Trans swap

[JCampbell1180]

I'm thinking about swapping the 400 out of my 454 powered dually for a more modern 5 or 6 speed manual overdrive trans. I have a clutch/brake pedal assembly out of a '79 but other than that, I'll basically be starting from scratch.

My question is two-fold:

1. What trans should I look for? Will it bolt up, or will I need an adapter plate for it?

and...

2. Has anybody done a swap like this? Do you have any advice you could pass along? Parts lists, etc...

Thanks in advance.

[jlee003]

how modern? are you looking for like a sm465?

edit*** nevermind, it doesnt have an overdrive. but very stout none the less

[JCampbell1180]

Yeah, I'm really looking for an overdrive trans. I was thinking of something along the lines of an NV4500 or NV5600.

...but no, it doesn't necessarily need to be an ultra heavy duty unit.

[GreaseDog]

look for an 85+ clutch setup if you plan on driving it very much, your left leg will thank you for installing a hydraulic clutch.

[JCampbell1180]

Yeah, definately going with a hydro clutch. You scored a whole setup from a junkyard not to long ago, didn't you?

[JCampbell1180]

I was looking at the NV4500's and NV5600's, specifically for Dodge Cummins applications when I discovered that the NV4500 was available in the 92+ GM trucks.

My question is this: Was the NV4500 available in the 73-87 trucks? If not, would a 92+ bell housing for a 92+ 454/NV4500 bolt up to a 73-87 454? I'm assuming it will. I don't think the bell housing bolt patterns changed from year to year...but I could be wrong.

Secondly, would a NV5600 (6 speed) bolt up to a NV4500 (5 speed)bell housing?

There's a ton of medium duty specific wrecking yards out here in Fontana that I could score parts from.

From what I understand, this is all there is to a 73-87 hydro clutch assembly. (courtesy of GreaseDog)



I have the clutch/brake pedal assembly from my '79 already. Looks like I need the master cylinder, slave cylinder, fork and the linkage and I should be good to go. I can get the pilot and throwout bearings from NAPA or something like that.

Am I on the right track?

[NovaMan]

I believe you're on the right track. I've thought about this too... I think if I did it, I'd try to find an NV4500 from a 93-94 Chevy/GMC because it has a lower 6.34:1 Low gear than the vastly more common 5.61:1 Low found in other NV4500s.

[GreaseDog]

the 79 pedal setup is no good if you're using factory hydro parts, you need the proper 85+ pedals.

yes, i scored the above setup recently for $100. i would expect to pay more, i just got lucky and the yard didnt know what they had. i've sold these setups for anywhere from $250-350 before.

[JCampbell1180]

the 79 pedal setup is no good if you're using factory hydro parts, you need the proper 85+ pedals.

Hmmm...bummer. I would have thought they'd be interchangeable.

[GreaseDog]

nope, changed them with the change from mechanical to hydro in 85.

[beatty97]

Stick with the 4500 much cheaper plus 5600 has a fixed bell and will not bolt up

[GreaseDog]

Novak used to make an adapter that would bolt to the bellhousing to run a hydraulic slave cylinder on the stock bellhousing.

[ridered333]

the 79 pedal setup is no good if you're using factory hydro parts, you need the proper 85+ pedals.

yes, i scored the above setup recently for $100. i would expect to pay more, i just got lucky and the yard didnt know what they had. i've sold these setups for anywhere from $250-350 before.

what is different on the pedals the only thing i can really see that would be different is that there is a plate welded on were the master cyl linkage bolts too is that all thats diff?

[JCampbell1180]

...plus 5600 has a fixed bell and will not bolt up

Good to know.

[GreaseDog]

the shape of the pedals is different too, IIRC. i dont have my 80 here to verify that though.

[ridered333]

the shape of the pedals is different too, IIRC. i dont have my 80 here to verify that though.

but they would prob work if you could weld a plate with a hole in it were it needs to be right i dont see why that wouldnt work

[JCampbell1180]

My question is this: Was the NV4500 available in the 73-87 trucks? If not, would a 92+ bell housing for a 92+ 454/NV4500 bolt up to a 73-87 454?

Anyone?

[NovaMan]

The NV4500 was first put into GM trucks in 1993.
(http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/nv4500.htm)
AFAIK, Chevy never changed their corporate V8 bellhousing bolt pattern, so any GM NV4500+bellhousing should work on any SBC or BBC.

[beatty97]

i assume this is a 2 wheel drive