Talk me out of this...

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79K15 HIghSierra

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South Carolina
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Reuben
Truck Year
1979
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K1500
Engine Size
350
Saw a NV3500 5 speed 4x4 trans come up on Facebook marketplace...for $250. Are these any good? It says it worked fine when taken out. Worth the trouble of swapping out my sm465?
 

Craig Nedrow

NADAR UNDER THE RADAR
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1973 (have two), 1985
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K10, K20, C20
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350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Was it behind a GM, or Dodge, see below? they are longer, so both drive lines will have to be modified, around here very expensive. See below:

  • 1993[1] New Venture Gear releases the NV3500. Externally the earlier GM units look like the NV3500; however the internal components were extensively redesigned.
    • The HM290 and 5LM60 units have a complicated arrangement of 4 shift rails. The NV3500 has one shift rail.[2]
    • There are two designs for the 5LM60 input shaft and bearings (input shaft and main shaft). The first design 1988–1990 has a ball bearing with a roller bearing behind it. The second design has a much larger single ball bearing. The first design bearings are reputed to be failure prone.[3] The updated input shaft and bearings carried through to the NV3500.
  • All 5 of these transmissions can be interchanged as a complete unit with the following caveats.
    • "Drop-in" interchanges between GM S (S10 etc.) and C/K trucks will require modification of driveshaft length and crossmember placement. GM S models have a longer tail-shaft than C/K trucks.
    • Master & slave cylinder bore sizes went from standard to metric in 1992 (Master: 11/16"->18mm, Slave 13/16" ->20mm)
    • GM and Dodge transmissions will not interchange.
      • The case and bellhousing are one piece with differing, engine specific, bellhousing bolt patterns.
      • Dodge uses Dodge specific input shaft length, spline count, and pilot diameter.
      • Dodge output spline count differs from the GM units.
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Venture_Gear_3500_transmission
 

Shorty81

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Keep the sm465. Best truck transmission going.
 

Cemack

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Alberta Canada
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Chris
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1978
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K15
Engine Size
350
I’ve got the Sm465 in my 78 gmc. Don’t like it much because of the throw between gears. It is a very good transmission though. I’ve also got an NV4500 in my 1998 gmc and like it about better. It’s just nice driving it. It must be a good transmission as well to have lasted so long too
 

rt66paul

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California
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paul
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1991 suburban
Truck Model
2500
Engine Size
7.4

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