1998 DODGE RAM 1500 tow

INSPECTION
SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY
The shift lever assembly is not serviceable. Replace
the lever and shift tower as an assembly if the tower,
lever, lever ball or internal components are worn or
damaged.
SHIFT SHAFT AND FORKS
Inspect the shift fork interlock arms and synchro
sleeve contact surfaces (Fig. 48). Replace any fork
exhibiting wear or damage in these areas. Do not
attempt to salvage shift forks.
Check condition of the shift shaft detent plunger
and spring. The plunger should be smooth and free of
nicks or scores. The plunger spring should be
straight and not collapsed, or distorted. Minor
scratches or nicks on the plunger can be smoothed
with 320/400 grit emery soaked in oil. Replace the
plunger and spring if in doubt about condition. Check
condition of detent plunger bushings. Replace if dam-
aged.
Inspect shift shaft, shift shaft bushing, bearing,
shaft lever and lever bushing that fits over the lever.
Replace shaft if bent, cracked or severely scored.
Minor burrs, nicks or scratches can be smoothed off
with 320/400 grit emery cloth followed by polishing
with crocus cloth. Replace the shift shaft bushing or
bearing if damaged.Replace the shaft lever and bushing if either part
is deformed, or worn. Do not attempt to salvage these
parts as shift fork binding will occur. Replace the roll
pin that secures the lever to the shaft.
FRONT/REAR HOUSINGS AND BEARING
RETAINERS
Inspect the housings carefully. Look for cracks,
stripped threads, scored mating surfaces, damaged
bearing bores or worn dowel pin holes. Minor nicks
on mating surfaces can be dressed off with a fine file
or emery cloth. Damaged threads can be renewed by
either re-tapping or installing Helicoil inserts.
NOTE: The front housing contains the countershaft
front bearing race. The rear housing contains the
countershaft rear bearing race. These components
are NOT serviceable items. The front housing will
have to be replaced if the countershaft bearing race
is loose, worn or damaged. The rear housing will
have to be replaced if the countershaft rear bearing
race is loose, worn or damaged.
Inspect the input shaft bearing retainer. Be sure
the release bearing slide surface of the retainer is in
good condition. Minor nicks on the surface can be
smoothed off with 320/420 grit emery cloth and final
polished with oil coated crocus cloth. Replace the
retainer seal if necessary.
Fig. 48 Shift Forks And Shaft
1 - SHIFT SHAFT
2 - SHAFT LEVER
3 - SHAFT LEVER BUSHING4 - 3-4 SHIFT FORK
5 - 1-2 SHIFT FORK
6 - FIFTH-REVERSE SHIFT FORK
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

Fig. 77 SYNCHRO SLEEVE LOCATIONS
1 - DOUBLE GROOVE FORWARD
2 - GROOVE FORWARD
3 - FIRST GEAR SIDE MARKING TOWARD FIRST GEAR
4 - TAPER FORWARD5 - GROOVE FORWARD
6 - 5TH-REV SYNCHRO SLEEVE
7 - 1-2 SYNCHRO SLEEVE
8 - 3-4 SYNCHRO SLEEVE
Fig. 78 IDLER GEAR & BEARING
1 - IDLER GEAR
2 - BEARING
3 - LOCK BALL
4 - REAR OF SHAFTFig. 79 IDLER GEAR REAR THRUST WASHER
1 - LOCK BALL
2 - SNAP RING GROOVE
3 - THRUST WASHER
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

GEARTRAIN ASSEMBLY
(1) Install Adapter 6747-1A on input shaft hub of
Fixture 6747 (Fig. 81). Then install Adapter 6747-2A
on front bearing hub of countershaft. Be sure the
shoulder is seated against the countershaft.
(2)
Install input shaft in fixture tool with Adapter Tool
6747-1A positioned under the shaft as shown (Fig. 82).
(3) Install pilot bearing in input shaft (Fig. 82).
NOTE: The side of the pilot bearing with the small
diameter goes toward the input shaft.(4) Install fourth gear synchro ring on input shaft
(Fig. 83).
(5) Adjust height of idler gear pedestal on fixture
(Fig. 84). Start with a basic height of 18.4 cm (7-1/4
in.). Final adjustment can be made after gear is posi-
tioned on pedestal.
Fig. 81 FIXTURE FOR GEARTRAIN BUILD-UP
1 - ADAPTER 6747-2A
2 - CUP 8115
3 - ADAPTER 6747-1A
4 - FIXTURE 6747
Fig. 82 PILOT BEARING & INPUT SHAFT
1 - PILOT BEARING
2 - INPUT SHAFT
Fig. 83 FOURTH GEAR SYNCHRO
1 - FOURTH GEAR SYNCHRO RING
2 - INPUT SHAFT
Fig. 84 IDLER PEDESTAL BASE HEIGHT
1 - REVERSE IDLER PEDESTAL
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

(6) Install assembled output shaft and geartrain in
input shaft (Fig. 85). Carefully rotate output shaft
until the 3-4 synchro ring seats in synchro hub and
sleeve.
(7) Install Adapter 6747-2A on front bearing hub of
countershaft, if not previously done. The shoulder
goes toward the countershaft.
(8) Slide countershaft (and adapter) into fixture
slot. Verify countershaft and output shaft gears are
fully meshed with the mainshaft gears before pro-
ceeding (Fig. 86).
(9) Check alignment of countershaft and output
shaft gear teeth. Gears may not align perfectly a dif-
ference in height of 1.57 to 3.18 mm (1/16 to 1/8 in.)
will probably exist. This will not interfere with
assembly. If difference is greater than this, the coun-
tershaft adapter tool is probably upside down.
(10) Position reverse idler in support cup of fixture
(Fig. 87). Verify idler gear is properly meshed and
aligned with shaft gear teeth and that bolt holes are
facing out from the geartrain. Adjust pedestal up or
down if necessary and verify short end of idler shaft
is facing up as shown.
Fig. 85 OUTPUT SHAFT, GEARTRAIN & INPUT
SHAFT
1 - OUTPUT SHAFT AND GEARTRAIN
2 - INPUT SHAFT
3 - FIXTURE 6747
Fig. 86 COUNTERSHAFT ON FIXTURE
1 - OUTPUT SHAFT AND GEARTRAIN
2 - COUNTERSHAFT (SLIDE INTO PLACE ON FIXTURE TOOL)
Fig. 87 REVERSE IDLER ASSEMBLY ON FIXTURE
1 - OUTPUT SHAFT AND GEARTRAIN
2 - COUNTERSHAFT
3 - REVERSE IDLER ASSEMBLY
4 - PEDESTAL
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(2) Apply liberal quantity of petroleum jelly to
countershaft front bearing. Then insert bearing in
front housing race (Fig. 113). Large diameter side of
bearing cage goes toward countershaft (Fig. 114).
Small diameter side goes toward bearing race in
housing.
(3) Reach into countershaft front bearing with fin-
ger and push each bearing roller outward against
race. Then apply extra petroleum jelly to hold rollers
in place during housing installation.
(4) Apply small amount of petroleum jelly to shift
shaft bushing in front housing.
(5) Apply 1/8 in. wide bead of Mopar Gasket
Maker or equivalent to mating surfaces of front and
rear housings (Fig. 115).
(6) Have helper hold rear housing and geartrain in
upright position. Then install front housing on rear
housing and geartrain.
(7) Work front housing downward onto geartrain
until seated on rear housing.
CAUTION: Front housings will not seat if shift com-
ponents are not in Neutral or one or more compo-
nents are misaligned. Do not force the front
housing into place.
(8) Tap rear housing alignment dowels back into
place with hammer and pin punch. Both dowels
should be flush fit in each housing. Have helper hold
transmission upright while dowels are tapped back
into place.(9) Place transmission in horizontal position.
(10) Apply Mopar Gasket Maker or equivalent to
housing attaching bolts. Apply sealer material sealer
to underside of bolt heads and to bolt shanks and
threads (Fig. 116).
(11) Install and start housing attaching bolts by
hand (Fig. 116). Then tighten bolts to 34 N´m (25 ft.
lbs.).
Fig. 114 COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
1 - BEARING RACE
2 - PETROLEUM JELLY
3 - COUNTERSHAFT FRONT BEARING
Fig. 115 SEAL HOUSINGS
1 - HOUSING FLANGE SURFACE
2 -GASKET MAKER
Fig. 116 HOUSING BOLTS
1 - HOUSING BOLTS
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

(20) Align and install front bearing retainer over
input shaft and onto housing mounting surface (Fig.
122). Verify bolt holes are aligned before seating
retainer.
CAUTION: Be sure sealer does not get into the oil
feed hole in the transmission case or bearing
retainer.
(21) Install and tighten bearing retainer bolts to
7-10 N´m (5-7 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 123).SHIFT TOWER AND LEVER
(1) Apply petroleum jelly to ball end of shift lever
and interior of shift socket.
(2) Shift the transmission into third gear.
(3) Align and install shift tower and lever assem-
bly (Fig. 124). Be sure shift ball is seated in socket
and the offset in the tower is toward the passenger
side of the vehicle before installing tower bolts.
(4) Install shift tower bolts (Fig. 125) and tighten
bolts to 8.5 N´m (75.2 in. lbs.).
(5) Fill transmission to bottom edge of fill plug
hole with lubricant.
(6) Install and tighten fill plug to 34 N´m (25 ft.
lbs.).
(7) Check transmission vent. Be sure vent is open
and not restricted.
Fig. 122 INPUT SHAFT BEARING RETAINER
1 - INPUT SHAFT
2 - OIL FEED
3 - BEARING RETAINER
Fig. 123 BEARING RETAINER BOLTS - TYPICAL
1 - RETAINER BOLTS
2 - RETAINER
Fig. 124 SHIFT TOWER
1 - SHIFT TOWER
2 - SHAFT SOCKET
3 - SHIFT BALL
Fig. 125 SHIFT TOWER BOLTS
1 - SHIFT TOWER AND LEVER ASSEMBLY
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INSTALLATION
NOTE: If a new transmission is being installed, use
all components supplied with the new transmission.
For example, if a new shift tower is supplied, do not
re-use the original shift tower.
(1) Clean transmission front housing mounting
surface.
(2) Apply light coat of Mopar high temperature
bearing grease or equivalent to contact surfaces (Fig.
126) of following components:
²release fork ball stud.
²release bearing slide surface.
²input shaft splines.
²release bearing bore.
²propeller shaft slip yoke.
(3) Support and secure transmission to jack.
(4) Raise and align transmission input shaft with
clutch disc, then slide transmission into place.
(5) Verify front housing is fully seated. Install
transmission bolts without washers and tighten bolts
into the engine to 41 N´m (30 ft. lbs.). Tighten the
bolts with washers into the transmission to 68 N´m
(50 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 127).(6) Install rear crossmember and tighten nuts to
102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.).
(7) Install transmission rear mounting bolts and
tighten to 68 N´m (50 ft. lbs.).
(8) Install front dust shield tighten bolt to 4.5 N´m
(40 in. lbs.). If cover was removed, install onto the
transmission and engine(Refer to 9 - ENGINE/EN-
GINE BLOCK/STRUCTURAL COVER - INSTALLA-
TION).
(9) Install structural dust cover and tighten the
bolts to 54 N´m (40 ft. lbs.).
(10) Install starter motor.
(11) Install suspension crossmember and tighten
nuts to 102 N´m (75 ft. lbs.).
(12) Connect transmission harnesses to clips on
case and connect switches.
(13) Install slave cylinder and tighten cylinder
nuts to 23 N´m (200 in. lbs.).
(14) Install transfer case and transfer case linkage
if equipped.
(15) Remove transmission jack.
(16) Install propeller shaft/shafts with reference
marks aligned.
(17) Install exhaust on the exhaust manifolds.
(18) Fill transmission with lubricant. Correct fill
level is to bottom edge of fill plug hole.
Fig. 126 LUBRICATION POINTS
1 - RELEASE FORK
2 - FORK BALL STUD
3 - BEARING SLIDE SURFACE
4 - SPLINE
5 - RELEASE BEAING
Fig. 127 TRANSMISSION
1 - BOLT WITHOUT WASHER
2 - BOLT WITH WASHER
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DESCRIPTION N´m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Crossmember Nuts 102 75 -
Transmission Mount Bolts 4WD 68 50 -
Transmission Mount Bolts 2WD 68 50 -
Structural Dust Cover Bolts 54 40 -
Drain/Fill Plug 9-27 14-20 -
Front To Rear Housing Bolts 30-35 22-26 -
Front Bearing Retainer Bolts 7-10 5-7 62-88
Idler Shaft Bolts 19-25 14-18 -
Rear Bearing Retainer Bolts 30-35 22-26 -
Shift Tower Bolts 7-10 5-7 62-88
Slave Cylinder Nuts 23 17 -
Transfer Case Nuts 47 35 -
SPECIAL TOOLS
REMOVER C-3985-B
INSTALLER C-3972-A
REMOVER 6957
INSTALLER 6951
HANDLE C-4171
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION - NV3500 (Continued)