72 swb 4x4(4-speed to R4700 question)

[firemanchuck]

I AM WANTING TO REPLACE MY 4-SPEED TRANNY WITH AN AUTOMATIC. ONE OF THE GUYS AT THE DEPARTMENT MENTIONED THE R4700 FOR THE OD BENEFIT. ANY SUGGESSTIONS ON ACTUAL TRANNY'S, PARTS NEEDED, OR DO'S AND DON'T WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME GUYS.

FIREMANCHUCK
TULSA, OK

[ckhd]

Whew, You're up for fun!

You will need to find an adapter to get a turbo350 or a 700r4 to mate up to the 205 that was originally behind a 4-speed. The 4-speed 205 has a 10-spline input shaft, and the t-350s have a 32 spline (I think) input shaft. The connecting pieces between them are different. Maybe Advanced Adapters has something that will work.

You would be ahead to get a 205 that came bolted to a turbo-350. Be sure to get the connecting piece. Obviously, a t-350 would bolt right up to it (as long as it had the 4-wheel drive output shaft). To get a 700r4 to bolt up, you will need to get a special output shaft specifically meant for that. Bowtie overdrives has them and so does Advanced Adapters. I paid about $150 from B.O.

I am currently putting in a 700r4 into my '72 'burb that originally had a t-350. With the special shaft installed, it bolted right up to the 205 like it was meant to do it all along. There are a lot of considerations to putting a 700r4 in, since the 700r4 is 1 3/4" longer than a t-350 and requires a better cooling system than a t-350. I guess that since you are going from a sm465 then there would be other things to consider that I haven't thought of.