NV4500 swap is underway

[argonaut]

Arrrrrrrrrgh! I'm jealous that I'm lagging so far behind you!

How are your u joint angles on the rear with that driveshaft? I was assuming that I might need to rotate my rear axle and go with a double card an joint at the TC due to the added length over my SM465/NP205 combo.

[DirtyLarry]

Well, get to work man!

Maybe my 205 will break off of the NV4500 rear cover by the time you get yours together that way you can confirm a brace is needed

The rear u-joint working angle is almost too flat. The handy dandy phone app angle finder says there is a 2.6 degree working angle at the rear joint. I'm not using any shims...just the ORD flip kit and a lot of weight in the bed

[argonaut]

Interesting. I assume that you don't have complimentary angles on your TC output and your pinion... and as such I'm surprised you don't have any vibration issues. Or do you?

[argonaut]

And yeah, I'll definitely let you be the guinea pig!

[DirtyLarry]

Rear axle u-joint cap: 10.2 degrees
Driveshaft: 12.8 degrees
TC u-joint cap: 4.6 degrees

The angles are not ideal but there is no driveline vibration between 0 – 93 MPH. The truck is amazingly smooth rolling down the highway even with the 35” tires.

The angles change once the fuel tanks, water tanks, fridge, etc. is full/loaded. Hmmm, I ought to check that someday once the camper is loaded to see how much they actually do change

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Well, get to work man!

Maybe my 205 will break off of the NV4500 rear cover by the time you get yours together that way you can confirm a brace is needed

The rear u-joint working angle is almost too flat. The handy dandy phone app angle finder says there is a 2.6 degree working angle at the rear joint. I'm not using any shims...just the ORD flip kit and a lot of weight in the bed

Larry, I was thinking of just making some braces similar to what a 208 has to help support it and see if that works. Maybe that would be an option for you too.

[argonaut]

What does the NP208 brace look like? Anyone have a pic?

[DirtyLarry]

It looks like the rod below where it runs from the bolt holes in the side of the tcase to the bellhousing. I’ve never actually seen these rods used on anything other than automatic transmissions and even at that…not all had them. Certainly not a bad idea and definitely a better idea than having the tcase mounted on its own mount. The tcase needs to rotate with the torque roll of the engine and transmission. When the tcase is cinched down you run more of risk of breaking an adapter by drivetrain twist than I do by not running anything at all. GM broke a lot of tcase adapters on 69-72 trucks because of the frame adapter that bolted to the side of the 205 for this exact reason. They did away with that bracket in 1972 because if it. That is directly from an old work colleague that was a GMC truck engineer from the late 60’s through the 90’s.

[Dieselwrencher]

Larry, my thoughts are the same as yours on that. I almost put the GM tcase bracket back on when I did the 89 yellow suburban, but changed my mind due to thinking the trans tail housing would just get broken because something would definitely have to give. Now that we are talking about it, I've never seen a 1st gen dodge with an auto and NP205 break the trans tail housing. Maybe their housing is just engineered to take it. IDK They do seem to live just fine though.

[DirtyLarry]

I dunno, but I can tell you that I am sick of hearing about a brace/mount for the 205. That topic has been beat to death already in this thread several pages back. I heard the same thing when I first did the NV4500 swap in 2010 that I needed a brace. The truck does more long distance highway trips and real world off-roading that most on this board will ever see. It’s been to the Mohave Rd & Death Valley in California, 2 trips to Flagstaff and several trips to the Utah back country not to mention the local mountain trips just in the last 3 years. The old dog sees a lot of dirt and 4x4 action. It never leaves the house unless it is really going somewhere. Not a grocery getter rig that is for sure. No problems yet and I sure hope it stays that way. I was looking at the odometer today and it has 14,823 miles since the NV4500 swap in late 2010. All of those miles were outdoor adventure miles. If I had an hour meter I would venture to say it has many more off-road hours than on-highway hours by a long shot.

Well, the JB Custom Fab twin stick shift knobs arrived today! I gave it a 20 mile test drive this afternoon and all is well. No leaks, no noises but there a slight vibration in 4wd and fwd that I didn’t have before. Gonna have to look into that.

I dig these new knobs! I am really happy with the silky smooth shift action of the 205 now as well! It is hard to believe it is a 205 as usually you almost need to put your feet on the dash to shift the damn things

[Dieselwrencher]

Those are some nice knobs for sure! For whatever reason, most of the old first gen dodges I've been around, you have to play a freakin game to get the tcase to go in and out of 4x4 just like you're saying. That's awesome it shifts really smooth.

[crewcabshorty]

I am in the middle of my nv4500 swap with advanced adapters parts . just wondering where you located your pilot bushing. AA suggested leaving the bushing 3/16 out of the end of the crankshaft . I always put them in flush, any comment appreciated ! thanks

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by crewcabshorty

I am in the middle of my nv4500 swap with advanced adapters parts . just wondering where you located your pilot bushing. AA suggested leaving the bushing 3/16 out of the end of the crankshaft . I always put them in flush, any comment appreciated ! thanks

I am running the stock 8.1L pilot bushing, which is considerably different than the typical small block and older big block bushings that were used forever. However, on my 89 Suburban with a TBI 5.7L I just used the stock pilot bushing. The NV4500 swap on that rig is on page 5.

[70custom20]

A lot of good pics/info in this thread. I have the trans, and the round pattern 205 that (if I ever just break down and start doing it) will be going into my truck. I need to order the short input from ORD for the transfer case, and I can start to get moving. I'll have to use this thread as a reference when I finally get my ass in gear.

[DirtyLarry]

Figured out the source of the noise and vibration in 4wd and fwd. I forgot to clearance the CV to prevent rubbing.

I intended to do this before the front shaft was rebuilt and balanced but I forgot. Dang it!

Before


After

[doubleclucker]

Larry-
The GM cast iron adapters are indeed out there.
Here is a pic of the factory damper you were talking about.
Other pic is of a strut rod I made up for the 4 months I had this combo before doubler install.
I took a piece of round that fit tightly over a factory strut rod ;cut the rod slipped it inside bolted it on to orient then tacked it; then took it off to weld it and paint.
Simple enough to fab if you wanted to.
Strut rod came off 78' NP203.

[DirtyLarry]

Yeah, the cast iron adapters are out there all day long for the Dodge version of the NV4500 but I haven’t seen any for GM. It is my understanding the length is different between the GM and Dodge versions. If you have a cast iron GM version where did it come from? You know, I might need one cuz the aluminum adapter is going to break and my 205 is going to fall off according to the internet

In hindsight I wish I would have had the 6.5L damper installed while the transmission was apart. I didn’t even think about that thing. Too late now, the truck is all back together. Guess it will have to wait until I have to replace the adapter when it breaks

[argonaut]

Oh yeah. It'll probably break going over the first speed bump at the mall. Better prepare yourself!

[DirtyLarry]

I was thinking of finding the hens tooth GM NV4500 cast iron adapter and bolting it to my spare tire carrier and just leaving the spare tire at home. Sounds like I’ll need the spare cast adapter before I will ever need the spare tire

[doubleclucker]

Larry-I got mine from risingvoffroad (Ryan) 217-304-4663- Moonshinemafiamotorsports I got it for $150.00 plus shipping just last year.
If you mount it where the spare tire goes you may need to beef up the rear suspension!

[DirtyLarry]

Cool, thanks for the info! I appreciate it. I’ll keep his info for future reference. Nice to know a GM cast iron adapter really does exist as all I’ve seem to be able to find are Dodge cast iron adapters.

You’re right, I probably would need to beef up the tire carrier and suspension to haul that thing It looks beefy!

[Dieselwrencher]

That is a nice piece for sure!

[argonaut]

Where do I get one of those?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by doubleclucker

Larry-I got mine from risingvoffroad (Ryan) 217-304-4663- Moonshinemafiamotorsports I got it for $150.00 plus shipping just last year.
If you mount it where the spare tire goes you may need to beef up the rear suspension!

Right above.

[doubleclucker]

Another link for a 'HENS TOOTH'
http://www.midwesttrans.com/NV4500/new_nv4500.html