4x4 4spd to Auto Conversion, What's Involved?

[Ironhorse]

Never thought I would ever consider parting with my "granny" 4spd in my '71
4x4 long bed. Times change and so does my old body. Having some real issues with the ol' bad knees syndrome and pushing the clutch is really starting to bother. Guess I spent to many years with my old truck to move on to another re-build so am thinking of going the whole change over to possiblly a overdrive 4 spd auto box. Not cheap I'm sure but just what is involved besides the obvious? Tried to do a search and guess I'm not using the right terms or something. I do know an adapter is needed to go from the transmission to the transfer case. sm465/np205 stock '71 4x4. Any advise on what trans, th350, th400 or go with the newer overdrive trannys and if so which one? I have a stock 350 2bbl which most likely will get changed to a
4bbl Carter AFB at the same time and install a 4 core radiator with the cooling tanks. Don't do much 4 wheelin' but I just really want to keep my ol' Chevy truck. Been with it for to many years to let it go. Did the complete body rebuild with original GM rocker panels, cab corners, cab supports, swapped out the bed, both fenders, hood, both doors, moved the in cab tank under the bed, custom seat, been scrounging parts for a long time I've wanted, 4spd tilt ( which I know will change out) tow hooks, original am/fm, new paint, so many things. Just can't go with the idea of sending the truck down the road but this clutch, knee thing is really giving me problems. Any help and ideas are very much appreciated. Even the finance officer (aka the Mrs.) is on board with converting to an auto trans. Guess she doesn't want to hear my b**ching about getting rid of ol' Blue, LOL.

Sorry for the long post but this has been on my mind for some time now and if I'm going to do this I want to do it right.