NV4500 swap is underway

[argonaut]

Interesting. I assume that you don't have complimentary angles on your TC output and your pinion... and as such I'm surprised you don't have any vibration issues. Or do you?

[argonaut]

And yeah, I'll definitely let you be the guinea pig!

[DirtyLarry]

Rear axle u-joint cap: 10.2 degrees
Driveshaft: 12.8 degrees
TC u-joint cap: 4.6 degrees

The angles are not ideal but there is no driveline vibration between 0 – 93 MPH. The truck is amazingly smooth rolling down the highway even with the 35” tires.

The angles change once the fuel tanks, water tanks, fridge, etc. is full/loaded. Hmmm, I ought to check that someday once the camper is loaded to see how much they actually do change

[argonaut]

What does the NP208 brace look like? Anyone have a pic?

[DirtyLarry]

It looks like the rod below where it runs from the bolt holes in the side of the tcase to the bellhousing. I’ve never actually seen these rods used on anything other than automatic transmissions and even at that…not all had them. Certainly not a bad idea and definitely a better idea than having the tcase mounted on its own mount. The tcase needs to rotate with the torque roll of the engine and transmission. When the tcase is cinched down you run more of risk of breaking an adapter by drivetrain twist than I do by not running anything at all. GM broke a lot of tcase adapters on 69-72 trucks because of the frame adapter that bolted to the side of the 205 for this exact reason. They did away with that bracket in 1972 because if it. That is directly from an old work colleague that was a GMC truck engineer from the late 60’s through the 90’s.

[Dieselwrencher]

Larry, my thoughts are the same as yours on that. I almost put the GM tcase bracket back on when I did the 89 yellow suburban, but changed my mind due to thinking the trans tail housing would just get broken because something would definitely have to give. Now that we are talking about it, I've never seen a 1st gen dodge with an auto and NP205 break the trans tail housing. Maybe their housing is just engineered to take it. IDK They do seem to live just fine though.

[DirtyLarry]

I dunno, but I can tell you that I am sick of hearing about a brace/mount for the 205. That topic has been beat to death already in this thread several pages back. I heard the same thing when I first did the NV4500 swap in 2010 that I needed a brace. The truck does more long distance highway trips and real world off-roading that most on this board will ever see. It’s been to the Mohave Rd & Death Valley in California, 2 trips to Flagstaff and several trips to the Utah back country not to mention the local mountain trips just in the last 3 years. The old dog sees a lot of dirt and 4x4 action. It never leaves the house unless it is really going somewhere. Not a grocery getter rig that is for sure. No problems yet and I sure hope it stays that way. I was looking at the odometer today and it has 14,823 miles since the NV4500 swap in late 2010. All of those miles were outdoor adventure miles. If I had an hour meter I would venture to say it has many more off-road hours than on-highway hours by a long shot.

Well, the JB Custom Fab twin stick shift knobs arrived today! I gave it a 20 mile test drive this afternoon and all is well. No leaks, no noises but there a slight vibration in 4wd and fwd that I didn’t have before. Gonna have to look into that.

I dig these new knobs! I am really happy with the silky smooth shift action of the 205 now as well! It is hard to believe it is a 205 as usually you almost need to put your feet on the dash to shift the damn things

[Dieselwrencher]

Those are some nice knobs for sure! For whatever reason, most of the old first gen dodges I've been around, you have to play a freakin game to get the tcase to go in and out of 4x4 just like you're saying. That's awesome it shifts really smooth.

[crewcabshorty]

I am in the middle of my nv4500 swap with advanced adapters parts . just wondering where you located your pilot bushing. AA suggested leaving the bushing 3/16 out of the end of the crankshaft . I always put them in flush, any comment appreciated ! thanks

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by crewcabshorty

I am in the middle of my nv4500 swap with advanced adapters parts . just wondering where you located your pilot bushing. AA suggested leaving the bushing 3/16 out of the end of the crankshaft . I always put them in flush, any comment appreciated ! thanks

I am running the stock 8.1L pilot bushing, which is considerably different than the typical small block and older big block bushings that were used forever. However, on my 89 Suburban with a TBI 5.7L I just used the stock pilot bushing. The NV4500 swap on that rig is on page 5.

[DirtyLarry]

Figured out the source of the noise and vibration in 4wd and fwd. I forgot to clearance the CV to prevent rubbing.

I intended to do this before the front shaft was rebuilt and balanced but I forgot. Dang it!

Before


After

[argonaut]

Oh yeah. It'll probably break going over the first speed bump at the mall. Better prepare yourself!

[DirtyLarry]

I was thinking of finding the hens tooth GM NV4500 cast iron adapter and bolting it to my spare tire carrier and just leaving the spare tire at home. Sounds like I’ll need the spare cast adapter before I will ever need the spare tire

[doubleclucker]

Larry-I got mine from risingvoffroad (Ryan) 217-304-4663- Moonshinemafiamotorsports I got it for $150.00 plus shipping just last year.
If you mount it where the spare tire goes you may need to beef up the rear suspension!

[DirtyLarry]

Cool, thanks for the info! I appreciate it. I’ll keep his info for future reference. Nice to know a GM cast iron adapter really does exist as all I’ve seem to be able to find are Dodge cast iron adapters.

You’re right, I probably would need to beef up the tire carrier and suspension to haul that thing It looks beefy!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by doubleclucker

Larry-I got mine from risingvoffroad (Ryan) 217-304-4663- Moonshinemafiamotorsports I got it for $150.00 plus shipping just last year.
If you mount it where the spare tire goes you may need to beef up the rear suspension!

Right above.

[doubleclucker]

Another link for a 'HENS TOOTH'
http://www.midwesttrans.com/NV4500/new_nv4500.html

[88JRFAN]

I swapped to th400 in mine and it came with the brace arm that you show Larry. I've been contemplating how to mount it with the torque mount. Reading your comment's make me think to just take plate off. Then mount bar. Would make more sense. I really don't want to break tranny case. Thanks, Daren

[Dieselwrencher]

That is a nice piece for sure!

[argonaut]

Where do I get one of those?

[Zoomad75]

I'm befuddled by the direction this thread took on the mere outside chance Larry might break the rear housing on his 4500. I know there are other guys running 4500's on this board and others like CK5 and don't remember them getting spammed with posts needing the cast iron rear housing.

Having been at this dealer for the last 5 years we've replaced 1 NV4500 in a 2002 Silverado 2500. Was the rear housing broke? Nope. It was popping out of 5th under load. I can say this having wheeled with Larry, he's no throttle jockey. The chances of his breaking is no greater than one that was installed in a truck from the factory. When you have torque on demand like his 8.1L builds you don't have to beat on it like a rented mule to accomplish the task at hand. Now that he's pulled the advance adapter's chunk of beef off of the rear of the trans and gone to a factory round 205 for a direct bolt on, his chances of stuff breaking should have gone down, not up.

[obijuan]

i wheel a k5 blazer with a 396 nv4500 203 205 with one tons and 42 inch tires. i am not at all worried about breaking my adapter.

[Dieselwrencher]

Larry, do you have any idea what the AA shift handles originally were for? My brother just purchased a brand new NV4500 and it came with the same goof ball handle.

[JimJones]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Larry, do you have any idea what the AA shift handles originally were for? My brother just purchased a brand new NV4500 and it came with the same goof ball handle.

Where did he purchase it from? I thought that these have been out of production for a while now and everything available was rebuilds?

[DirtyLarry]

Their handle looks homegrown but their knob looks like a late 80’s Jeep knob to me.