Building a 46 Dodge truck with a small block. Just a mild, cool driver. I want to run a 5 or 6 speed manual trans with a hydraulic clutch. What's the best/most economical solution here?

My thoughts we're buy a wrecked 1/2 ton 96 or newer 2wd Dodge and use the NV 3500 from that. Can't find. a cheap 2wd anywhere though.

Ideas?

Laine

What about just getting a common, GM F body T56 six speed and use a quicktime bellhousing?

I guess I'll start looking for a donor car then. Too bad I cand find a trans out of a Mopar.

there are more dakota 5 speeds around than dodge 1500,s....i dont think there is a pile of t56 laying around anywhere...

Just found a 6 speed from a 06 1500 V-6 truck. That should work, time to research.

Need to know more about your build and your intended useage for the truck and trans.

I was going to swap a 6 speed Dakota trans into my sb truck before. Do not exactly remember the ratios but they were not ideal for a hot rod truck.

Did the NV3500 instead. Only because of cost and ease of swap. It came from a small block so: Correct bellhousing, it came with a usable flywheel, speedometer cable and output yoke.
Cons. I hated the 4:1 first gear and 2nd was a bit tall for takeoff from a dead stop. It's a wide ratio truck trans, made for weak engines in heavy trucks.
Pros Absolutely loved the syncronized reverse, shift quality was on par with any modern car. It made my truck 3mph faster in the 1/4 mile. Tells me compared to a 518, it's more efficient. Same for the MPG. Gain was around 2mpg over a 518 auto.

The T56. Super tough transmission. Best shifting trans out there, better than a 833, TKO 500 or 600. It will take an expensive swap kit to install it into a Mopar and you are not doing it for under $3000.
Pros, best gear ratios over any other manual trans we've talked about here.

I love my T56.

Mines out of a 3rd gen viper but inside, the only difference in a viper unit is the input shaft (easy to swap) and the main shaft has a bigger tail end. All the bearings, gears, syncros, and case are identical.

There is a nv3500 option that has a 3.48:1 first. Much better than the 4:1 units, and not that bad with a 3.91 rear gear and 28" tires. If running 26" tires, I'd go for a 3.7x rear gear if possible

If I'm not mistaken, Magnum, the only source is a 2nd Gen, 2 wheel-drive, 3/4 ton truck with a 360.

Yep, goooooood luck finding one of those.

I know this... the 5 speed behind a 5.2 Dakota is NOT cheap. Used you might be able to find one for $800-1000, remanned just bend on over. And the V6 unit IS NOT the same.

It's easiest, and sometimes cheapest, to buy a 2wd truck that has a v6 or a 5.2 with the NV3500 in it. I've found a few, but never the perfect truck for the perfect price.

Today I picked up the Dakota Getrag 6spd. It was behind a 4.7. I plan to put it behind a 5.2 in one of my 46 trucks. I have the flywheel, clutch plat, pleasure plate, crossmember etc... 60,000 miles on it.

I do have some questions though if anyone has any experience with the trans. I am curious about some details on the 4.7 also if anyme has lots of experience with them.

Laine.