I drug home a 1948 Chevy 3800 which is a 1 ton truck that has the 9' bed on the back. It has had some cool upgrades done on it in the 60s which includes a GMC 302 straight six. I would like to replace the granny 4 speed with a 5 speed overdrive. I am going to use this as a truck still and was worried a T5 may not be strong enough. Is there another trans that would work like a NV3500 or NV4500 or should I just run a T5? I have several T5s laying around so I could try it but would like to just do it once.
Yes and maybe no The nv3500 has the bell made on it so you’d need an adapter and some creative assembly skills. The nv4500 has a separate bell. Different bolt pattern for the trans than standard gm. Plus the center hub is larger. So a truck iron bell would need modified or an afapter plate machined. The gm version has a shorter input than the Dodge version. They interchange The nv4500 is great for hauling logs out of the woods. Geared more like a truck 4 speed with an OD
Stovebolt forum could be a good source for info. One of the military forums had a guy bore the bell and redrill the nv4500 pattern. These pics came from the stovebolts r us FB page one issue could be the parking brake. if the rear end doesn’t have a provision the trans needs one. both the 3500 and 4500 can be found with a parking brake. The 3500 has the standard Chevy bell made on it. So an auto adapter could physically hook it up. But then you get to figure out making the clutch work.
With either of those engines in that chassis you can't swap bellhousings (would need an expensive adapter anyhow) unless you figure out how to make new mounts for the bellhousing as a rear transmission mount won't work with the front mount on the six. The engine would not be stable with two centerline mounts and no side mounts. I've got an AX-15 overdrive 5 speed out of a 97 Dodge Dakota 318 that is going behind my 292. I bought the trans from a local kid who parted out the truck after he totaled it. 1Sold the V8 bellhousing on Ebay for way more than I paid for the transmission (Jeep guys want them to put 318 or 360 in their jeeps and bought a Novak adapter kit to bolt the AX-15 to the Chev Muncie pattern Bellhousing. Looking it up they do sell an adapter that you can bolt a Dodge NV3500 to a Chevy bellhousing that is just like the adapter I have for the AX-15. Again you carefully remove the V8 bellhousing and stick it on Ebay and let the jeep guys fight over it.
With a 235 especially, but even with a 302 you will find gears are your best friend. If you are going to use an adapter, you can choose from lots of transmission. You aren't limited in your choice. You might find that the physical size of some trans make them more difficult to swap than just the mechanical mating to the engine. I'd try to use the stock bellhousing for the engine you choose, as it will allow you to use the clutch linkage and pressure plate and flywheel. You can get a clutch disc that fits the splines on the trans of choice . You can get the correct length for the input shaft by either making an adapter that is the correct thickness to allow for the input shafts length, OR have the input shaft machined to shorten it . Thats why you need to know what the original trans input length is. Then get a trans with a slightly longer input so you can make it the correct length. You might look at transmissions for some of the small mini trucks as a source since you plan on using a six cyl engine. Lots of five speeds out there, and maybe even a 6 speed, but usually the 6 speed is 2 overdrives which isn't real helpful unless your rear end is very low geared.
Advance adapters has a plate to bolt a dodge nv4500 to a gm bell need to verify hub diameter I’ve got a gm nv4500. Thinking about swapping to a dodge input so I can use the adapter.
I have a bunch of the AD trucks. I've been looking for a 9' bed truck for a few years and when this one popped up with a gmc 302 engine and was out west unitl 3 years ago, I had to have it.
I got into this on diesel swap , best I can recall ( it’s not the best ) GM has a different tooth count on input , Dodge input can’t be swapped to GM trans . Dodge used 3 different input sizes on 4500 , 92 Gas engine is same as GM 4 speed truck trans . Do some research , as Mr Anthony has said , they are big and heavy truck 4 speeds with an OD . Huge gap between 3 and 4 gears .
A guy in one of a Dodge forum swapped out the gear on the gm nv4500 main shaft to work with the Dodge input. Had to modify the bearing retainer. I read somewhere else about this being done. I’ve never done it
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