nv3500

[bmwallace_88]

so i just bought this blazer about a month ago. 2001 ls w/ 5spd n 130k on it anyway, even when i first test drove it the transmission never felt all that great, its a little clunky for my taste. but just messing around since i just got the 4wd fixed i stopped randomly on a backroad just to see if the 4wd was going to work, and i forgot to take it out of 4hi but i noticed something, the transmission is alot smoother when shifted and was a lot less clunkier, normal? abnormal? perfectly fine? i dunno you tell me. i have no problems driving it as is but i know someone that would rebuild it for about 300 bucks so its no biggy i might have it done in the near future anyhow.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

It's probably smoother because there is more power being required to run the truck in 4 wheel drive, thus resulting in more torque load when shifting resulting in a smoother shift. This means the worn out parts have more torque to keep them tighter, and that's what could be giving you a smoother, better shift. In 2wd, the transmission has less torque load to deal with, so the worn out parts are more free to "slack" and slop around when you shift, which gives you the clunky feel to it.

That said, it's probably a sign that some parts in the trans are wearing out, most notably the syncronizer rings and shift forks. I'd take it as a suggestion to rebuild it if you want it to shift/operate smoother.

My .02

[bmwallace_88]

thats kinda what i was thinking, i figured it was something along those lines, i have a nv4500 in the garage. hmm? i think its a direct swap. i might have to read up about. im not worried about a rebuild until it leaves me stranded, until then. ill drive it like a normally do. lol thanks for the response, i was just wondering what everyones suggestion was on it. seems i was thinking along the right line.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

thats kinda what i was thinking, i figured it was something along those lines, i have a nv4500 in the garage. hmm? i think its a direct swap. i might have to read up about. im not worried about a rebuild until it leaves me stranded, until then. ill drive it like a normally do. lol thanks for the response, i was just wondering what everyones suggestion was on it. seems i was thinking along the right line.

It would be hard for me to think parts are wearing out at 130,000 miles, but it all depends on who owned it. My dad's Ranger already had to have a new clutch system put in at 135,000 (pressure plate fingers failed). You just never really know unless you've owned it from day one.

[bmwallace_88]

yeah, i baby the truck pretty good and ive owned 5+ other vehicles with manuals, this one is just clunky and kinda noisy, has the famous 2nd gear whine, thankfully it doesnt pop out of second like others, but i did notice, it has noise while sitting in neutral w/ the clutch out, so i think the throw out bearing maybe? i heard some other people on some other boards saying it might be a main shaft bearing, dunno, i'll take it to my uncle n see what he thinks (hes the one that said he could rebuild it for 300, he has a jig and all the tools, transmission rebuilder by trade) just sucks hes about 2 hours north of me in muskegon. lol