troubles. A friend of dads has a 94 dodge cummins and is on the 3rd auto trans rebuild, it gets used for pulling trailers on and offroad. If I was to get a dodge it would be a manual, but I wouldnt be afraid of the chevy duramax with the allison auto. It would have been nice if dodge would have made a deal with allison. My 91 Chevy is on engine number 3 and no troubles with my nv4500 yet, knock on wood. Its been through some clutches though. |
Posted By: Larry(OH)
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2010 at 4:57am
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the first few years, the manual was good. After the body change, the transmissions had some issues, mainly bearings and 5th gear failing. My old 91 had the 3 speed torque flite in it with 307 gears and ran 20-22 all day with no problems. ------------- '40 WC puller,'50 WD puller,'50 M puller '65 770 Ollie *ALLIS EXPRESS contact* I can explain it to you, BUT I cannot understand it for you!! |