NV4500GME 1992-1995 Low Ratio GM NV4500 Transmission Case

NV4500GME 1992-1995 Low Ratio GM NV4500 Transmission Case is a cast iron, new takeout New Venture NV4500 Early Style Transmission Main Case for 1992-1995 GM Chevy and GMC trucks. This special, GM small input bore case works with 5.61-1 or 6.34-1 Reverse Gear Ratios. USA Made.

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Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
Product Note
Case Specs
Early vs. Late Cases
Sealants
Common Causes of Cracked Cases
Gears
NV4500 Tools
Rear Output Applications
Matching Parts
Applications

Tech Note 1: Product Note
Since these are cases from brand new transmissions we parted out, you get the attached small parts listed above, however you also get some RTV sealant you will need to clean off the mating surfaces.

Tech Note 2: Case Specs
New Venture made a number of different 4500 main cases for General Motors and Chrysler. All are made of cast iron and have both left and right PTO covers. The three primary variations found in Dodge and GM applications all have identical top cover and rear housing bolt patterns. The differences are the front case face and reverse idler mounting. Listed below are the approximate Center to Center Bolt Pattern Dimensions and Input Retainer dimensions:

1992-1995 GM: Used with 6.34:1 Reverse (1992-1994) and 5.61:1 Reverse (1995).
Torque King p/n NV4500GME, Casting# 16812
Top: 10.078"
Bottom: 10.394"
Top to Bottom: 4.685"
Pilot for Input Shaft Retainer: 3.625".
Input Shaft Retainer Bolt Circle: 4.375"

1994-1996 Dodge and 1996 GM: Used with 5.61:1 Reverse.
Torque King p/n NV4500E, Casting# 18157 (Dodge)
Top: 10.078"
Bottom: 9.378"
Top to Bottom: 6.043"
Pilot for Input Shaft Retainer: 4.102".
Input Shaft Retainer Bolt Circle: 4.85"

1997-2005 Dodge and 1997-2007 GM: Used with 5.04:1 Reverse.
Torque King p/n NV4500L, Casting# 23167 or 33903
Top: 10.078"
Bottom: 9.378"
Top to Bottom: 6.043"
Pilot for Input Shaft Retainer: 4.1".
Input Shaft Retainer Bolt Circle: 4.85"

Tech Note 3: Early vs. Late Cases
Early and Late NV4500 Transmission cases are not interchangeable. When first introduced, the NV4500 Transmission had a dual-plane reverse where the power transfer path from the counter shaft to the mainshaft reverse gear is offset. The front half of the 2-3/4" long reverse idler gear engages the countershaft, while the rear half drives the mainshaft reverse gear. Since there are no teeth on the counter shaft below the mainshaft reverse gear, that gear can be larger diameter and have more teeth (39). The 1992-1996 transmissions have a 6.34:1 reverse for 1992-1994 GM and 5.61:1 reverse for all Dodge and 1996 GM.

Effective with the 1997 model year, New Venture NV4500's use a single-plane reverse where the power transfer path from the countershaft to the mainshaft is inline. The full working width of the narrow, 1-1/2" wide reverse idler gear is inline with both the countershaft gear teeth and mainshaft reverse gear teeth. Since the countershaft drive teeth are now located directly under the mainshaft reverse gear, the mainshaft reverse gear diameter had to be reduced to the point it now has only 35 teeth. Less teeth means less gear reduction. All 1997 model year and newer NV4500 transmissions have a 5.04:1 Reverse.

The difference in the transmission case reverse idler gear pocket and mounting boss for the single and dual plan reverse means the countershaft, mainshaft reverse gear, reverse idler gear, and reverse idler shaft are NOT interchangeable between early and late cases.

Tech Note 4: Sealants
Early production NV4500 Transmissions used an anaerobic sealant (QU90003) to seal between the main case and input bearing retainer, top cover, and rear housing. Mid-production units used anaerobic sealant just on the input retainer and RTV for everything else. Later production transmissions used black RTV Sealant (QU90006 or QU90005) for everything. Either type of sealant works fine (except the PTO covers ALWAYS should be sealed with RTV), but I prefer RTV for all components. Regardless of which sealant you use, make sure excess sealant does not block the lube access hole at the top of input retainer pilot that fits into the transmission case! Also, the threaded holes in the main case for the four retainer bolts and 12 PTO bolts are open ended, so you must use new bolts with factory applied threadlocker or apply Threadlocker (S24200) to your existing bolts to prevent oil seepage past the bolt threads. See my TM1003 NV4500 Shop Manual or VSG1003DVD NV4500 Overhaul Video for more information.

Tech Note 5: Common Causes of Cracked Cases
If your original transmission main case cracked, check for broken motor mounts. A broken motor mount can cause the engine to twist beyond what the transmission case can handle. Loose Transmission mounting bolts can also cause a case to crack. A transmission that is run out of oil will frequently have a cracked case, but it may be difficult to determine if the case cracked before or after the lube oil was lost.

Tech Note 6: Gears
All 1992-1995 GM NV4500 transmissions use the same main transmission case, however, the gearing will depend upon the year. From 1992-1994 GM NV4500 transmissions were built with 6.34:1 reverse and first gear ratios. These transmissions will have a 20 tooth input gear and a 39 tooth gear on the front of the countershaft. 1995 GM transmissions have 5.61:1 reverse and first gear ratios. 1995 transmissions have a 22 tooth input gear and a 38 tooth gear on the front of the countershaft. The table below shows the different gear tooth counts for the 1992-1995 era GM New Venture NV4500 5 spped manual transmissions. The 1st, 2nd, and Reverse gears are the same for both 1992-1994 and 1995 versions, but most 1995 transmissions will have QU10078 1 piece countershaft instead of QU10090 modular countershaft with replaceable gears used on 1992-1994 and early 1995 transmissions.

Tech Note 7: NV4500 Tools
Need Torque Specs or Rebuild procedures? Order my 116 page, full color illustrated TM1003 NV4500 Rebuild Manual. You will need some special tools to correctly service your NV4500 Transmission. The chart below lists our current NV4500 Special Tools for popular models.

Tech Note 8: Rear Output Applications
NV4500 Transmissions are frequently used for conversion applications. The Table below lists the most popular rear output applications and their associated parts.

  *Electronic, Screw-In Speedometer Sensor
**22 Tooth Mainshaft 5th Gears listed for 1992-2005 Dodge and 1995-2007 GM with 5.61:1 1st gear ratio. 1992-1994 GM with 6.34:1 first gear ratio use 19 Tooth QU10728 Gear. QU10728 is NOT compatible with Dodge 29 and 31 Spline Output Shafts.

Tech Note 9: Matching Parts
Matching Parts for 1992-1995 NV4500GME Transmission Case:
QU10196 Input Bearing Retainer
QU10100 Bearing Retainer Bolt with factory applied RTV sealant
QU10033 Reverse Idler Gear
QU10040 Reverse Idler Shaft
QU10106 12 Point Metric Tailshaft Housing Bolt with factory applied Threadlocker
QU10146 Tailshaft Housing Alignment Dowel
QU10716 GM 4x4 Rear Housing
QU10726 GM C-Truck 4x2 Rear Housing for Push-In Speedometer Pickup
QU10233 GM C-Truck 4x2 Rear Housing for Screw-In Speedometer Pickup
QU10217 GM Cast Iron Long 4x2 Housing with Park Brake Mounting Pad
QU90003 Anaerobic Sealant
QU90006 3.35 oz Ultra Black RTV Sealant
QU90005 0.5 oz Ultra Black RTV Sealant
S24200 6ml Threadlocker
S9978 1 gram Threadlocker
QU90020 NV4500 Manual Transmission Oil
TM1003 NV4500 Shop Manual
VSG1003DVD NV4500 Overhaul Video

Applications

Chevy and GMC:
GM C1500, C1500, C2500, K2500, C3500, K3500 trucks, and P-series vans with Diesel or gas engines: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Other Popular Applications:
Jeeps and Rock Crawlers with 6.34: Ratio GM NV4500 Conversions