NV 3500 Manual

[K15 Blazer]

Eaaaaaaaaaveryone has automatics. Does anyone else have an NV3500 stick shift?
I have a 4X4 blazer with a manual and the trans is super worn out... so much so, that replacement may be the best path.

who has experience rebuilding, upgrading, or swapping these? it make be another year in the making but I need a new engine, clutch, and trans so the truck can drive the next 20 years

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

Don't do another nv3500. Swap in a nv4500. It is much stronger along with having granny low. It's a direct swap.

 

[K15 Blazer]

if it is indeed a direct swap to the transfer case, I would need a new bell housing and a custom clutch... the stock 3500 has an external slave under the starter for the old internal clutch fork.
right now im seeing NV3500s for around $1300 with a warranty... not cheap

NV4500s start at about $2,000, need a new cross member, mount, clutch master & slave, and bellhousing....
if I was building a hi-po 383 or vorteck with HP approaching 400 it would be a given.... NV3500 is only rated for between 250 and 300 HP.

but for 200,000+ miles of life... its done well. no automatic would take that much punishment lol

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

The nv4500 was in 92+ k2500 and 3500s

The bell house is the same for all engines
4.3, 5.0, 5.7, 6.5 and 7.4
It uses the same 12" clutch as the nv3500
It bolts up to the np241 transfer behind your nv3500.
Uses the same transmission mount.
92-94 have the same external slave and a 6.34 1st ratio
Early 95 model has the same external slave an a 5.61 1st ratio
Late 95+ has an internal slave and the higher 5.61 ratio

Even with the newer model, you would just change to the new style clave line, mated to your stock master cyl.

Info thanks to Wikipedia and 88gmc aka Dave. It really is a direct bolt in. You could even reuse your clutch, although it's cheap enough to replace anyway.

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

You can get a nv4500 from the junkyard for around $500
And the bell house is permanent, so no need to buy it. You can reuse your crossmember and if the clutch fork needs replaced, it's around $40 from rockauto. Not trying to preach to you or pester you, just want to fill you in on everything there is to know. The nv3500 isn't horrible, but is not the best.

 

[K15 Blazer]

cool
yeah that 6:1 first gear is ridiculous. im pretty sure mine is just 4:1 and even that is comical how much torque it has in 4-LO lol


I just gotta do whats best for my wallet. this is a total budget build.
I only lifted the truck 2" afterall. as parts get harder to find, I want to stay as stock and cheep as possible.
the upper shift assembly and tower for the 4500 by itself is upwards of $500

I have a 1970 chevelle SS for heavy duty high HP stuff. this is a daily driver that sees open terrain. so im keen on keeping it mellow.

I WOULD take it somewhere to get rebuilt but I fear the phone call would come in saying "its too far gone, we need a replacement" because when I installed the HURST shifter/tower you could see the gears were pretty ground......

 

[K15 Blazer]

which is easier to rebuild? NV 3500 or 4500?
cause im planning to do it myself to save $$$$$$

(gas was $1.83 when Obama took office in 09)

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

I've heard many say the 3500 is a ***** to rebuild because of colplicated shift rails.

And with the 4500, you simply don't use 1st (granny low) unless your towing or something.
Nv4500 gear ratio
1 2 3 4 5 R
6.34 3.44 1.71 1.00 0.73 6.34
Or newer model
1 2 3 4 5 R
5.61 3.04 1.67 1.00 0.73 5.61
And nv3500
1 2 3 4 5 R
4.02 2.32 1.40 1.00 0.73 3.55

So either way your cruising gears stay the same, so you won't loose any highway mileage. And your power gears, 1-3 are a little lower to give you that extra grunt you need. I'm gonna love this combo with my 3:73 gears.

 

[gnrl]

To rebuild the nv3500 you're probably in for a bad time unless you have the tools and precision measuring stuff to see the condition of the guts. Could be done though.

The good news is you can probably pick up a used nv3500 trans cheap because fairly common (for manual transes). They really aren't that bad of a trans and are adequate for that era 305s.

 

[LS2Goat]

NV3500 rebuild = Major PITA
NV4500 rebuild = Simple and can be done with almost no specialty tools

You want the 4500, trust me... I went through 2 NV3500's and I didn't even thrash on them. I got an NV4500 w/200k miles on it from a junkyard for $500 with the bell housing and have put 30k on it no problems. The 4th gear synchro is out but it doesn't bother me much, I just rev match.

It is a complete direct swap, I reused my clutch, clutch fork, slave cylinder, crossmember, the whole works.

I also have about 5k miles on my LQ4 swap now. I'm confident an NV3500 wouldn't have held up to the major increase in power.