1987 Dodge Dakota 5.9 swap with a NV3500
Just saw your thread. Looking forward to your progress. The NV3500 was the stock trans in the Dakota with a 5.2. I have never seen an AX-15 behind a 5.2 stock but it will bolt up. The Ax-15 came behind the 3.9. My 95 was born a 5.2/NV3500 truck. I built a 5.9 for it 10 years ago or so. It has run high 13's on drag radials and the original tranny has 330k on it. I run a Zoom clutch but besides gear oil changes the tranny has never been touched. I have been told since I did the swap that the trans is gonna go any second. She is still hanging in with no noise or issues of any kind. Get the Hurst shifter if you can find one and I agree with the above on gearing. You go to deep and first becomes useless. I have a 3.21 in my truck and it works great with the 315/35 tire. I swapped to a 3.91 years ago and first was useless. The truck actually slowed down because you either had to leave in second or come out on the clutch and immediately grab second. It took two weeks to go back to the 3.21. If you don't do clutch dumps though they can live for a long time.
Just saw your thread. Looking forward to your progress. The NV3500 was the stock trans in the Dakota with a 5.2. I have never seen an AX-15 behind a 5.2 stock but it will bolt up. The Ax-15 came behind the 3.9. My 95 was born a 5.2/NV3500 truck. I built a 5.9 for it 10 years ago or so. It has run high 13's on drag radials and the original tranny has 330k on it. I run a Zoom clutch but besides gear oil changes the tranny has never been touched. I have been told since I did the swap that the trans is gonna go any second. She is still hanging in with no noise or issues of any kind. Get the Hurst shifter if you can find one and I agree with the above on gearing. You go to deep and first becomes useless. I have a 3.21 in my truck and it works great with the 315/35 tire. I swapped to a 3.91 years ago and first was useless. The truck actually slowed down because you either had to leave in second or come out on the clutch and immediately grab second. It took two weeks to go back to the 3.21. If you don't do clutch dumps though they can live for a long time.