NV4500 and NP241 questions...

[The Good Ratchet]

So im going to put a NV4500 in my 1959 GMC 1 ton pickup. It comes with a NP 241 transfer case with a drivers side drop for a drive line. I need a passenger drop drive line to match my front end. I am curious if anyone knows of a direct bolt in transfer case for the NV4500 that does not need a adapter place that has a passenger side drop for a drive line...

Thanks guys!

[b454rat]

IIRC you can take a pass drop 208 or 241 off a TH400 or 4-speed, open up two holes and it will bolt on.

Or if you have a late model 205 with round 6 pattern and long 32 spline input, Advanced Adapters sells a spacer that will bolt the two together. It's $100 and change. I know you said no adapters or spacers, but just throwing that out.

[The Good Ratchet]

Here is another question. I found a passenger side drop NP 241 transfer case. Can I take the drivers drop off and switch it with a passenger side? I think the passenger side drop is off a 89 1/2 ton suburban, and the one on the nv4500 I have is off a 1992 1/2 ton pick up.

[tkeduk8r]

that 89 suburban NP241 is the most desirable for the NV4500 applications in older trucks because it a.) bolts right up, b) has the correct pass side drop, c) lightweight, and d) has a mechanical speedo output.... I have looked for three years and havnt been able to find one around here.... but yeah it should work well with your application...
--Mike

[special-K]

^^^ That's the ideal rare bird.You can get electronic to mechanical adaptors for the speedo or fit up an electronic speedo to run a 90/91 241,but they aren't any easier to find.The 208s are another option and IIRC a late 205 with same spline count,also.

[mickman77]

Late model 205's will bolt with an adapter and have the mechanical speedo drive. Plus an iron case with gear drive. IMO almost indestructible and perfect mate to the 4500..

[JJorgensen52]

Just finished doing this same swap in a '69, with a '95 NV4500 and the '89 passenger's drop Tcase. Bolted right up like it belonged there

[duallyjams]

Jealous

[randyroads]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

Just finished doing this same swap in a '69, with a '95 NV4500 and the '89 passenger's drop Tcase. Bolted right up like it belonged there

>what bell housing r u using i just got a nv4500 and it has the wider pattern that is the same as the dodge now im having troubble finding the right one i have the smaller nv4500 bell housing for chevy that i cant use

[Redcap]

A late 205 is a much better case.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by Redcap

A late 205 is a much better case.

……and extremely difficult to find. The NP241 also has a much lower 4-low which is nice to have.

I almost went the route of the 1989 241 for my NV4500 conversion as there is one in a Sub at the local pick-a-part for $100. I am just worried about the 241 living behind the 8.1L. I ended up ponying up for an Advance Adapters kit to run a 27 spline 205 behind a NV4500. The only thing I don’t like about the AA kit is it makes the trans and tranfercase combo verrryyyy long. I might still go get that ’89 241 just to have around though.

I think it looks great JJorgensen!

[raycow]

Originally Posted by randyroads

>what bell housing r u using i just got a nv4500 and it has the wider pattern that is the same as the dodge now im having troubble finding the right one i have the smaller nv4500 bell housing for chevy that i cant use

You can use the factory bellhousing if you also use the factory hydraulic t/o bearing. If you don't want to do that, then you need to use an aftermarket bellhousing like this one from Advance Adapters.
http://advanceadapters.com/product/2225/712576.html

Ray

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

……and extremely difficult to find. The NP241 also has a much lower 4-low which is nice to have.

I almost went the route of the 1989 241 for my NV4500 conversion as there is one in a Sub at the local pick-a-part for $100. I am just worried about the 241 living behind the 8.1L. I ended up ponying up for an Advance Adapters kit to run a 27 spline 205 behind a NV4500. The only thing I don’t like about the AA kit is it makes the trans and tranfercase combo verrryyyy long. I might still go get that ’89 241 just to have around though.

I think it looks great JJorgensen!

A 205 may be more expensive (not really that much so around here), and while the 4low range is deeper, the 241 is marginal at best for a warm smallblock.

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

……and extremely difficult to find. The NP241 also has a much lower 4-low which is nice to have.

I almost went the route of the 1989 241 for my NV4500 conversion as there is one in a Sub at the local pick-a-part for $100. I am just worried about the 241 living behind the 8.1L. I ended up ponying up for an Advance Adapters kit to run a 27 spline 205 behind a NV4500. The only thing I don’t like about the AA kit is it makes the trans and tranfercase combo verrryyyy long. I might still go get that ’89 241 just to have around though.

I think it looks great JJorgensen!

The round pattern 205's are getting tougher to find but there are empty aftermarket cases that will bolt directly to the nv4500 tail shaft. I went this route for $300. While apart i installed a 32 spline input gear for $100 (IIRC) freshened up with a master rebuild kit for $150. Total im into the tc for $550, and i eliminated the weak female coupler and didn't need an adapter.

Not to bust your chops Larry but how much are the AA adapters these days?

iirc over all length of my NV4500/205 combo ended up only about 2-3"s longer than the stock 465/205 combo. i did alter my drive shafts.

looks good JJorgensen!

-steve

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by snj8198

The round pattern 205's are getting tougher to find but there are empty aftermarket cases that will bolt directly to the nv4500 tail shaft. I went this route for $300. While apart i installed a 32 spline input gear for $100 (IIRC) freshened up with a master rebuild kit for $150. Total im into the tc for $550, and i eliminated the weak female coupler and didn't need an adapter.

Not to bust your chops Larry but how much are the AA adapters these days?

iirc over all length of my NV4500/205 combo ended up only about 2-3"s longer than the stock 465/205 combo. i did alter my drive shafts.

looks good JJorgensen!

-steve

The AA kit cost a hell of a lot more than $300! Send me a link where empty cases can be purchased. I might be sending this AA kit back as soon as it shows up! I am not liking the idea of how far back it is going to push the tcase nor am I a big fan of the female adapter either. I would rather have a 32 spline 205 input round case as well.

[silver7]

Subscribed. Considering swapping my TH350 for a manual tranny in my 71 4X4 and the NV4500 seems like the way to go. Steve's idea of purchasing an empty Tcase seems like the way to go. Thanks for starting the thread good ratchet.

[special-K]

I had planned this swap for my '72 with an NV4500 I had in the '95 I totalled. I had bought a GM crate unit when the original failed and it had under 30k on it. Then,wonders of all wonders,I blew a chunk of reverse gear out of mt '92 4500 last winter and that settled what would be done with the '95 trans. I'll either be hunting another or change plans altogether.
My '95,then after the wreck my '92,ran a 320hp 500+ft/lb 6.5TD in a truck that hauls and tows with a net weight usually about 8,000# and the NP241 took whatever I gave it...and still is with the stock 6.5TD back in.

[silver7]

I checked with ORD and Quad 4x4 for the empty 6 bolt 205 housings and they both said nobody is selling them as parts anymore because they can get $600+ for the entire set-up. Looks like ebay or the local junk yard is going to be the best bet unless anyone else has any luck elsewhere.

[snj8198]

They weren't real cheap when they were selling them. Paid $300 for mine.

[silver7]

Found a guy selling a 6 bolt NP205 out of a 79 1 ton chevy. Would this one work?