Build of my 72 C/20

[87 chevy silverado]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Thanks, I have an 84 1ton 4x4 dually that is next on my projects list. I want to find a 90's GMC grill for it.

i was going to do that swap but im going back to the 73-74 front just because the grills

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by 87 chevy silverado

i was going to do that swap but im going back to the 73-74 front just because the grills

There pretty cool looking too. Its project Hulk I'm going to single wheel it and put it up on 44 TSLs someday.

[modblacksmith]

I love my new job, I found a truck out in the yard with a Nv4500 5speed in it. Just have to see if the boss man will let me pull it or give me the whole truck for cheep. Mite have some major changes to the truck in the near future.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

I love my new job, I found a truck out in the yard with a Nv4500 5speed in it. Just have to see if the boss man will let me pull it or give me the whole truck for cheep. Mite have some major changes to the truck in the near future.

Nice, the last few years I have been running the NV4500 in all of mine, its a great transmission, if you need any info on the swap let me know, I can get you hooked up.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

Nice, the last few years I have been running the NV4500 in all of mine, its a great transmission, if you need any info on the swap let me know, I can get you hooked up.

I would like any info you can share on this, I almost know nothing at all about manual trans other than I want one. I posted a thread on it in the general 4x4 forum. Here's the rundown, its a 95-98 Chevy 3500 2wd, don't know the exact year can find out tomorrow if needed. I want to know how hard it would be to convert it and how hard it would be to convert my factory auto truck to the stick- petals, clutch and other things I will need for it.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

I would like any info you can share on this, I almost know nothing at all about manual trans other than I want one. I posted a thread on it in the general 4x4 forum. Here's the rundown, its a 95-98 Chevy 3500 2wd, don't know the exact year can find out tomorrow if needed. I want to know how hard it would be to convert it and how hard it would be to convert my factory auto truck to the stick- petals, clutch and other things I will need for it.

Here is the skinny, you need a set of original clutch pedals with the pivot rod and all of the linkage assembly. Advance adapters makes a bellhousing that will allow you to use the stock style clutch fork.

If you want to go crazy you can do some fabricating and make a hydraulic clutch pedal, then the stock bellhousing and hydraulic clutch assembly will work.

If you use a hydraulic clutch you will have to use it for the year of truck that the tranny/throw out is out of, if you use the advance adapters setup you will need to use a clutch that is for your 72.

a 2wd box can be adapted into a 4x4 box, or you will need a divorced NP205, you can build one using the devorced box out of a ford, and bolt the pieces out of that into a chevy passenger side drop.

You can also convert the box to a 4x4, you will need the tail housing and main shaft, as well you will want a 32 spline NP205 which is what came behind a th400, you can convert a 10 or 27 spline by having a machinist hog out the hole in the box to the larger size, and companies like nw fab and ord have the new input shaft.

Advance adapters makes a kit that provides the new tailhousing for the NV4500 and the adapter plate to mount it to a figure 8 pattern 205.

Another thing to consider is that if you can find a later model NP205 with the round mounting patter out of a late 80's truck, the mounting flange for that one is a much easier bolt up because the 4x4 nv4500 tail housing can be redrilled to allow it to be a direct bolt if you can find one with the 32 spline input.

[modblacksmith]

How crazy are you talking, to use the hydraulic clutch stuff out of the donor truck? I like the divorced idea, stuff from AA takes away a lot of fun tokens. I can probably find a divorced t case at work, we get a lot of fords to be crushed.

[MrBeast]

I bet you can find one.

It wont be that hard, you will want to cut the piece out of the firewall that the clutch pedal bolts into and simply cut it into yours, it will make the whole thing bolt up nice easy and simple, just be very careful to measure everything to make sure it will all fit in the location you choose.

Be advised the clutch master cylinder is a plastic pos, it will be brittle and chances are you will break it taking it out, so plan on spending the 65.00 on a new one.

[modblacksmith]

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with me on this.
Doesn't sound to bad to do.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with me on this.
Doesn't sound to bad to do.

You are welcome, and I am going to PM you my phone number, if you have any questions on it feel free to drop me a line.

And you know next time I am through KBOI we will have to have a mini truck meet up.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

You are welcome, and I am going to PM you my phone number, if you have any questions on it feel free to drop me a line.

And you know next time I am through KBOI we will have to have a mini truck meet up.

Thanks again. Yeah that would be way cool, hopefully mine will be back together by then.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Thanks again. Yeah that would be way cool, hopefully mine will be back together by then.

I hear ya, I am doing everything I can to get mine built.

Had some hard times through the winter with my business and sold my personal truck to keep it afloat. That really sucked, but oh well what are you going to do right?

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

I hear ya, I am doing everything I can to get mine built.

Had some hard times through the winter with my business and sold my personal truck to keep it afloat. That really sucked, but oh well what are you going to do right?

I know what you mean, I got laid off and had to sell my mud racing truck and burned up my tax return just trying to keep a roof over my head. It worked out for the best landing the job at the scrap yard.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

I know what you mean, I got laid off and had to sell my mud racing truck and burned up my tax return just trying to keep a roof over my head. It worked out for the best landing the job at the scrap yard.

Yeah times are tough right now, and the price of steel is fixing to go up in a big way with what just happened in Japan.

They are going to have to rebuild, and that is going to take a lot of steel.

[modblacksmith]

Its alive! Put it back together tonight when I got off work. The rear still needs to go up a couple inches. This working two jobs is really cutting into my wrenching time.

[87 chevy silverado]

gotta pay the bills some how

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by 87 chevy silverado

gotta pay the bills some how

Yeah, need to win the lottery so I can wrench all the time.

[MrBeast]

Its lookin good man. I am liking it.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

Its lookin good man. I am liking it.

Thanks, I'm liking your idea on boxing the frame and adding a peace of tubing to it. Mine twists really bad when articulating, so bad that I've had the bed hit the back of the cab before.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

Thanks, I'm liking your idea on boxing the frame and adding a peace of tubing to it. Mine twists really bad when articulating, so bad that I've had the bed hit the back of the cab before.

This was a problem on our trucks, how I solved it with the trucks I had in the past is I would get a washer and weld it on the bed mount about 1/2" back from the factory mount hole and redrill it, thus moving the bed back and giving me a little space.

Sistering in a piece of box tube would be so easy though there is really no reason not to do it as well.

[modblacksmith]

I was thinking about using some 1x4 thick wall rectangular tubing on the bottom side of the frame rails and then box the inside of the frame as well.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

I was thinking about using some 1x4 thick wall rectangular tubing on the bottom side of the frame rails and then box the inside of the frame as well.

That would be over kill.

Id get a piece of box tube 2" wide, and as tall as you can find that fit in the frame. Weld it in, call it good, then box in the front and rear sections.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

That would be over kill.

Id get a piece of box tube 2" wide, and as tall as you can find that fit in the frame. Weld it in, call it good, then box in the front and rear sections.

Sorry I was having a brain fart, ment 1"x2" tubing. I'm trying to round up some plate at work but its kinda picked through already by other employees.

[Altec]

Yeah, the frame flex more then the suspension on these lol.

Have you looked at your body mounts? They play a big part in stiffening up the frame. You may also consider welding in some beefy cross members, and putting gussets around them. I wouldn't want to completely make the frame rigid. More trouble then its worth, and you better have suspension upgrades planned. Like 4 links...

Do that, and swap the rearched springs for a set of 73-87 52" rear springs. That'll help your flex a lot.

Some other stuff you can do as well to take it a step further.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by Altec

Yeah, the frame flex more then the suspension on these lol.

Have you looked at your body mounts? They play a big part in stiffening up the frame. You may also consider welding in some beefy cross members, and putting gussets around them. I wouldn't want to completely make the frame rigid. More trouble then its worth, and you better have suspension upgrades planned. Like 4 links...

Do that, and swap the rearched springs for a set of 73-87 52" rear springs. That'll help your flex a lot.

Some other stuff you can do as well to take it a step further.

You will definately want a disconectable sway bar if you do though because the 73-87 springs will also make the truck flex plenty when you are taking a corner!