NV4500 swap in place of SM465

[spudz]

I am interested in whats involved in swapping a nv4500 in place of the old sm465 in a 79 1ton 2wd with a 454. I found this adapter http://advanceadapters.com/product/2202/712550.html If I use this adapter with the dodge gas v8 nv4500, is it basicly a bolt in deal and I can use my original clutch setup and mechanical linkage?? If so this would be so easy.. Only requiring crossmember modification and drive shaft work.

[76stepsidechevy]

I would like to know about this as well but I have a 4wd. The sm465 is cool but not the greatest tranny for a DD and with no OD 3.73 gears and 33 inch tires im still pushing 3 grand trying to keep up with traffic on the highway.

[lindstromjd]

Much easier just to find an early 90's model GM and get the NV4500 out of it. Then you wouldn't have to worry about the adapter.

I know the GM NV4500's are a hydraulic slave cylinder, but I've never worked on a 4 speed so I don't know how the clutch works in one. But otherwise, the swap will be fairly simple, requiring just a little fab work on your part like you mentioned with the cross member. And you'll have to re-use your own bell housing if you go with a Dodge transmission instead of a GM transmission.

[spudz]

my reasoning behind it is, I didnt want to go hydraulic clutch. and if using this lets me keep it mechanical....then thats they way I want to go. I dunno really., I guess it depends on what what nv4500 I find for the best price.

[lindstromjd]

Point taken. I guess it's up to you then, because I don't even know how the mechanical linkage works on a sm465.

I picked my up GM NV4500 for 400 bucks, and that included the bell housing, slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, and hydraulic line from master to slave. Only thing I passed on was the NP241 transfer case (which saved me 100 bucks off the price) because I needed a PSD XC.

[spudz]

since i am 2wd I dont have to worry about a tcase but yeah If I could run across a gm version for the deal you did I will go that way!!

[lindstromjd]

When are you planning on doing your swap? My best friend lives in Summerville, SC and I plan on visiting him when he gets back from the desert either in Feb or Apr. And if the guy still has it, there's a gm NV4500 2wd down here for 500 on CL...

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/2046357562.html

or

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/2078358871.html

Might be the same guy...

[spudz]

man thanks for the offer but I am gonna iron out the trucks other problems and try and get the swap done sometime in the summer. But $500 is a steal it seems like...

[DetroitDan]

How strong is the nv4500? I saw one on CL for $400 including t-case. I would like a manual as long as it's not an sm465. I don't mind autos but the 3 speed th400 is not enough gears, and I'd like OD to try to get a little more mileage out of it. But I'd feel stupid if I swapped from the th400 and broke the manual. I have a stock 454, at some point I may freshen it up a little with the usual cam carb and intake work for driveability and towing, it will never be a race engine. Also, would I have to give up my 205 t-case?

I wouldn't mind an OD automatic, but I haven't ever heard anything good about 700r4s, and the 4l80e would be ideal but I guess it needs a computer to work.

[lindstromjd]

The NV4500 is considered one of the best 5 speed transmissions ever built. It's super heavy duty, designed for the torque of a diesel. You can find them behind a 5.9 Cummins or a 6.5 Detroit all the time. But they're the main 5 speed to be found in any GM or Dodge pickup from the early 90's to the late 90's.

There's really nothing wrong with the 700r4, it just gets a bad rap from people who abuse them. Or they've had bad experiences with them. If you take good care of it like you would anything else and don't beat the crap out of it, then it will treat you just fine.

[MTCK]

Slide over to the 4x4 forum, there is a guy doing this swap there now putting the 4500 between a 8.1L vortec and NP205...

[lindstromjd]

Forgot to say... you can keep your 205 transfer case with the NV4500 one of two ways. If your 205 is a round pattern, then it will bolt right up. If not, then you will need an adapter for it (not cheap). The other way would be to make it a divorced transfer case set-up with a 2wd transmission.