57 GMC, frame swap, 4wd, 454 big block, 4 speed

[Old57]

That's right, I was so impressed with the customer service on the gauge and the shock, that I had to mention it because it's rare these days.

Joedoh, if we get snow this year, the ol truck will for sure come out to play in it!

So... in typical habits of myself, I can't leave well enough alone. I think I'm going to start gathering the parts I need for a transmission upgrade. I've decided that I want to swap out the SM465 "dump truck shifting" transmission for an NV4500 5 speed over drive, and adapt it to my NP205 transfer case. This isn't a cheap swap, but it will be nice, and allow highway driving in OD, but still have all the low end capabilities, and shift smooth.

I'm still waiting on my custom console and cup holder, but I did finally get the tag light and back up lights delivered and installed. The replacement shock should be here in a day or so too. I'll keep driving it around and enjoying it while I round up the transmission swap stuff I need.

[6BT 56]

I think that's a good call. It will be worth every penny.

[rgunlock]

You sound like me - barely start driving it and already talking drivetrain upgrades

I think you'll really like the NV4500 with your 4.10 gears and 33" tires. We compared notes some on the 8th page of your build. Since then I have done my NV4500 upgrade. I can't speak much to how the O.D. will work out for you as mine sounds like something is about to fly apart when I use it. I used the AA adapter to NP205 and had a drivetrain shop rebuild my NV4500 and install the adapter. If you go that route, get references - don't assume that a shop that has been in business a long time will do a good job. I'm going to have to pull mine out again but I just haven't got up the energy yet.

What I can tell you is that you'll love 3rd and 4th for areas where you typically drive 40-55 MPH which is most of my driving. I don't have head snapping acceleration, but you've got a lot of range in those gears and power all the way through that range and generally at or below 2500 RPM.

Love your build, and your truck is looking great!

[mongocanfly]

Thumbs up on the nv swap...you'll like it ...I've got 2 of em... I sure wouldn't want any higher gear than 4.10s...but it may be just right for your bb....at 65mph/4.10s/33s/nv45oo you'll be at about 1900rpm...

[Old57]

Thanks guys, and that is great to hear about the NV4500. I've been reading up on it like crazy for the last couple of days.

I bought one tonight from a guy about 2 hours away. He's coming through town next week and bringing it to me. He had a choice of 2 GM 4wd NV4500s. He believes one is 1992, and the other came out of a 1998 truck, so it should be the low 1st gear in the 92 and the higher in the 98. In the pictures, they both had the early style shifter lid though, so I'm thinking they may both be early. I guess it is possible to have the early lid on the later one too. I picked the one that had a sticker on the side from being rebuilt at "Transmission Clinic, Amarillo TX", which is the one out of the 98 truck. I did some haggling with him, and I'm getting it without the bell housing or tail housing since I'll be changing those anyway.

From what I've read, if it's the early style trans, I can make my SM465 bellhousing and Novak slave cylinder work on the NV4500, and I just need to get the AA adapter kit to mount my figure 8 mount NP205 behind it., But if it's the later style, I'll get the complete AA adapter kit to use their bellhousing and slave cylinder too.

It's a punch in the gut to be buying all this expensive trans swap stuff, but I know it'll be a huge difference in driving it. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to get the best deal on the Advance Adapters kits? They sure ain't cheap!

[Old57]

And rgunlock, that's too bad to hear about your 5th gear problems. I know it's not good to have issues that you have to fix, especially after spending good money to do it right the first time. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.

[Old57]

I got this in the mail Friday, and I'm pretty happy with it. It matches the seat closer than what the pictures show. It sits on the seat nice and solid, and also has a strap to wrap around the seat bottom and buckle it tight, but I don't think it needs that.

[Old57]

I picked up my NV4500 transmission this morning. It's pretty clean, no signs of leaks, oil looked like new, and had a rebuild sticker on the PTO cover (I pulled it off in the pics). I drained it, and will be cleaning it up and painting it to get it ready to go in. I'm waiting on my adapter kit from Advance Adapters to put my transfer case behind it. This thing shifts through all the gears in less movement of the shifter than going through 1 gear on the SM465!

[mongocanfly]

Nice...that is the early version nv...also dont forget that it takes high$$$ synthetic oil...only place I could find d it was at the dealership

[joedoh]

I like the console! you might reconsider strapping it in the first time you stab the brakes with a large QT drink in it

[Old57]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Nice...that is the early version nv...also dont forget that it takes high$$$ synthetic oil...only place I could find d it was at the dealership

Yes, early version with lower 1st gear. It's a 1993. I replied to your oil post in the 4wd section.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I like the console! you might reconsider strapping it in the first time you stab the brakes with a large QT drink in it

I hear ya there! The large QT drink is why I wanted the console in the first place

[rgunlock]

I've got a console just like it in my truck and it hasn't been strapped down since the first time I had to remove it for my wife to ride in the truck. Sits in place amazingly well.

[dsraven]

the time waiting will leave you enough time to clean up the release bearing snout, the input shaft splines and pilot bearing snout and the gasket area on the rear for transfer case mount. should be nice to get the gear ratio.

[Old57]

The console does seem to stick to it's spot in the seat good. I gave the new transmission a good soak in brake cleaner and a little scrubbing. I'll finish cleaning and prepping it, then get it painted black to match the rest of my drive train and chassis, hopefully tomorrow or Saturday. I ordered the special high dollar fluid for it today too.

[Old57]

UPS came through today and delivered my Advance Adapters kit and a new flat transmission cover. I modified the other new cover to work with my shifters with the SM465, but now it'll need to be different so I'm starting over. I got the special oil on Wednesday. This evening, I shortened the output shaft according to the AA instructions, and installed the new tail shaft housing. All of the pictures I've seen of the adapter housing, it was aluminum. I was pleasantly surprised to get it and it was heavy cast iron. Earlier in the week, I cleaned and painted the transmission. I might get a chance to do the swap this weekend...

[mongocanfly]

nice!!!!!!....are you gonna have to do driveshaft work as well?

[Old57]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

nice!!!!!!....are you gonna have to do driveshaft work as well?

I don't think so as far as I know. AA says this set up will be 1" longer than what I have now, and if that is correct, I should have enough in my slip yokes to take that up.

[rgunlock]

All my driveshaft needed after the swap was to be balanced. Drivetrain shop said the length was still fine.

[6BT 56]

This is likely going to be your best upgrade yet. Keep the posts coming ��

[Old57]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

All my driveshaft needed after the swap was to be balanced. Drivetrain shop said the length was still fine.

Both my drive shafts are completely new and balanced, so I shouldn't have to do anything with them. I'll know for sure on the length after I get everything changed out.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

This is likely going to be your best upgrade yet. Keep the posts coming ��

I'm looking forward to smooth shifts and overdrive!

[joedoh]

jeeze man you are flying! nothing like a runner to motivate the project

[Old57]

I worked on getting the transmission swap done this weekend. I got the old SM465, 205 transfer case, exhaust, cross member, driveshafts, etc. removed last night. This morning, I fit the SM465 bell housing to the face of the NV4500 and center punched the new mounting hole locations. The new lower passenger side hole was going to partially be into the regular mounting hole, so I tapped it and installed a cut off bolt into the original hole, then drilled and tapped the new mounting holes. The bell housing fit on nice and easy after that. The later 96 and up NV4500 has a bigger bearing retainer, so this bell housing change will only work on 92-95 NV4500 trannys. Then I got the transmission installed, modified the rear mount to fit the cross member, installed the 205 transfer case, and exhaust. The AA coupler in the adapter kit specified to put RTV sealer in the splines on the transfer case side, and also has a new sealed bearing that got installed in the input of the transfer case to keep fluids from mixing. This transmission and tail housing are the same length as the old transmission and housing, but the figure 8 to round patter transfer case adapter adds 1", so the 205 sits 1" farther back than before. I was pretty sure my drive shafts were going to be fine with the slip shafts in them, but after I tried to install them, they are right at the limits. So tomorrow I'll take them to Power Drive and have the front shaft lenthened and the rear shaft shortened. Another issue I had is that the AA transfer case shifter bracket isn't even close to working with the shifter and linkage. I read about it needing braced to keep it from flexing, so I did that, but now I need to modify the shift lever to work. I'm not sure why they even put that bracket in the adapter kit if it's that far off from working, but I'll get it modified and make it work. After I get the drive shafts lengthened/shortened, and the transfer case shifter modified, it's down to cutting the new shifter holes in the new transmission cover, and installing the boots. I'll be looking forward to a test drive then.

[Old57]

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