So I have found what seems a nice 1994,4X4 cummins 2500 truck.The seller can't tell me for sure the final rear end ratio.Being far away I can't check this by myself .While I would prefer a 3.5 or 3.7 it could be also a 4.1 ...this I could live with.But I wonder if there was ever a higher end ratio offer at this time from factory? Something like 4.5 or around?..this would get me walking away ..If there was such an option available I will get them to find out what's in there.

This is a 5 speed and wonder if all of the 5 speed shared the same nav 4500 transmission..I mean was this the same transmission to be found in all trucks from 1994 till 1997 or 98? I want to know if the 1994 models had/have the same problem with the fifth gear?BTW was the fifth OD or direct drive?

Was the 94s also sharing the KDP problem?
thanks,Ron.

 

Most of the second gen, if not all of them

were prone to the KDP problem, even the newer 2000 plus models have it, although its not much of an issue with them as much as it is with the older ones. If i was you, and i was gonna buy that truck, id suggest that you tab that dowel pin while you are at it, not a difficult task, just alot of basic wrenching with a 10mm socket..

IF im not mistaken, all of the five speeds from a 94-02 are an NV4500 transmission,

Finally, the 94-98 had i think either a 3.54 rear end or a 4.10, i know that there is a way to tell from the VIN, but im not so sure. Having driven both tho, the 3.55 rear and the 4.10 rear end, if you are doin 60 mph at 2000 rpms, chances are u have 4.10s, and if u are doin 70 plus, u most likely have the 3.54 rear end... My fifth gear is overdrive, but i have seen some 97's that have just a 5, and a first gear where the L should be, mine is L 1 2 3 4 OD, then R.

Rick

 

should be able to look on the underside of the hood near the latch for the build tag. It will tell you what axle and gears.

Jim

 

Most of the second gen, if not all of them

were prone to the KDP problem, even the newer 2000 plus models have it, although its not much of an issue with them as much as it is with the older ones. If i was you, and i was gonna buy that truck, id suggest that you tab that dowel pin while you are at it, not a difficult task, just alot of basic wrenching with a 10mm socket..

IF im not mistaken, all of the five speeds from a 94-02 are an NV4500 transmission,

Finally, the 94-98 had i think either a 3.54 rear end or a 4.10, i know that there is a way to tell from the VIN, but im not so sure. Having driven both tho, the 3.55 rear and the 4.10 rear end, if you are doin 60 mph at 2000 rpms, chances are u have 4.10s, and if u are doin 70 plus, u most likely have the 3.54 rear end... My fifth gear is overdrive, but i have seen some 97's that have just a 5, and a first gear where the L should be, mine is L 1 2 3 4 OD, then R.





correct me if im wrong, but i believe in all of the nv4500..5th is OD...and on 96' and up...it was 1,2,3,4,5,R.............94' and under L,1,2,....

 

I don't believe the gear ratios changed, just the labeling on the shift ****. And I'm pretty sure Rick is right, all the seccond gens with the 5spd have the exact smae transmission.

And my 97 is labeled 1 2 3 4 5, I believe, I don't really look at the labels...

 

My truck is 1 2 3 4 5 R, our 96 is L 1 2 3 OD R.

 

I haven't seen the truck yet and when asking about the transmission,
the salesman ,after just looking at it,told me its got a granny plus 4 wich makes it a 5 speed transmission..my concern then is if the diff. is a 4.10 and the fifth is 1 to 1 rather OD the RPMs at 65 mph are going to be higher than what it would be with the fifth being OD!! By how much? You guys are telling me to expect around 2200 /65 mph with OD..non OD starts to be spinning it a bit no? I guess I'll ask him to check the RPMs at 65 and 70.

I guess I could put 33s on but dam I have brand new 235/85 michelins to put on it already..

thanks,Ron.

 

5th is overdrive...

 

There should be a small metal tag attached by one of the differential cover bolts. On this tag will be the gear ratio that is installed, (or should be unless a PO changed it for some reason). Either 3.54 or 4.10. If it has a LSD it will also have a tag stating to use the additive required.

 

5th gear in ALL NV4500s is .73 overdrive. The differential gear ratio has no bearing on what gear ratios are used in the transmission.

As has been said, there should be a build tag on the underside of the hood near the latch that specifiess what differential gear ratio the truck was originally manufactured with. If that tag is not there, I would personally wonder why.