5 spd swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ggtsvnv · 10-08-2006, 10:46 PM

Hi,

Long time since I have been here, but might have finally found a tuck that is worth doing. what I found is a 69 1/2 ton long bed 4WD truck, it has a replacement 350 and a 4spd manual. My question is how hard is it to swap in a 5 spd manual overdrive trans from a newer truck? It's not that I will be putting a ton of miles on the truck but when it does get driven it will be for quite a number of miles and the overdrive could sure help gas miliage.

thanks

Musclerodz · 10-08-2006, 11:06 PM

Should be fairly straight foward. You may have to relocate the crossmember and or shifter hole location. The 5 speed is also a hydraulic clutch so you will need to install clutch master cylinder and plumbling as well. I would think someone here has done it before that could give better details.

Mike

*trkklr77* · 10-09-2006, 01:23 AM

it is a lot of work let alone finding a good 5 spd unless you have cash to burn.

99% of the 5spds that are setup with a tcase use a drivers side tcase and you need a passenger side.

you can get a adapter for a nv4500 to a 205 but its $4-500 and then you need an adapter shaft, the coorect 205 version or you have to buy extra adapters, a nv4500 goes for about $1500 used and are hard to come by.

in short good luck.

al's71gmc · 10-09-2006, 02:45 AM

Wow, I heard this was an easy swap and the nv4500's were plentiful/cheap. Maybe they were talking about the swap on a 2wd? Let us know if you do it and what the costs and challenges were.

TP from Cntl PA · 10-09-2006, 08:54 PM

Maybe a GV or Ranger OD would be a better option?

hchad18 · 10-09-2006, 08:58 PM

I had a friend that did it in a 76 4 x 4 and I thought he said he went with a mechanical clutch linkage. I could be wrong though.

ggtsvnv · 10-09-2006, 10:31 PM

thanks for the replies, I will look into it more and see what I can find. I hope to pick up the truck next week once I do I will post pictures.
Thanks again

jodydewey · 10-11-2006, 08:42 AM

I am in process of converting a 2wd from a TH350 to a NV3500. The physical conversion is easy since it is just a bolt on. The problem is in the clutch linkage. The NV3500/4500 have hydraulic clutch linkage on the passenger side. Mechanical clutch linkage won't work. You could use a Tremec TKO transmission and a stock 350 bellhousing or the Mcleod converta bellhousing to use mechanical linkage. The Tremec TKO transmission will set you back about $2500 though. If you are running a bench seat you will need a transmission that has a forward shifter location. If running bucket seats without a console you can get away with a borg warner T5. If you want to run the NV4500 you can get the entire master cylinder, hose, and slave cylinder pre-bled and connected from LMC for about $186 to your door. That is the route I went. I haven't installed it yet but plan on taking a whole lot of pictures.

10-08-2006, 10:46 PM	#1
ggtsvnv Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cold Springs NV Posts: 85	5 spd swap Hi, Long time since I have been here, but might have finally found a tuck that is worth doing. what I found is a 69 1/2 ton long bed 4WD truck, it has a replacement 350 and a 4spd manual. My question is how hard is it to swap in a 5 spd manual overdrive trans from a newer truck? It's not that I will be putting a ton of miles on the truck but when it does get driven it will be for quite a number of miles and the overdrive could sure help gas miliage. thanks

10-08-2006, 11:06 PM	#2
Musclerodz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,365	Re: 5 spd swap Should be fairly straight foward. You may have to relocate the crossmember and or shifter hole location. The 5 speed is also a hydraulic clutch so you will need to install clutch master cylinder and plumbling as well. I would think someone here has done it before that could give better details. Mike __________________ Mike Redpath

10-09-2006, 01:23 AM	#3
trkklr77 Account Suspended Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: vacaville ca, because it as far from indy as i can be Posts: 777	Re: 5 spd swap it is a lot of work let alone finding a good 5 spd unless you have cash to burn. 99% of the 5spds that are setup with a tcase use a drivers side tcase and you need a passenger side. you can get a adapter for a nv4500 to a 205 but its $4-500 and then you need an adapter shaft, the coorect 205 version or you have to buy extra adapters, a nv4500 goes for about $1500 used and are hard to come by. in short good luck.

10-09-2006, 02:45 AM	#4
al's71gmc 4 eyed fever Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eureka, Nevada Posts: 500	Re: 5 spd swap Wow, I heard this was an easy swap and the nv4500's were plentiful/cheap. Maybe they were talking about the swap on a 2wd? Let us know if you do it and what the costs and challenges were. __________________ 1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!!

10-09-2006, 08:54 PM	#5
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	Re: 5 spd swap Maybe a GV or Ranger OD would be a better option? __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

10-09-2006, 08:58 PM	#6
hchad18 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 372	Re: 5 spd swap I had a friend that did it in a 76 4 x 4 and I thought he said he went with a mechanical clutch linkage. I could be wrong though.

10-09-2006, 10:31 PM	#7
ggtsvnv Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cold Springs NV Posts: 85	Re: 5 spd swap thanks for the replies, I will look into it more and see what I can find. I hope to pick up the truck next week once I do I will post pictures. Thanks again

10-11-2006, 08:42 AM	#8
jodydewey Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 34	Re: 5 spd swap I am in process of converting a 2wd from a TH350 to a NV3500. The physical conversion is easy since it is just a bolt on. The problem is in the clutch linkage. The NV3500/4500 have hydraulic clutch linkage on the passenger side. Mechanical clutch linkage won't work. You could use a Tremec TKO transmission and a stock 350 bellhousing or the Mcleod converta bellhousing to use mechanical linkage. The Tremec TKO transmission will set you back about $2500 though. If you are running a bench seat you will need a transmission that has a forward shifter location. If running bucket seats without a console you can get away with a borg warner T5. If you want to run the NV4500 you can get the entire master cylinder, hose, and slave cylinder pre-bled and connected from LMC for about $186 to your door. That is the route I went. I haven't installed it yet but plan on taking a whole lot of pictures.

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