[Notfastjustloud]

I’m gathering parts to swap a 350 into my 99 s10. I found an 89 nv3500 trans out of a full-size truck for sale not too far from me and It’s been rebuilt, comes with clutch and flywheel, and driveshaft yoke. Only issue is that it has an external slave and I’ve heard people say that won’t work in s10s. Does anyone know if this trans would work for the swap? It’s a really good deal on it.

 

[oldeerslayer]

Full size NV3500 has different gear ratios which will make 1st gear totally useless. I'd look for a newer one. Those early ones, if it even is an NV3500, had shifter issues. Shifter could be in the wrong place also.

 

[LS53swap]

What @oldeerslayer speaks is true, be wary of an nv3500 out of anything other than an s10 or sonoma. Back in the day when I did my manual swap I ordered a remanned nv3500 and they sent me one meant for a full-size truck and shifter was in the wrong place among other problems. Ended up working it out with the company and they sent me the right model but it was a lot of hassle. About 2k for a remanufactured nv3500 from here, https://reman-transmission.com/transmission-codes/?code=NV3500 and its stood up to the roughly 400hp I got running through it.

 

[KJF95S-10]

I would be weary of running any NV3500 behind a healthy V8. Its a flimsy light duty truck trans with steep truck gearing that can barely live up to a stock 4.3. Besides at this point they are all in need of repair, synchros at the minimum. For the money you spend on a new one you are almost into TKO or T56 territory.

 

[oldeerslayer]

Bet the OP didn't allow $2600 in his initial swap budget for a TKO, but you're correct that a rebuilt NV3500 runs about 2 grand.
On the other hand hot rodding was at one time based on trying to get as much performance for as cheap as possible. You can swap out NV3500 7 times before spending $2K. When I was a grasshopper at the dealership one of the tests the old guys would challenge us to was new pressure plate, disc, and throw out bearing in an Impala or Bel Air with a 3 speed stick in under 45 minutes. IIRC flat rate was 2.5 hrs.

 

[KJF95S-10]

Yeah I'm sure he doesn't want to spend that sort of money. Even if he wanted to keep going through broken NV's it's not like they are that common anymore, at least not the S10 variant. If money were an issue I would just stick an auto in and save up for the right gearbox.