Ignorance is Bliss.

[JCribb]

On a side note, I met a feller that works at a salvage yard; says he can hook me up with an NV4500. To be continued.....

Do it!!! Seriously it’s possibly the best thing anyone can do to this platform. I have that transmission in my Z71 currently, and I love it.

 

[kennythewelder]

Thanks for the suggestions fells. While we're on the topic of shocks; does anyone have any experience with Gabriel Ultras? A good friend of mine works at AutoZone and says they're the best shocks they sell, but he was telling me to go with Bilsteins. That said, these Gabriel Ultras are being received via labor barter through a friend; I detail his rig, he buys me some shocks.

I did a bunch of research on them and they seem to be a good every man's offroad shock? I mean, I won't be doing comp's in them (I don't comp anyway), but they should be a rock solid overland shock? The buddy that bought em for me says it's what he runs in his truck.

Keep in mind, I'm not investing this thing into some kind of SEMA truck. Keeping it bluecollar.

Personally, from what I've read, I'm confident and excited to receive them; but I would like to get input from ya'll on the matter based on your own experiences. I figure you gotta start somewhere, and if for whatever reason I don't fancy them, I can always look into something different when they go bad.

I'd heard Bilsteins might be great quality but the ride is rough as hell lol. Just hearsay though

Yes. I just replaced my ultras with Gabrial max control. The ultras ride hard. The max control ride a lot better. Max control are single piston shocks. My ride improved big time with the max control shocks over the ultra shocks. Max control shocks are a little less expensive, like a couple of bucks a shock. Like you I was told the same thing about the ultra shocks. Thats why I put them on. The sucked from the get go. Dual pistion shocks like the ultra shocks, dont give near as good as a ride as a single piston shock. Bubbles build up in the shock fluid in dual piston shocks. This doesnt happen in single piston shocks. Swap the ultra shocks for the max control shocks, you wont regret it. Both are Gabrials so swaping them should not be an issue. FYI, my truck is a 97 extended cad, 5.7 L, and is my daily driver. Here in Louisiana, we have some of the worst roads in the nation.

 

[JCribb]

Here in Louisiana, we have some of the worst roads in the nation.

I’m not saying Louisiana roads don’t suck, as I’ve driven on a few, but Oklahoma and Arkansas will give your state a run for its money for the worst roads title.

 

[BlueCollar89]

Yes. I just replaced my ultras with Gabrial max control. The ultras ride hard. The max control ride a lot better. Max control are single piston shocks. My ride improved big time with the max control shocks over the ultra shocks. Max control shocks are a little less expensive, like a couple of bucks a shock. Like you I was told the same thing about the ultra shocks. Thats why I put them on. The sucked from the get go. Dual pistion shocks like the ultra shocks, dont give near as good as a ride as a single piston shock. Bubbles build up in the shock fluid in dual piston shocks. This doesnt happen in single piston shocks. Swap the ultra shocks for the max control shocks, you wont regret it. Both are Gabrials so swaping them should not be an issue. FYI, my truck is a 97 extended cad, 5.7 L, and is my daily driver. Here in Louisiana, we have some of the worst roads in the nation.

Rock solid review! I'll use these Gabriel Ultras until they're worn and depending on personal experiences, I'll consider this for sure!

@JCribb that gave me a good laugh xP

 

[BlueCollar89]

Additionally, can anyone confirm this? It's pretty exciting if it's legit!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[RichLo]

5-speeds were available with any engine combo. The 5 and 6-lug trucks came with NV3500s and the 8-lug's came with NV4500's generally speaking.

It took me 3 years to find the NV4500 locally that I wanted in my truck. Pick it up ASAP if you can! Especially if you can get all the conversion parts with it.

On a side note, External slave cylinder NV4500s (trans made up to 1995) are easier to swap than later internal slave ones. And Pre 1995 trans came with a lower granny gear 1st gear. My NV4500 is a 1995 witch is the external slave with the higher, non-granny gear 1st. IMO, 1995 is the ideal NV4500 to have.

 

[BlueCollar89]

5-speeds were available with any engine combo. The 5 and 6-lug trucks came with NV3500s and the 8-lug's came with NV4500's generally speaking.

It took me 3 years to find the NV4500 locally that I wanted in my truck. Pick it up ASAP if you can! Especially if you can get all the conversion parts with it.

On a side note, External slave cylinder NV4500s (trans made up to 1995) are easier to swap than later internal slave ones. And Pre 1995 trans came with a lower granny gear 1st gear. My NV4500 is a 1995 witch is the external slave with the higher, non-granny gear 1st. IMO, 1995 is the ideal NV4500 to have.

I was under the impression an NV4500 swap was a plug and play sort of deal? Do you have a reference to conversion parts that would be needed to put one into my 94' Silverado? My understanding of this plug and play mentioned something about how it would just bolt right up lol. So I admit ignorance on the matter for sure.

 

[JCribb]

All you really need is obviously the transmission and bellhousing (it’s a two piece thing for the NV4500), clutch pedal assembly, clutch set, pilot bushing, slave cylinder, and to get rid of the automatic transmission controls a manual transmission equipped computer, unless there’s a different way of eliminating the controls.

But yes, having the 6.34:1 low gear in four wheel drive makes for some awesome crawling.

6.34:1 ratio was available in the 92-95 which is the aforementioned external slave cylinder, 96- up was 5.61:1 first gear and also an internal slave cylinder setup.

It really is plug and play, as I changed over from the NV3500 to the NV4500, only because I blew up three of the NV3500’s, I needed something stronger.

 

[BlueCollar89]

and to get rid of the automatic transmission controls a manual transmission equipped computer, unless there’s a different way of eliminating the controls.

You lost me there bro lol, they actually put automatic controls on a standard transmission pickup? Whaaaaaaaaat? I thought a 5 speed was a 5 speed haha.

 

[94burbk1500]

You lost me there bro lol, they actually put automatic controls on a standard transmission pickup? Whaaaaaaaaat? I thought a 5 speed was a 5 speed haha.

I'm pretty sure he was implying if you were swapping from an auto to a stick.