QK1001 Dodge NV4500HD 4x4 Mainshaft, 5th Gear, and Nut Kit

QK1001 Dodge NV4500HD 4x4 Mainshaft, 5th Gear, and Nut Kit fits all 1994-2004 Dodge 4x4 New Venture NV4500HD 5 speed manual transmissions in Ram trucks with either the Cummins Diesel or gas V10 engines. Replace that old, worn out mainshaft and 5th gear with a brand new, heavy-duty 29 spline 4x4 mainshaft, 22 tooth mainshaft 5th gear, mainshaft nut set, and rear output seal. Kit also includes medium strength and high-temp threadlockers, plus RTV sealant.

Need More Info? Use the handy Links below to access over 40 years of Dan's product and vehicle specific Tech Notes to easily get the information you need for your vehicle's repair, maintenance, or upgrade project!

Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
Kit Includes
Not a Press Fit
Torque Specs
Best Option
Factory Torque Rating
Lubricants, Sealants, Threadlockers
Other Matching Parts
Matching Bearing Kits
Special Tools
Matching Small Parts and Small Parts Kits
Matching Mainshaft Gear Part Numbers
Matching Synchronizer Parts
Rear Output Applications
Applications

Tech Note 1: Kit Includes
QA1045 Mainshaft Set (includes mainshaft, thrust washers, and nut set)
QU10067 Mainshaft 5th Gear
QU10123 4x4 Rear Output Seal
QU90006 3.35 oz Ultra Black RTV Sealant
S24200 6ml Medium Strength Blue Threadlocker
S24026 High Temperature Threadlocker for Mainshaft Nut

Tech Note 2: Not a Press Fit
There is currently no available NV4500 mainshaft from any supplier that will have a press fit for the 3-4 synchro, mainshaft 5^th gear, or the rear output bearing. They are specifically designed and machined this way to speed assembly. The only shafts that had a press fit were the original equipment New Venture shafts and our Torque King shafts, both of which are long out of production and no longer available.

Tech Note 3: Torque Specs
The mainshaft nut torque is 270-280 Lb-ft. Secure the transmission to a sturdy work bench. Lock the transmission into 2nd and 4th gears. Use optional QT2001 or QT2036 Nut Wrenches to torque the nut to specification.

Tech Note 4: Best Option
For more information about NV4500 5th gear failures, see:
5th Gear Failures and Solutions
NV4500 Cast Iron Tailshaft Housings

We no longer make the Torque King® Mainshaft and Retrofit Kits as described in the 5th Gear Failures and Solutions, article which leaves full spline shafts the only choice currently available for Dodge NV4500HD transmissions. While full spline shafts do not actually cure the 5th gear issue, they do greatly reduce the chances of the nut backing off. QA1045 Kit is today's best option for preventing a 5th gear nut failure.

Tech Note 5: Factory Torque Rating
Ever since the Cummins Diesel was introduced in the 1989 Dodge Ram, people have been modifying the engines to crank out more horsepower. Unfortunately, all the manual transmissions used behind the Cummins Diesel (Getrag G360 (1989-1993), NV4500HD (1994-2004), NV5600 (1999-2005), and G56 (2005 to current) are only rated for around stock engine torque. When you increase your power output, you also increase the chance of having a major transmission failure. While some reasonably effective steps can be taken to increase the torque ratings of specific components, there is no practical way I know of to really make your Ram manual transmission "bullet proof" for big torque increases.

There are claims that cryogenically treating NV4500 gears will increase gear strength as much as 30%. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any peer-reviewed documentary evidence to support those claims. Cryogenically treating gears is primarily a cold-hardening process that changes the molecular structure of steel to decrease wear while retaining or increasing hardness. If properly done, it is probable the cryogenic treatment process does slightly increase the impact and fatigue resistance of NV4500 gears, but not enough to significantly increase the ability of an NV4500 transmission to reliably handle more than 600 Lb.-Ft. of input torque especially considering the maximum factory torque rating of the NV4500HD transmission is only 460 Lb.-Ft.

Tech Note 6: Lubricants, Sealants, Threadlockers
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.

Lubricant and Chemical List for NV4500 Transmissions
QU90020 NV4500 Manual Transmission Oil
QU90003 Anaerobic Sealant
QU90006 3.35 oz Ultra Black RTV Sealant
QU90005 0.5 oz Ultra Black RTV Sealant
S24200 6ml Medium Strength Blue Threadlocker
S9978 1 gram Medium Strength Blue Threadlocker
S9979 1 gram High Strength Red Threadlocker
S24026 High Temperature Threadlocker for Mainshaft Nut

Tech Note 7: Other Matching Parts
QA1045 QA1045 Mainshaft Kit
QU10011 Original Fully Splined 4x4 Mainshaft
QU10076 Rebuilder Spec 1-1/4" x 10 Spline Input Shaft
QU10199 Replacement 1-1/4" x 10 Spline Input Shaft
QU10261 Upgrade 1-3/8'x 10 Spline Input Shaft Kit
QU90020 NV4500 Manual Transmission Oil
TM1003 NV4500 Shop Manual
VSG1003DVD NV4500 Overhaul Video
QT2000 29 Spline Shaft Wrench
QT2001 Mainshaft Nut Wrench, 1/2" Drive
QT2036 Mainshaft Nut Wrench, 3/4" Drive

Tech Note 8: Matching Bearing Kits
Mainshaft Bearings in matching Bearing Kits for QK1001 Mainshaft and Gear Kit are:

Tech Note 9: Special 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 10: Matching Small Parts and Small Part Kits

Tech Note 11: Matching Mainshaft Gear Part Numbers

Tech Note 12: Matching Synchronizer Parts

Tech Note 13: 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

Applications
Dodge and Ram:
Ram 2500, Ram 3500 with 4x4 New Venture NV4500HD Transmission: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004