4 Wheel & Off Road – October 2019

4WHEELOFFROAD.COM 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROADOCTOBER 2019 47

JUNKYARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION SPOTTER’S GUIDE

SOURCES

ADVANCE ADAPTERS

800.350.2223

advanceadapters.com

ALLPAR.COM

allpar.com

DRIVEN 4X4 PARTS

602.269.3969

drivenautoparts.com

NOVAK

CONVERSIONS

877.602.1500

novak-adapt.com

OFFROAD DESIGN

970.945.7777

offroaddesign.com

Found In: 1993-2006 GM truck s behind the

4.3L V-6, small block V-8s; 1994-2004 Dodge

1500 and Dakota; 2000-2004 Jeep Wrangler

and Cherokee; 2002-2004 Jeep Liberty.

Identification: Aluminum with generous

ribbing, oval front bolt pattern (NV3550).

Housing made of two main parts, a front

and a rear. 23-spline rear output and round

six-bolt pattern rear, on the 4x4 housings.

Ratios: 4.01:1 First, 2.33:1 Second, 1.39:1

Third, 1:1 Fourth, .78:1 Fifth, 3.57:1 Reverse.

5-SPEEDS (w/granny First gears)

ZF542 & ZF547

Overview: The often overlooked Ford

five-speeds, the ZF542 and ZF547, are

available with a granny gear (wide ratio)

and without (close ratio).

Found In: 1987-and-up Ford F-250,

F-350, F-450, and Super Duty.

Identification: Aluminum case with inte-

grated bellhousing. Two main parts with

P TO covers on both sides. Identification

tags generally present.

Ratios: S542/S547 wide ratio: 5.72:1

First, 2.94:1 Second, 1.61:1 Third, 1:1

Four th , 0.76:1 Fif th , 5.24:1 Reverse.

ZF542 & ZF547

NV4500

Overview: The most hyped and much

sought after five-speed truck transmis-

sion with a granny gear. Available with

two different First gears, a respectable

6.34:1 in GM trucks before 1994, and an

acceptable 5.61:1 in Dodge trucks and

1994-and-later GM trucks.

Found In: 1992-1995 GM trucks; 1992^1 ⁄ 2 -

2005 Dodge.

Identification: Three main par t s, an alu -

minum top cover and a rear output hous-

ing with a cast iron main case. Case length

of 12.37 inches.

Ratios: 1992-1994 GM: 6.34:1 First,

3.44:1 Second, 1.71:1 Third, 1:1 Fourth,

.73:1 Fifth, 6.34:1 Reverse. Later GM and

Dodge: 5.61:1 First, 3.04:1 Second, 1.67:1

Third, 1:1 Fourth, .74:1 Fifth, 5.61:1 Reverse.

NV4500

6-SPEEDS

ZF6

Overview: Ford’s six-speed truck

transmission.

Found In: 1998 Ford Super Duty truck s.

Identification: All aluminum housing

with an integral bellhousing. One unique

feature is this big transmission uses an

ex ternal transmission cooler so it should

be just about the only manual you’ll ever

see with transmission fluid lines going in

and out of the case.

Ratios: 5.79:1 First , 3. 31:1 Second ,

2.10:1 Third, 1.31:1 Fourth, 1:1 Fifth, 0.72:1

Sixth 5.23:1 Reverse.

ZF6

NV5600

Overview: A heavy-duty six-speed

transmission with a granny First found in

Dodge trucks with the 24-valve 5.9L Cum-

mins turbodiesel.

Found In: 1998-2005 Dodge Ram 2500

and 3500 trucks.

Identification: Huge with three main

parts: the aluminum clutch housing, the

main case made of cast iron, and a third

extension housing also made of cast iron.

Ratios: 5.63:1 First, 3.38:1 Second,

2.04:1 Third, 1.39:1 Fourth, 1:1 Fifth,

0.73:1 Sixth, 5.36: 1 Reverse.

NV5600