1994-2004 Dodge Ram New Venture NV4500 Transmission QA1045

QA1045 29 Spline 4x4 NV4500 Full Spline Mainshaft for 1994-2004 Dodge New Venture NV4500HD 5 speed transmissions in Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 4x4 trucks with Cummins Diesel or V10 gasoline engines. QA1045 includes QU10705, the strongest, current production, 29 spline 4x4 mainshaft on the market plus an OE Style Split Nut, Extra Thick 3-Piece 5th Gear Thrust Washer Set, and Flat Lockwasher. QU10705 Mainshaft has full length splines for 5th gear which combined with the .300" thick Thrust Washer Set and 0.11" thick Lockwasher greatly reduce the chance of the mainshaft nut loosening up. Imported. Note: QA1045 replaces QK1045.

Also see QU10011 Standard Full Spline 4x4 Mainshaft

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Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
QA1045 Mainshaft Specifications
Not a Press Fit
NV4500 5th Gear Failures
Torque Ratings
Matching Mainshaft Gears
Matching Synchronizer Parts
Matching Mainshaft Bearings
Matching Small Parts
Special Tools
Rear Output Applications
Other Matching Parts
Lubricants, Sealants, Threadlockers
Applications

Tech Note 1: QA1045 Mainshaft Specifications
QA1045 includes QU10705 Mainshaft which is grooved behind the 5th gear splines for an included, 0.300" wide, 3 piece piece Thrust Washer Set, Also included is an OE type split mainshaft nut with cross-bolt, and flat lockwasher.
QU10705 Specifications and Approximate Dimensions:
Overall Length: 17-1/2"
Output Spline: 1.475" x 29
3-4 Synchro Hub Spline: 1.45" x 28
1-2 Synchro Hub Spline: 3.365" x 20
Reverse Cluch Spline: 2.285" x 45
Fifth Gear Spline: 1.79" diameter x 1-7/8" long by 35 spline
Width of 3 Piece Thrust Washer: 0.30"

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: NV4500 5th Gear Failures
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 4: Torque Ratings
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 5: Matching Mainshaft Gears
Matching Mainshaft Gear Part Numbers for QA1045 Mainshaft Kit are:

Tech Note 6: Matching Synchronizer Parts
Matching Synchronizer Parts for QA1045 Mainshaft Kit are:

Tech Note 7: Matching Mainshaft Bearings
Mainshaft Bearings in matching Bearing Kits for QA1045 Mainshaft Kit are:

Tech Note 8: Matching Small Parts
Matching Small Parts and Small Parts Kits for QA1045 Mainshaft 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: 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 11: Other Matching Parts
Other Matching Parts for QA1045 Mainshaft Kit are:
QK1001 Mainshaft and Gear Kit
QU10067 Mainshaft 5th Gear
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
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
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
Dodge and Ram Shop Manuals

Tech Note 12: 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

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