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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gold Bar, WA
Posts: 1,216
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Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
This week I got tired of looking at my 4x4 'Burb knowing I have most of the parts I need to fix it and not being able to drive it. I picked it up a little over a year ago with a bad engine...found a crack in the block...and got it going with an engine from a wrecking yard. My friend and I could tell the tranny (700R4) was going out, and after a few months of driving...well I lost overdrive so I figured it would be best to park it until I could fix it.
I found a vendor on E-Bay that was selling rebuilt 700R4's for a nice price (way cheaper than anyone else) and they had a good feedback rating. So I was going to use them, but I found an SM-465 with the linkage and pedals on craigslist.com for an even better deal...$110, so I had to go get it. I just read (and read again, and again, and again) an article on coloradok5.com (http://www.coloradok5.com/auto2manual.shtml) where this conversion was done on a Blazer with a TH-350, and I figured I could do that conversion on my 85 'burb. I know I wil be losing overdrive with the conversion, but the price was too good not to do it....and most of the people on CK5.com liked going to a manual. The only differences are, I am using the stock T-case (NP-208) and mechanical clutch. Eventually, I would like to convert to a hydraulic clutch. So far I've removed the transfer case, drivelines, transmission linkage, and the transmission but now I've ran in to a couple problems. The adapter for the SM-465 to the NP-208 has a piece that has broken off. It is the part of the adapter that covers the lower bearing on the transmission. I have the piece that broke off and I think with a good cleaning and lots of JB Weld it will be ok....all it does is cover the bearing and acts as a seal. If that doesn't work I will find another adapter. The next problem is something I was worried about, but it doesn't seem too difficult to take care of. I saw a listing on ebay that said something like the 4x4's with a TH-350 has a 27 spline output to the t-case and the th-400's (and manuals I think) have a 32 spline output to the t-case. I was thinking that my 'burb would have the 32 spline because it is diesel, but I was wrong. Turns out the 700R4 has the smaller output shaft for the t-case and the SM-465 I have has the larger output shaft. I found a place in Spokane (did a search on google) that knew exactly what I needed so on payday I will be giving them a call for the right part....and then I get to take apart my T-case. Next on the list to do is to remove the steering column, bolt in the z-bar bracket on the frame, and install the flywheel & clutch. I'll try to get some pics over the next couple days. Thanks!
__________________
My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28 |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gold Bar, WA
Posts: 1,216
|
Re: Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
Here are some pics of the project....
![]() This is the 'Burb that I'm working on. ![]() Here are the parts I've removed so far. Turns out the 700R4 is not the original transmission. The sticker says it is a rebuild. ![]() This is the transmission I want to use. ![]() Here is the adapter with the broken piece ![]() And the underside of my 'burb. I still have to remove the flex plate, but I did get started on removing the steering column. I think I have all the bolts out, but it seems like there is something it is hitting when I try to pull it out all the way....this is the 1st steering column I've pulled. I may call a friend over to see what's going on with that next week. Thanks!
__________________
My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gold Bar, WA
Posts: 1,216
|
Re: Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
Didn't make much progress last week. I was thinking about using and older 10 spline SM465 with a Rockwell T221 transfer case. The price of modifying my drivelines was too much for my budget right now so I am staying with the SM-465/NP-208 set up. I now have the 32 spline input gear and I fixed the broken piece on the adapter...hope the jb weld will hold up. Thanks!
__________________
My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28 |
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#4 |
Truckless for the moment...
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Cranston, RI
Posts: 180
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Re: Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
Looking good! That diesel is going to be great with the manual. I think my 700 is about to give up the ghost as well, perhaps this swap will be in my future too!
Good luck with it, and keep us posted!
__________________
1987 V1500 GMC Suburban, 350 TBI, Flowtech dual exhaust, Rough Country 2" spring lift, 56" 3/4 ton rear spring conversion, 33" BFG All Terrains, and the smokescreen engine mod ![]() |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gold Bar, WA
Posts: 1,216
|
Re: Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
Thanks, I've heard some people on CK5.com really like that set up....I'm anxious to get this finished. Sorry it's been a while, I totally forgot to post another update. I am at a turning point for the project, all the disassembly is done. I ran into a problem with the starter, part of the case hits the flywheel....nothing a cut-off wheel on a grinder couldn't fix. I did some searching around on NAPAonline.com and found out there are 2 different starters depending on the transmission. Then I ran into another headache, my starter had a shim and I managed to lose it. But after a trip to the auto parts store I got the starter shimmed properly, and started to get the transmission in place. The floor pan is stamped for a shifter hole, so I cut that out, and tried getting the transmission lined up with the engine. Turns out I had to cut a little more around the back part of the hole to get the tranny high enough to line up. I fussed around with that for a while and got too tired trying to line up the main shaft with the pilot bearing and clutch....time for a different plan. I remembered that the trucks with a Manual have a removable floor so I figured I would try and find one and adapt it. That way I can use the engine hoist to support the transmission and hopefully have an easier time of getting it to line up. So I did some searching and found a board member here has one and I also found a couple items on Ebay that will make life a little easier. I bought a clutch/brake pedal assembly and I found another center floor too...I figure on having 2 floor sections just in case I mess one up. So far there has been one casualty during this project. I slammed the front driver side door shut and managed to break the glass....found a replacement on craigslist.com.
Right now I'm waiting for the ebay items to arrive and then I will remove my front seats and center console so I can adapt the center floor pan. While I'm in the cab I may try and hang the clutch/ brake pedal bracket too. A couple weeks ago I scored a set of 15" wheels with decent 33" tires and I couldn't wait to get them on. They look cool, but the wheels have something like 2" of backspacing so the fronts stick out pretty good, I think they are going to hit the fenders so I am probably going to have to give it a 4" suspension lift before I can drive it. I'll try to keep up with taking pics as I make more progress. Thanks!
__________________
My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28 Last edited by rcbildr; 07-24-2006 at 07:32 AM. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gold Bar, WA
Posts: 1,216
|
Re: Started to convert----700R4 to SM465
Made some progress. The SM-465 is now bolted in my 'Burb.
![]() Anyways, the transmission is bolted in, mostly. It looks like I need a different mount for the crossmember and I have a couple more bolts to put in on the bellhousing. But the tranny is in and I didn't have to cut the floor out. Because the SM-465 is so heavy I was thinking aobut adapting a removable center floor from a Blazer. Next on the agenda is to go to the parts store and get the mount I need and then work on hanging the clutch pedal. Thanks!
__________________
My Projects: 1960 GMC 1/2ton with 305 V6 (daily driver) 1963 Chevy 1/2ton 2wd...converting to 4x4 1967 Suburban 1/2ton 2wd My Girlfriends Projects 1985 Chevy Suburban 3/4ton 4x4 with 6.2L diesel, 4" lift, converted to TH-400, Warn Premium manual hubs, & Wildcat 315/75/R16 tires. (daily driver) 1978 Camaro Type LT with a Marine 350 & vortec heads, Rochester Carb, & roller cam 1978 Camaro Z28 |
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