The New Venture Gear 3500, commonly called NV3500, is a 5-speed overdrive manual transmission manufactured by New Venture Gear and used by GM and Dodge in compact and full-size light trucks.
It can be identified by its two-piece aluminum case with integrated bell housing and top-mounted tower shifter.
In North America the NV3550 is used by Jeep with the 4.0L inline 6. It looks similar to and could be mistaken for the Dodge NV3500. However the Jeep NV3550 bellhousing bolts to the transmission case.
There are four GM medium duty transmission designs that led to and are often mistaken for the NV3500:
Lubricants for the NV3500:
Capacity:
NOTE:
Dodge Ram order code DDC
General Motors RPO codes[1]
Full-size CK, Silverado, Sierra MG5
Small trucks S10 etc. M50
Wide Ratio Gearing Option in Dodge 1500 & GM Full-size Light Trucks:[6][1]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.02 | 2.32 | 1.40 | 1.00 | 0.73 | 3.55 |
Close Ratio GM S/T Small Trucks[1] & 2500 Light Duty Dodge Ram Truck Gearing:[7]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.49 | 2.16 | 1.40 | 1.00 | 0.73 | 3.55 |
Close Ratio NV3500-HD Dodge Dakota Gearing:[6]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.49 | 2.14 | 1.38 | 1.00 | 0.73 | 3.55 |
These are considered extremely difficult transmissions to rebuild. Special tools are required for a full rebuild.[3]
