66 K10 crossmember question

[Roblenzz]

I have a long wheel base Factory four wheel drive truck with the divorced transfer case (has its own crossmember) and I am swapping in a NV4500 transmission. My question is do I need a third crossmember for the transmission or does the stock cast iron bellhousing crossmember sufficient to support the extra (25lbs or so) weight of the 5-speed? Thanks

[61K10]

still in the wrong place lol. engine and drive train. you should be fine with the stock bell But.
No nv4500 will bolt up to it with out an adapter. do a search in the engine and drivetrain section.

[Roblenzz]

Plan on modifying the NV case so I can maintain the mounts and the factory starter location on the bellhousing. I know they won't bolt up. Gonna fill and redrill the NV case. The throw out bearing glides as it should on the input retainer. The bellhousing even fit over the retainer without any machining. Do I need to use an additional crossmember for the tailhousing?

[dieseldude4bt]

I think it will hold it fine.
I have had a ranger overdrive and an sm420 with a dual direction pto hanging off my bell housing for 18 years with no problems.

[whateverpratt]

I hung an nv4500 off of my stock bellhousing with a custom adapter and no trans crossmember. I've abused it for years, and it's held just fine. Now, I don't know how well the bellhousing will hold when I swap the 350 for a 4bt, but we'll see

[dieseldude4bt]

Originally Posted by whateverpratt

I hung an nv4500 off of my stock bellhousing with a custom adapter and no trans crossmember. I've abused it for years, and it's held just fine. Now, I don't know how well the bellhousing will hold when I swap the 350 for a 4bt, but we'll see

Mine has had the 4BT for 18 years.

[whateverpratt]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Mine has had the 4BT for 18 years.

Well crap, apparently you’ve already done what I’ve been planning.

So you used a 4bt with the Chevy bellhousing adapter from a bread van bolted to the stock bellhousing in the stock bellhousing cross member?

What did you use for your front motor mount(s)?

Do you have a build thread?

[dieseldude4bt]

Originally Posted by whateverpratt

Well crap, apparently you’ve already done what I’ve been planning.

So you used a 4bt with the Chevy bellhousing adapter from a bread van bolted to the stock bellhousing in the stock bellhousing cross member?

What did you use for your front motor mount(s)?

Do you have a build thread?

Yes on the chevy adapter and stock bellhousing and a ranger overdrive.
The bellhousing is in the stock position with stock mounts and I made two front mounts, but I would recommend one like chevy did on their early straight 6's. Four mounts keep the engine too rigid and transfer lot's of vibrations to the frame.
I had some pic's until photo bucket wanted $400 to let me post pic's then I cancelled my account.

[whateverpratt]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Yes on the chevy adapter and stock bellhousing and a ranger overdrive.
The bellhousing is in the stock position with stock mounts and I made two front mounts, but I would recommend one like chevy did on their early straight 6's. Four mounts keep the engine too rigid and transfer lot's of vibrations to the frame.
I had some pic's until photo bucket wanted $400 to let me post pic's then I cancelled my account.

That photo bucket fiasco messed up a lot of forums.

Thanks for the motor mount advice. My frame that the 4bt will be going into has the 235 front crossmember, so I'll plan on fabbing something to make that work.