Overdrive options

[tenni126]

I've gone and purchased somebody else's project, and I am looking for a "what would you do" type answer. What I've got is a 4x4 pickup, with a real nice and new 1996 vortec 350. Axles have 4.10's, with 32" tires. I have two complete transmission/drivetrain options that came with it.

First option: SM465 4-speed , juice clutch, with a NP205.

Second: a 4L80E that would go to the same NP205. Now. I want an overdrive, which the 4L80E obviously has.

The options I see for the SM465 are either a Ranger torque splitter ahead of the trans, or a GV unit behind.
If I keep the slushbox, I'll sell the SM465 and stuff to fund the adapter and output mods for the 4l80, or maybe get lucky and find the rare factory adapter.
If I go with the stick, then I'll sell the auto&controller for the overdrive.

I have no mounts or drive shafts in yet, so it's all the same from a fab standpoint.

So, all that said, what would you do? Primary use is daily driver/smallish (under 7500lbs) camp trailer hauler, with some mild off roading in mind. No rock crawling or horse trailers, so overall capacity isn't as big as driveability.
All that said, what would you do?

[Campbel45]

I think the better option would be the 4l80e


but if it were me Id go with the manual setup just because I like manuals and
go with the GV unit for cool factor. Ive also heard the GVs are a very strong product.

[Mr. 250r]

Pretty sure you can use a 241 adapter to mate a 205 to a 4l80 but i think you have to swap something from the 205 ORD knows about it because they told me about it and as far as GV those are nice units in either carcraft or hotrod they had some kind of drag race article and i believe like the top 5 cars were using GV units

[tenni126]

Yeah there's some work to be done to both the 4L80 and the 205 to make it work for sure. I like the idea of a stick...seems like you could just leave the Ranger in OD for the most part, and it would act like 3.73's or something, but I've heard that it's pretty loud. The GV seems to be the hot setup, but d@#n they want a lot of money for it. It's $500 or $600 for the adapter alone I guess. Plus (not like you'd need to really) you can't split gears in 4WD with the GV since its on the back of the transfer case.

[obijuan]

First things first. Is this a round pattern 205? Or the older ten spline figure 8 pattern?

If it's 32 spline round pattern, put an nv4500 in it.

This is all preferences. Do you want a power robbing slushbox, or do you want a wore out shifting arm.
Me, I'll take 0 power loss any day. I love the nv4500 in my blazer and will never go back. It's all gonna cost the same.

A 4l80 241 adapter does not work for a 205. Nwf I think used to manufacture this rare adapter.

[tenni126]

It's the older 10 spline figure 8 so as far as I know the NV4500 is a no go. There's an advanced adapters kit for the 4L80 but it's going to require some work. Input bearing on the 205 is bigger, and the housing needs machining to accept it. And the trans needs the proper output shaft, which requires basically a complete teardown. Meh. I talked to advanced adapters today about the Ranger, and he kinda said "yeah, it makes some noise. It's an old design. But it's a lot cheaper than the GV". I think I'm set on the stick shift, and although it seems like the Ranger OD is the best bet dollar for dollar the marketing on the GV makes me wonder if it's really $1500 bucks better.

[obijuan]

http://www.northwestfab.com/GM-NP205...ter_p_18.html#

Bore the case just like you would for the 4l80. Use a short input gear and notch the adapter on the 4500 or use the AA kit and the long input gear with no notch for the shift rail.

Now after that, you have a 205 for either trans setup.

[franken]

I think northwestfab.com has a plate to mate the figure 8 TC to a round pattern (to use an NV4500 or some trans w/ a round pattern tailhousing). You'd need to change the input to 32 spline and machine the case for the big bearing. All that runs a few bucks.

Round pattern NP205s are out there if you wait and troll CL for example, or you can get one from carpart.com, etc.

There are multiple ways to make a setup, but you can spend a lot of time researching what Advance, ORD, NWFab, etc. have and deciding what you want to do...

The 465 isn't exactly modern, and the 205 doesn't have the best low range. So that combo isn't too good for crawling, or on the freeway.

The round pattern is a standard, but one hole is a fraction of an inch off from the other 5. For some reason that hole isn't located in the same spot on different setups. It seems even GM wasn't consistent between the NP205, 208, and 241. Or so I've been told at least.

I'm slowly working on a later NV4500 (lower numerically 1st w/ synchro), planetary range box, round pattern NP205 setup. I've been gathering parts for a while. Now I need ambition. I think this combo is pretty good...

[obijuan]

My nv4500 203 205 is pretty sweet, sometimes I wish I had a planetary range box. And it's practically bolt in.

Your ambition could be putting the truck as low as you can and washing it and drying it before it leaves the driveway.

[Mr. 250r]

This is the answer i received from chris @ ord about putting a 205 behind my 91 4l80

You can use a round pattern NP205 (85-91 Chevy 1 ton) and swap a short 32 spline input into it (that's a direct swap, we have them brand new for $135). At that point it bolts right to the adapter that's already on the back of your trans, you would only need to make a notch for the shift rail.

You can also use an earlier figure 8 pattern Chevy 205 with a long 32 spline input in it, those are super rare in factory applications. If the 205 you can find uses a male input we have a kit for $245 that includes the long input, new input bearing and seal/gasket kit that will convert that 205 over. The input bearing bore in the case needs to be machined bigger (the female input uses a bigger bearing), we charge $70 to do that here to give you an estimate of cost. Once you have the long 32 spline input in the figure 8 case, you'll need an adapter that we can supply/machine that would be $280.

So that's where my info whether it be right or wrong came from lol

[obijuan]

A 4l80 205 adapter is about 4 inches deep, where the 241 is only around 2 or so inches.

[tenni126]

Ok, so maybe the NV4500 is an option then...didn't they have an issue with 5th being a weak point or was that fixed at some year cut-off? Would I need a different bell housing for the NV4500? I really hadn't given that much thought since I figured the old pattern 205 was a no go. Damn...another option.

[obijuan]

5th gear nut is an issue but an easy fix. I suggest the advance adapter bell. Uses the external slave.

[doubleclucker]

I did not see a year for the truck you have.
But for a budget nv4500 swap w/no adapters look at the first part of the link below...
100:1 low gear

[Bigdav160]

I'm not sure why you're not considering a 4L60e. It works fine behind a mild small block and is a much easier swap.

A 4L80e and a NP205 must weigh 500lbs together.

[tenni126]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I'm not sure why you're not considering a 4L60e. It works fine behind a mild small block and is a much easier swap.

A 4L80e and a NP205 must weigh 500lbs together.

Only because it came with the 4l80 as part of the package. Otherwise I wouldn't likely pick the 4l80. I think I'm probably going to end up using the ranger OD in front of the 4 sspeed/205 that's already bolted together. If I dont like it I'm thinking the nv4500 might be next best. Stick shifts are always cooler after all.