700R4 to 4speed manual

[Swearingsailor6]

Hey Guys, I have a question.

Before I go and pick the truck up, I figured I would ask you guys how possible this is~!!

I have a 1986 Chevrolet Scottsdale 4x4 K10 w/ 350 and 700R4 (which is shot) and I am going to look at an 83 3/4 ton chevy 4x4 truck with a manual transmission....the engine is in the truck but doesn't run and I can pick up the entire truck for $200 bucks.

How hard is it to swap to a 4 speed if I have the entire truck to work with?? I would like to put the 3/4 ton running gear in there too, axles, transfer case, tranny everything.

Another question, if the truck is all-time 4x4, how hard would it be to mount my T-case in there behind the 4 speed manual to make it part-time if it is even possible??

did these trucks have hydrolic clutches or manual??

thanks ahead of time!

[Swearingsailor6]

let me specify that the truck is NOT a DD, and only used for hauling crap around, so gas mileage doesn't matter.....

[83K1500]

swap over the pedals, and line up the new hole to drill and you should be fine.
These trucks never had a hydraulic clutch, all fully manual.

As to how hard, that just depends on your skill and tools on hand.

[Swearingsailor6]

Thanks, I am pretty good with a wrench, and I will have help from my brother who went to school for cars, so it shouldn't be a problem. He has all his tools that he is bringing over, and I have quite a collection myself, so tools aren't the issue.

If the truck was origonally a diesel, would the tranny bolt to a 350? I am guessing not, but I could be wrong. I guess if it didn't, then I can probably find a bell housing on e-bay that will work. I don't know what the truck is, the guy didn't know when I asked him and he isn't the owner, just a friend that is helping.

Thank you for the reply, and for the help.
I will be taking pictures during the swap and I will post in a seperate thread.

~Ryan

[chackerman]

hey 83 k1500 my DD is a 86 and its got the hydraulic clutch?

[ryan_thompson87]

Some had hyraulic clutch, its pretty rare. And Neither of those trucks have full time four wheel drive so thats not a problem.

[ridered333]

i could be wrong but i think the hydraulic clutch setup was in 85 and up maybe 86 and up this is a simple swap we did my buddies truck in like 5 hrs tranny and all as for if it was a 6.2 diesel and ur bolting it to a gas job then yes the bellhousings are the same

[83K1500]

Originally Posted by ryan_thompson87

Some had hyraulic clutch, its pretty rare.

Well I have never seen one with hydraulic clutch.

[Swearingsailor6]

thanks for the help guys, it eases my mind!! How hard is it to hang a clutch?

[Swearingsailor6]

I just got back from buying a 1983 Chevrolet 3/4 ton donor truck...it has a bad motor but the truck itself is actually pretty clean...needs new sheetmetal on front fenders and a new windshield, so I am thinking of dropping my motor in it, using my front sheetmetal and grill and my interior and just keeping that truck. It has a 4 speed manual with a part-time tcase and 410 gears, rear is sf 14bolt. I paid $350 for the truck delivered to my house, so I think I got a pretty good deal. Also came with a set of brand new 36" tires and white weld rims (not on truck) which are probably worth 600 alone, but they bought them for the truck and didn't have anything else they would work on so they threw them in.

The reason for selling for so cheap is it had an engine fire, so it warped the front fenders and grill, burned the wiring on the motor and burned the dash and windshield, but the drivetrain wasn't touched....the cab is still in decent condition, but I will see how the firewall and window frame is once I pull it apart.

I will take pictures as soon as I get the truck, it is being delivered today.

[ridered333]

what condition is the truck you have at the moment? and did you say above that the 83 was a diesel i was just wondering y you would use a truck that has had a fire rather than the other one?

[Swearingsailor6]

My Truck is in good condition, and the truck with the fire wasn't a diesel, the guy didn't know if it was or not, so I simply covered my bum before i bought it and asked if it would bolt up, if it "happened" to be a diesel. The truck with the fire isn't in that bad of shape, some sheet metal and a windshield/dash and it would be ok. I would swap my motor....im still undecided on what to do, when I can get the fire one pulled apart and asses the damage, then I will make my decision.

[44gmcnewf]

this should be of help

http://coloradok5.com/auto2manual.shtml

[Swearingsailor6]

Thanks! that will help alot....some good ideas

[ridered333]

Originally Posted by 44gmcnewf

this should be of help

http://coloradok5.com/auto2manual.shtml

i scanned through this quick and it seems like the guy used the original pedal bracket but if hes got a whole parts truck i would just swap out the the standard bracket it bolts right in and everything is all set no messing around

[Swearingsailor6]

yea I plan on using the whole bracket to make things easier and quicker and not mess around with fabing up something that may or may not work. I plan on using everything I can from my donor truck, and then I will sell what is left over from the tranny, t-case and axle swap.

When I am done I should have to sell:
12 bolt rearend
10 bolt front end
T-case,
700R4 core
an extra bench seat
window glass
etc...many parts will be left over and I don't have the room to keep them all.

[Swearingsailor6]

Ths weekend we are going to tear down the burned truck and see what is usable. I took a good long look yesterday and seems like everything is usable, fire didn't touch the clutch linkage, or anything that is associated with the drivetrain except the motor. Im going to pull the linkage, pedals, tranny and tcase and of course drive shafts this weekend.

Im going to clean up the tranny and paint it, but I don't know what color to paint it. I don't want it black, I was thinking of engine enamle in grabber green or blue...just to be different and make it more noticable. What do you guys think? should I paint the linkage (except the movable parts) or just clean it up good??

Thanks!

[Swearingsailor6]

Hey guys,
today was tear-down day for the truck (donor truck) and we got the pedals and pedal bracket out (removed the steering column and seat), and the linkage (mostly) but the bracket that is connected to the frame that holds the Z-bar in place is rivited or something to the frame, and I don't happend to have any type of grinder....may have to pick one up.

Any ideas on how to get that bracket off there witout a grinder?

I also got the drive shafts pulled off, the tranny drained in prep for removal tomorrow, when my brother is here to help me for a few hrs.

I may call a dealership on monday and see if I can just buy a new bracket and bolt it on to my other truck.

It is a manual clutch in the truck.

Ill try to find some batteries for my camera and take some photo's tomorrow of my progress.

[Swearingsailor6]

Well I got the tranny pulled out today, as well as the t-case (pulled both at same time) and it came out very easily. The next project is to pull my running truck in and remove the tranny and t-case..ugh.

I guess my weekend of working is pretty much over, I will probaby put in a few hrs cleaning up the tranny and t-case. Monday I am going to pick up some engine enamle and paint the tranny. I still have to decide on the color, guess It will depend on the selection and my mood at the time. My plans are to paint the truck the factory blue, so maybe i will go with blue, who knows.
I will post some pics here pretty soon, once my wife gets off the other computer so I can upload the photo's from my camera.

[Swearingsailor6]

oh yea, I also got a grinder and ground off the bracket, came off pretty easy after the heads were ground off. now to get some bolts to bolt it up to my truck.

one question, will the driveshafts off my other truck (the running one) work with the t-case that is on the SM465? I have both driveshafts, but I don't think the yoke's are the same to bolt to my current axles. Not sure what the length difference btw the 4 speed and the 700R4, that is one more thing I guess I will find out.