Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SunSoaked · 01-03-2020, 10:35 AM

I just want to know what rear driveshaft setup you're using.
One piece shaft or two?
My measurements indicate I'll need a 64 inch shaft which seems way too long. A two piece will require fabbing an x-member that I'd rather avoid.

b454rat · 01-03-2020, 10:45 AM

When I had my 84 3/4 ton that had a one piece shaft. Was 400/208, if that helps any.

sweetk30 · 01-03-2020, 11:12 AM

ran a 465/205 on a 135" c&c with a 1 piece shaft . over 60-65mph had a slight vibe .

the longer it gets tube length the more it wants to wobble . think of the old air plane kits we had as kids with the rubber band wind up for the prop . it would flex and bounce as it un wound .

**Richard** · 01-03-2020, 05:52 PM

My first 72 a K20 LWB with a manual had a one piece driveshaft. Kept a one piece when I converted to an automatic. The drive shaft was massive compared to a car. Was at least 4"-5" in diameter.

1976gmc20 · 01-04-2020, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

My first 72 a K20 LWB with a manual had a one piece driveshaft. Kept a one piece when I converted to an automatic. The drive shaft was massive compared to a car. Was at least 4"-5" in diameter.

Yep, same with my 1973

Only I ordered it with the automatic and within a few years wanted to convert it to manual. I actually did eventually, by trading it in for a K-10 with a manual.

sweetk30 · 01-04-2020, 12:39 PM

fyi : check to see but i think aluminum shaft can be done in longer length . but thats if you have a slip yoke on the output as they dont do slip yoke aluminum last i knew of .

kipps · 01-04-2020, 02:51 PM

A factory sm465 and np208 transfer case used a single piece driveshaft with a slip yoke.

The nv4500 appears to be about a half inch longer than the sm465, so the driveshaft length will be almost the same as the factory sm465 setup.

GM evidently didn't consider the length to be too great for a single-piece driveshaft.

K20super · 01-05-2020, 04:15 PM

Call Tom woods driveshaft company in Utah they built mine and it has no weights and is very well balanced. We build them at the shop I work at and the quality of the tube makes all the difference in the balance/ vibration.

SunSoaked · 01-05-2020, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipps

A factory sm465 and np208 transfer case used a single piece driveshaft with a slip yoke.

The nv4500 appears to be about a half inch longer than the sm465, so the driveshaft length will be almost the same as the factory sm465 setup.

GM evidently didn't consider the length to be too great for a single-piece driveshaft.

Yes, but.....my fixed output 205 is about 10 inches shorter than the 208 slip yoke.

SunSoaked · 01-05-2020, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetk30

fyi : check to see but i think aluminum shaft can be done in longer length . but thats if you have a slip yoke on the output as they dont do slip yoke aluminum last i knew of .

Thanks sweet. I never thought about that. Learned something new.

kipps · 01-05-2020, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

Yes, but.....my fixed output 205 is about 10 inches shorter than the 208 slip yoke.

Oh.

But you never mentioned the transfer case swap. I was assuming a direct switch from sm465 to nv4500, with nothing else changing.

SunSoaked · 01-05-2020, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipps

Oh.

But you never mentioned the transfer case swap. I was assuming a direct switch from sm465 to nv4500, with nothing else changing.

True. Sorry about that. I appreciate your input.

**Richard** · 01-06-2020, 03:16 AM

Not clear on what you are actually putting in. Personally I would avoid using a np208 slip yoke transfercase. If there is any sort of lift planned I would not recommend it.

SunSoaked · 01-06-2020, 06:24 AM

Alright...let's start over:

85 Longbed K20.

Currently th400/np208. Slip yoke 1 piece shaft.

Going to install nv4500/np205. FIXED yoke.

Concern: Want to use a ONE PIECE shaft but....shaft length will be 63-64 inches!

dieseldude4bt · 01-06-2020, 01:08 PM

I had a 1978 with SM465 and 205 and it had a one piece shaft fron the factory as does my 1993 dodge diesel G360 & 205.

franken · 01-06-2020, 08:30 PM

I parted a 91 burb w/ an NV4500/NP205 and just measured the rear shaft at ~61" fully compressed. I'd guess the splined part is 6-7" so adding 2-3" or so for suspension travel gets to 63-64"
This wasn't a factory setup but it went down the road nice at 70.

60sIron · 08-30-2020, 01:00 PM

My 69 K20 Suburban has a one piece DS. No issues. 465 with a 205.

01-03-2020, 10:35 AM	#1
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? I just want to know what rear driveshaft setup you're using. One piece shaft or two? My measurements indicate I'll need a 64 inch shaft which seems way too long. A two piece will require fabbing an x-member that I'd rather avoid.

01-03-2020, 10:45 AM	#2
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? When I had my 84 3/4 ton that had a one piece shaft. Was 400/208, if that helps any.

01-03-2020, 11:12 AM	#3
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? ran a 465/205 on a 135" c&c with a 1 piece shaft . over 60-65mph had a slight vibe . the longer it gets tube length the more it wants to wobble . think of the old air plane kits we had as kids with the rubber band wind up for the prop . it would flex and bounce as it un wound . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

01-03-2020, 05:52 PM	#4
Richard Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,896	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? My first 72 a K20 LWB with a manual had a one piece driveshaft. Kept a one piece when I converted to an automatic. The drive shaft was massive compared to a car. Was at least 4"-5" in diameter. __________________ Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746

01-04-2020, 12:39 PM	#6
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? fyi : check to see but i think aluminum shaft can be done in longer length . but thats if you have a slip yoke on the output as they dont do slip yoke aluminum last i knew of . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.

01-04-2020, 02:51 PM	#7
kipps Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: North-central Virginia Posts: 1,104	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? A factory sm465 and np208 transfer case used a single piece driveshaft with a slip yoke. The nv4500 appears to be about a half inch longer than the sm465, so the driveshaft length will be almost the same as the factory sm465 setup. GM evidently didn't consider the length to be too great for a single-piece driveshaft. __________________ 1987 C6P V20 truck, 2010 LMG 5.3, AFM delete, 2010 Camaro exhaust manifolds, 1997 nv4500, 1991 np241c, hydroboost, 2005 14bff axle & driveshaft, drop-n-lock gooseneck, 4.10 gears, stock suspension, rims, and tires. Still a work in progress. Any questions or suggestions are welcome!

01-05-2020, 04:15 PM	#8
K20super Registered User Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Center ND Posts: 73	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? Call Tom woods driveshaft company in Utah they built mine and it has no weights and is very well balanced. We build them at the shop I work at and the quality of the tube makes all the difference in the balance/ vibration.

01-06-2020, 03:16 AM	#13
Richard Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,896	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? Not clear on what you are actually putting in. Personally I would avoid using a np208 slip yoke transfercase. If there is any sort of lift planned I would not recommend it. __________________ Richard 1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746

01-06-2020, 06:24 AM	#14
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? Alright...let's start over: 85 Longbed K20. Currently th400/np208. Slip yoke 1 piece shaft. Going to install nv4500/np205. FIXED yoke. Concern: Want to use a ONE PIECE shaft but....shaft length will be 63-64 inches!

01-06-2020, 01:08 PM	#15
dieseldude4bt Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Co Posts: 412	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? I had a 1978 with SM465 and 205 and it had a one piece shaft fron the factory as does my 1993 dodge diesel G360 & 205. __________________ 63 k20 with cummins 4bt, owned sence 1982

01-06-2020, 08:30 PM	#16
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,128	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? I parted a 91 burb w/ an NV4500/NP205 and just measured the rear shaft at ~61" fully compressed. I'd guess the splined part is 6-7" so adding 2-3" or so for suspension travel gets to 63-64" This wasn't a factory setup but it went down the road nice at 70.

08-30-2020, 01:00 PM	#17
60sIron Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sebastopol California Posts: 151	Re: Anyone have a K series Longbed with a nv4500 swap? My 69 K20 Suburban has a one piece DS. No issues. 465 with a 205.



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