Which tranny to use? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Road Head · 04-08-2003, 01:24 PM

I am thinking about swapping a 5.9L Magnum into my YJ, but cant decide what tranny to use. I want to stay with a 5-speed.

So I guess my choices are:
AX-15 - my current tranny behind the 4.0L I6 (I like my tranny, but am worried it wont last long)

NV3500 HD - seems to have a higher torque rating than a standard NV3500 and much more than the AX-15 and should be able to handle the power out of the 5.9L. This one is aluminum casing and weighs about the same as my AX-15. But it only has a 3.? first gear ratio.

NV4500 - low 5.? first gear but twice as heavy. Seems to be a great tranny.

A couple of things I dont know are approximate dimensions of the NV 3500/4500. I am not sure if they are comparable in size, or if the 3500 is smaller.

I am also curious about smooth shifting in either of these. I realize they are truck trannies and they cant shift any worse than my jeep tranny, but I am curious if either one has significant shifting problems.

Also, I looked but cannot find what tranny comes behind the 5.9L. I found the New Venture website and they told which tranny was behind everything from the 3.6L to the Hemi to the 8.0L, but did not mention the 5.9.

Thanks a bunch

GRMhick · 04-08-2003, 01:34 PM

3.9 5.2 and 5.9 all use the same bell housing. dodge didnt put the 3550 behind the 360, probabally for strength reasons, but it may hold up in a jeep. the 3550 will shift like an ax 15 and the like. The nv4500 will be a harder tranny to shift (but i have not driven one myself). Another option is the older (and shorter) np435 out of a pre-93 dodge. it will handle the torque and any load you want, plus it has a 6.5:1 first gear ratio. But it will be harder to shift (I find that the stronger the manual tranny, the harder, and longer the shifts are).

Garrett

04-08-2003, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Road Head Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14731 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 462	Which tranny to use? I am thinking about swapping a 5.9L Magnum into my YJ, but cant decide what tranny to use. I want to stay with a 5-speed. So I guess my choices are: AX-15 - my current tranny behind the 4.0L I6 (I like my tranny, but am worried it wont last long) NV3500 HD - seems to have a higher torque rating than a standard NV3500 and much more than the AX-15 and should be able to handle the power out of the 5.9L. This one is aluminum casing and weighs about the same as my AX-15. But it only has a 3.? first gear ratio. NV4500 - low 5.? first gear but twice as heavy. Seems to be a great tranny. A couple of things I dont know are approximate dimensions of the NV 3500/4500. I am not sure if they are comparable in size, or if the 3500 is smaller. I am also curious about smooth shifting in either of these. I realize they are truck trannies and they cant shift any worse than my jeep tranny, but I am curious if either one has significant shifting problems. Also, I looked but cannot find what tranny comes behind the 5.9L. I found the New Venture website and they told which tranny was behind everything from the 3.6L to the Hemi to the 8.0L, but did not mention the 5.9. Thanks a bunch

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04-08-2003, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
GRMhick Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 87 Location: I live in hotels tear out the walls I have accountants pay for it all Posts: 7,207	3.9 5.2 and 5.9 all use the same bell housing. dodge didnt put the 3550 behind the 360, probabally for strength reasons, but it may hold up in a jeep. the 3550 will shift like an ax 15 and the like. The nv4500 will be a harder tranny to shift (but i have not driven one myself). Another option is the older (and shorter) np435 out of a pre-93 dodge. it will handle the torque and any load you want, plus it has a 6.5:1 first gear ratio. But it will be harder to shift (I find that the stronger the manual tranny, the harder, and longer the shifts are). Garrett