TR6060 to Np205 question

[Meangreen1]

I am looking to use a tr6060 in my 69 K20. Has anyone done this swap or know what is needed? I am going the LS route as I just spun a bearing yesterday on the 350. I have done 3 ls swaps now and that’s the simple part for me. Never done a 4WD truck and need advice. Thanks you!

[Louisvillekytruck]

Nice truck any lift and what size wheels and tires

[Meangreen1]

Originally Posted by Louisvillekytruck

Nice truck any lift and what size wheels and tires

4” lift with almost 35” tires, 17” rim

[Zoomad75]

The TR-6060 being mainly used in cars like the Camaro and Corvette is going to be the biggest limiting factor in your swap. Only a couple of companies show a 4wd/awd version. Rockland Standard Gear is one that offers the true 4wd version. The other shop is selling a version that mates up to a AWD t-case.

TR-6060's aren't cheap to start with. Add in the modifications required to make it compatible with a T-case and the price keeps going up.

Given that the truck looks like a nice restored driver I'm guessing you are just wanting more fun/control of the driving with the future LS swap. They don't list the gear ratios but if they are the same as the car version it's going to be lacking unless you stick with low gears in the axles with the 35's. I'd be looking at 4.56's at least. It would still allow off the line acceleration and be able to use the double overdrive gears.

However, given the cost and the lack of choices going with the 6060, I'd look at a NV4500. It's a pretty well known swap that works. Yes, the 4500 has a granny gear which can prove to be pretty handy when towing or snatching a boat out of the water on a steep ramp. They are pretty good off road too if you are so inclined. GM sold them behind Big Blocks (GMT400) and the 6.0L LS engine in the 3/4 ton GMT800 trucks.

If you are keeping the LS close to stock and not going crazy off road, the NV3550 trans was used in the 1/2 ton GMT800 trucks. It's a 5-speed too, but no granny gear.

I'm going on 6 months so far with the NV4500 in my K5 and an 8.1L big block. Got to say I love the combination. Tons of grunt down low and the 5 speed lets me pick the right gear when I want it, not when the computer says so. I will say the torque has spoiled me and limited the need for shifting some. If I'm not trying to show somebody my tail lights I tend to skip gears as I accelerate up to speed. 2nd-3rd-5th or 2nd-4th-5th.

A second OD gear would be useless in my case other than dropping the cruise rpm a slight amount. But that slight amount would not net a major fuel mileage increase to justify the cost of a converted 6060 trans. That's at least in my case though.

[Bigdav160]

I guess Zoomad covered it but I was thinking - that transmission never came in a 4x4 application, did it? going divorced transfer case? Boy that's a lot of work.

And the gear ratios have to be wrong, right? I mean the tremec is a sports car transmission (have one in a Cobra/Coyote project), It seems like the wrong application.

If you really want a 6 speed, Dodge had a couple -NV5600 and the G56 that might be better and easier to deal with.

[Meangreen1]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

The TR-6060 being mainly used in cars like the Camaro and Corvette is going to be the biggest limiting factor in your swap. Only a couple of companies show a 4wd/awd version. Rockland Standard Gear is one that offers the true 4wd version. The other shop is selling a version that mates up to a AWD t-case.

TR-6060's aren't cheap to start with. Add in the modifications required to make it compatible with a T-case and the price keeps going up.

Given that the truck looks like a nice restored driver I'm guessing you are just wanting more fun/control of the driving with the future LS swap. They don't list the gear ratios but if they are the same as the car version it's going to be lacking unless you stick with low gears in the axles with the 35's. I'd be looking at 4.56's at least. It would still allow off the line acceleration and be able to use the double overdrive gears.

However, given the cost and the lack of choices going with the 6060, I'd look at a NV4500. It's a pretty well known swap that works. Yes, the 4500 has a granny gear which can prove to be pretty handy when towing or snatching a boat out of the water on a steep ramp. They are pretty good off road too if you are so inclined. GM sold them behind Big Blocks (GMT400) and the 6.0L LS engine in the 3/4 ton GMT800 trucks.

If you are keeping the LS close to stock and not going crazy off road, the NV3550 trans was used in the 1/2 ton GMT800 trucks. It's a 5-speed too, but no granny gear.

I'm going on 6 months so far with the NV4500 in my K5 and an 8.1L big block. Got to say I love the combination. Tons of grunt down low and the 5 speed lets me pick the right gear when I want it, not when the computer says so. I will say the torque has spoiled me and limited the need for shifting some. If I'm not trying to show somebody my tail lights I tend to skip gears as I accelerate up to speed. 2nd-3rd-5th or 2nd-4th-5th.

A second OD gear would be useless in my case other than dropping the cruise rpm a slight amount. But that slight amount would not net a major fuel mileage increase to justify the cost of a converted 6060 trans. That's at least in my case though.

Thank you for the information. The tr6060 was an option due to I can get one for a decent price and I am familiar with. I used one in my 72 2wd Blazer. Heard of guys using them in 4WD on a daily driver. That all said, I do like the granny 1st of the Nv4500. Seems all I can find is a dodge one. Is the gm bell housing easy to come by to bolt up with an LS? On a side note that 8.1 sounds like a fun build.

[Meangreen1]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I guess Zoomad covered it but I was thinking - that transmission never came in a 4x4 application, did it? going divorced transfer case? Boy that's a lot of work.

And the gear ratios have to be wrong, right? I mean the tremec is a sports car transmission (have one in a Cobra/Coyote project), It seems like the wrong application.

If you really want a 6 speed, Dodge had a couple -NV5600 and the G56 that might be better and easier to deal with.

Would love a 5600. I had a 04 Cummins with one. Hard to find reasonably priced.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by Meangreen1

Thank you for the information. The tr6060 was an option due to I can get one for a decent price and I am familiar with. I used one in my 72 2wd Blazer. Heard of guys using them in 4WD on a daily driver. That all said, I do like the granny 1st of the Nv4500. Seems all I can find is a dodge one. Is the gm bell housing easy to come by to bolt up with an LS? On a side note that 8.1 sounds like a fun build.

The Dodge version won't bolt up to a GM bellhousing.

There are two GM bellhousing styles that were used. '95 and down used an external slave that was mounted to the passenger side of the bell. That can be problematic with your truck since it is on the same side as your front driveshaft. They have been used, but you need to watch the clearance. The '96 and up bellhousing uses an internal slave that makes it much easier to adapt.

There is a third option using an aftermarket bell from Advanced Adapters. It can use the stock mechanical linkage for the throwout bearing or use the late Squarebody external slave on the driver side. They are proud of it for sure.

The LS engine uses the same bellhousing mounting surface as any conventional small or big block, but does not use a bolt in the 2 o'clock position as you look from the back of the engine.

With either GM bellhousing you'll need to make the switch to a hydraulic system. I don't have experience converting a 67-72 truck to hydraulic though, but I'm pretty sure others around here have.

[mongocanfly]

there are factory parts to bolt a nv4500 to a LS...i couldnt find all the stuff to do it when i did either of mine...i had to use the kit from advance adapters...which works great...not cheap...
im currently looking at a tremec tr4050 setup for the next LS build...also not cheap...
i have a tr6060 in my shop...looking at it i dont think a transfer case could bolt to it at all..could be wrong...
you could do a divorced transfer case behind it though but with the crazy yoke it has youd need a u-joint adapter

[Overdriven]

Fasterproms YouTube channel did a t56 to 4wd transfer case in an S10 using an adapter from LOJ who does a lot of LS conversions in Nissans. I don’t think this is a regular production item for them or listed on their website so custom order kind of thing. Tr6060 is similar to t56, tailhousings interchange which in this instance is removed for the transfer case adapter. Apparantly the cyclone/typhoon guys have done this swap before too. But as stated in other posts this isn’t a “truck” style trans and will change the gearing a lot, depends on what you’re going for.

[b454rat]

96 n up GM bell will bolt up to a Dodge NV4500. Swap input and t-case.

[Jeff's bowtie's]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

The Dodge version won't bolt up to a GM bellhousing.

There are two GM bellhousing styles that were used. '95 and down used an external slave that was mounted to the passenger side of the bell. That can be problematic with your truck since it is on the same side as your front driveshaft. They have been used, but you need to watch the clearance. The '96 and up bellhousing uses an internal slave that makes it much easier to adapt.

There is a third option using an aftermarket bell from Advanced Adapters. It can use the stock mechanical linkage for the throwout bearing or use the late Squarebody external slave on the driver side. They are proud of it for sure.

The LS engine uses the same bellhousing mounting surface as any conventional small or big block, but does not use a bolt in the 2 o'clock position as you look from the back of the engine.

With either GM bellhousing you'll need to make the switch to a hydraulic system. I don't have experience converting a 67-72 truck to hydraulic though, but I'm pretty sure others around here have.

Modern driveline offers a nice hydraulic clutch setup and simple to install

[mattshea125]

If you don't need to have a stick, have you thought about going to a 4L80E swap? I just did one in my 78 K20 behind a 454 and it made a huge difference in drivability and mileage.