NV 3500 swap

I am curious why guys are not using the NV 3500 as a late model swap behind a mild early chevy power plant. I currently have a 65 230 c.i inline six with the old granny 4 speed. I have looked into the s-10 tremec 5 speed but it seems like the NV 3500 would be a much more straight forward swap. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Danimal put one behind the sbc in his son's AD pickup on an S10. I think if you search HAMB Trek the next generation you'll find it.

 

clipped56, do a search on this. i think one reason is it does not have a removable bell housing. i am not sure but i think it also has a low first gear.

 

It's a truck transmission, most guys want their trucks to drive like a car.

 

i'v got one in my dailey truck, the first gear is a little lower than most others but far from a granny. if ya got it go for it

 

I've also got one in my daily driver. I usually skip 1st gear and just start out in second gear. I love the overdrive 5th gear!

 

Putting a 4500 in my 1 ton. They are very similar. The T-5 is more basic. The 3500 has to use a hydro clutch, the T-5 can use a cable, T-5 is also more widely found.

 

nv3500 came in 2 versions.. one had a somewhat deep 1st gear that was behind the 4.3 in s-10's from like 95 on had a rated torque limit of 300 lbs ft. then there was the full size nv3500 which had like a 6:1 first gear ratio. fine for a truck but not real good for cars.. i did some planning on putting the s-10 one behind a 350 300hp/300tq in my old jaguar. my math put the final drive ratio in 1st at 10:1 with stupid high gears (2.7 or somewhere around there) but because of the o/d in 5th theoretically gave the jag a top speed of almost 190mph. so the s10 one can work with the right rear gears but it cant handle that much power...

 

Ratio spread between gears leaves a bit to be desired. And they shift like a truck.

 

I had a DD full sized truck with a 4.3L/NV3500 it had the granny low which I never used at all. I drove it hard and had 200,000 trouble free miles, just replaced one clutch due to my sister learning how to drive stick. Long-throw shifts, and the 4.3L had a real hard time keeping up in O/D. I think it would be at home behind a 350, even in a car and it still shifts better than an old non-synchro 3-speed all day.

 

All GM 2WD NV3500s had the same 1st gear which is 4.016 to 1. The 4WD version had a 3.49 to 1. Chrysler also used them but I believe the gearing was pretty much the same. Hurst used to make a shifter but not sure if it's still available.

I had one in an '89 C1500 and loved it. Even with the clunky factory shifter I thought it shifted pretty smooth, not like a truck at all. They won't take too many Ronnie Sox impersonations though. I picked one up for my '66 C10 and kept it when I sold it. I plan to put it behind a 305 Vortec somewhere down the road, not sure what in but something will come along.

 

The biggest difference is the fact that they are much more expensive than the T5. You can get a T5 from a Camaro or an S10, lots more than a C1500/2500 or even a Dodge. The bell housing scares many away and the expensive throw out system if you run the hydraulic internal bearing.

That said, I've had them in DD trucks and had no issues. I'm not slamming gears but a T5 out of a Camaro can handle that a whole lot more better.

I've got the Hurst shifter in one that is sitting in my shop. It is damaged and I'm tyring to get a replacement tower for it. Since I can't sem to find much help from Hurst, I'll probably have to get it welded up on my own.

 

Another point is that you have the choice of the S10 shifter location or the Camaro location on the T5. If you need it further back, the Camaro works well. The NV3500/4500 is in one spot only. Great for a pickup, maybe not so good for something else.

 

If you've already got the bell housing on your 230, you won't need much to convert. A clutch disc and either a trim job on the T5 or an adaptor. You don't have to change your clutch system.

 

Thank you guys for not badgering me on how weak it may or may not be. Have one at the shop from a running total. Going to give it a try. Later down the road the p/u will be getting a 350 and 4l80e, just want an inexpensive swap so i can do the body work and roll down the freeway.

 

reviving this old thread via search. im putting a 66 389 in my 55 pontiac and am wondering if the NV 3500 will bolt up?

 

...I don't recall many BOP being used in late model trucks...you'll need an adapter for the block. Buy one or make one.

.

 

Thinking of doing a nv3500 swap to replace a 3 speed manual in a 65 chevy pickup, since the nv2500 has a bell housing, will I just have to come up with a hydraulic clutch system for it, it looks to me like it will just bolt up the the old 250 I6 ? Am I correct in assuming this is the case ? or am I going to be in for a big surprise ?

 

Ive got one in my 41 Chevy truck. It fits pretty good. Shifter is almost perfect. I dont think it shifts clunky at all. I put new blocker rings in it before I dropped it in. Mine is the Getrag version. not sure if that matters much. I pulled it from a early 90's 3/4 ton 2wd truck. Biggest problem was the electronic speedo drive. still need to figure that out. Keith

 

Eh Keith, did you figure out the speedo on your swap?
I have one of these trannys and want to swap it into my Merc Crewlcab

-Shiny