1998 NV3500 5 speed onto 392 Hemi

Furious

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Anyone done it? Having owned a 98 Dakota with a 5.2 Magnum-NV3500 5 speed-3.55 9 1/4" combo, I have been considering swapping this trans onto a 1958 392 Hemi for one of my Forward Look projects. While they don't shift as quick as a car transmission, they also don't have that long clunky feel of a truck transmission. Kind of in between, and short throw shifters are just a call away. The 5.2 and 392 share the small block style bellhousing pattern, so using a spacer from Hot Heads, or Wilcap etc would mate it together easily. Hydraulic clutch is easy enough to adapt to the pedal too. Trans mount is basic fabrication. All the dimensions, shifter location, trans mount location etc are pretty much right where they need to be.
So,
Has anyone else done this combo?
If so, any tips?
Thanks
 
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It won't be rated for near that power. If you're going to just putz around it'd be ok
 
Sounds interesting, can't say I have seen it done though.
This is the trans with in the integrated bellhousing isn't?
 
It won't be rated for near that power. If you're going to just putz around it'd be ok
Maybe, although I haven't seen any fail behind Dakotas or Rams, and I'm sure there's been plenty of high rpm pop the clutch burnouts done by some rowdy individuals in those old trucks. I doubt my stockish 58 392 would have much more torque than a 5.2 Magnum
 
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5.2 makes 210/230hp. 392 makes 485.
5.2 Magnum is rated at 295 lbs/ft NET
392 4 barrel is rated at 420 lbs/ft GROSS {from what I can find}
Covert the 392 from GROSS to NET, and probably not a huge difference.
So in reality, they are probably not all that far apart in torque output. I'm willing to see if the NV3500 stands up. Not likely I'll be revving it up and side stepping the clutch
 
5.2 Magnum is rated at 295 lbs/ft NET
392 4 barrel is rated at 420 lbs/ft GROSS {from what I can find}
Covert the 392 from GROSS to NET, and probably not a huge difference.
So in reality, they are probably not all that far apart in torque output. I'm willing to see if the NV3500 stands up. Not likely I'll be revving it up and side stepping the clutch
The 392 your talking about is the Gen 1 Chrysler Hemi right? I think furious70 is talking about the modern Hemi 6.4/392
 
Ha, I didn't even consider gen I, sorry!
The integrated bell should have been more than enough clue!
 
I like your plan and would like to know how it turns out. I was thinking the same thing with a 54 dodge pickup I have and a 241 dodge hemi from another old truck. Had been planning on using the truck trans but the OD modern one would be so much better. The 241 is only about a 150 hp engine so would be even wimpier than the magnum 5.2.
 
5.2 Magnum is rated at 295 lbs/ft NET
392 4 barrel is rated at 420 lbs/ft GROSS {from what I can find}
Covert the 392 from GROSS to NET, and probably not a huge difference.
So in reality, they are probably not all that far apart in torque output. I'm willing to see if the NV3500 stands up. Not likely I'll be revving it up and side stepping the clutch

Just don't put any sticky tires on it and it should be OK. I'd also be careful about standing on it in 5th anywhere in its peak torque range. Use 3rd and 4th to achieve warp speed and use 5th to cruise it.

Kevin
 
Curious of the relative torque capacity in comparison to the 3-speed manual or the French-made 4-speed manual that came in the 392 Letter Cars back then? An interesting combination, rather than a Tremec.

CBODY67
 
Just don't put any sticky tires on it and it should be OK. I'd also be careful about standing on it in 5th anywhere in its peak torque range. Use 3rd and 4th to achieve warp speed and use 5th to cruise it.

Kevin
On the Dakota forums, they are swapping 5.9's in with NV3500's, and some are using turbos and blowers. I don't see any reports of transmission failures. This is a transmission used in the full size Ram pickups, and also Dakotas, where you may have a heavy load in the bed, and a Yahoo side stepping the clutch. I don't think strength is an issue.
 
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