any recommendations for where to find a good used NV3550?

[tommyg]

Thinking about getting the WH conversion kit, but would like to save a few bucks versus putting in a brand new tranny. No real salvage yards in the area, any place where folks have been able to get a quality used or rebuilt unit at a good price? appreciate it.

 

[broncodriver99]

Ebay or Smart Parts Auto. Smart parts also carries the AX15 which is the predecessor of the 3550 and just as stout.

http://smartpartsauto.com/manual_transmission_nv3550_jeep.html
http://smartpartsauto.com/manual_transmission_ax15_jeep.html

 

[thegreatjustino]

www.car-part.com

 

[bronconut73]

Ebay or Smart Parts Auto. Smart parts also carries the AX15 which is the predecessor of the 3550 and just as stout.

http://smartpartsauto.com/manual_transmission_nv3550_jeep.html
http://smartpartsauto.com/manual_transmission_ax15_jeep.html

Wow...
$995.00 for a performance rebuilt NV 3550. I would have thought it would be alot more.
Cool...

 

[jmangi62]

Wow,thats a heckuva price,I bought mine from a member on here and it's from smart auto,mine is brand new except for a small chip in the side cooling fins,good luck

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Saw one on St. Louis CL Wed or Thurs but can't find it again for $200.00, but might have needed to be rebuilt. Why not use the F150 or Mazda 5 speed, much cheaper and the right one will bolt right up. Good luck.

 

[broncodriver99]

Why not use the F150 or Mazda 5 speed, much cheaper and the right one will bolt right up. Good luck.

Good point. As the NV3550 and AX15 dry up I think the M5ODR2 will become more popular. From everything I have seen and read they are a very capable transmission and a pretty easy swap.

 

[DirtDonk]

That is a decent price for a rebuild. Not long ago just an old used one was going for 1000 bucks on Craigslist around here. The occasional 400 dollar one would pop up and get snatched instantly, but I never got one of those. And I didn't trust a used and possibly abused one for a grand either, so I bought a new one instead.

Paul

 

[xcntrk]

Don't forget you still need another $1k in adapters to mount it to the Ford bell housing and D20:

50-9920 TRANSFER CASE ADAPTER & TC SHIFTER BRKT.
712544 FORD TO NV3550 BELLHOUSING ADAPTER PLATE & CLUTCH DISC
716000 NV3550 CROSSMEMBER MOUNT KIT

 

[tommyg]

Do you also need to do the 1" body lift? From all I'm reading it sounds as though it is necessary for the install.

 

[KyddsPly]

It's not necessary, but it makes things a hell of a lot easier.

 

[John Marinan]

Do you also need to do the 1" body lift? From all I'm reading it sounds as though it is necessary for the install.

Just a reminder, the latest, and much improved, version of the AX 15 is still being manufactured in Japan, as are the parts for the transmission. The NV 3550 and 4500 have been out of production for years and all of the rebuild parts come from a secondary manufacturer.
You will pay more for a brand new AX 15 but you will get a much better transmission.

 

[BowHunter148]

Do you still need the nv3550 conversion kit to make the AX15 work?

 

[broncodriver99]

Do you still need the nv3550 conversion kit to make the AX15 work?

No, you need the AX15 conversion kit. They are almost identical but there is a difference.

 

[BowHunter148]

Thx Broncodriver99

 

[zimm]

I found a bunch of AX15's on CL for less than $400. Some were "used in good condition", others rebuilt. I wound up rolling the dice on a used one out of a 98 cherokee, was super cheap and so far has been great. Shifts fine (refilled it with new Red Line fluid), holding up well behind my 96 explorer swap. Later years of the AX15 have the 3/4" pilot shaft (similar to the NV3550) and external slave cylinder if doing a hydraulic clutch. Adapters can be purchased from Advanced Adapters (AX15 to 302 bell housing and AX15/NV3550 tail to Dana44 adapter).

 

[broncodriver99]

I wound up rolling the dice on a used one out of a 98 cherokee, was super cheap and so far has been great.

That is a good model to look for. A lot of people don't realize that the Cherokee has the same transmission as the Wrangler. The "Wrangler" transmissions seem to go for more money for some reason. It is the same transmission with only a slight difference in how much the rear bolt pattern in clocked.