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1988 K5 700R4 swap with a NV4500/3500 manual trans from a 2004 Silverado

riv1973

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Hi all. Our 700R4 is starting to slip and we have a NV4500 ( could be a 3500. I have to check). Can anyone help guide us on the swap or advise us on how hard this conversion would be? Is it easier to do a four speed from a C/K pickup? Then maybe add a gear vendors unit? Do companies such as Silver Sport transmissions have kits to go with the NV4500/3500?

john
 
gear vendors are 3k plus, silver sport quoted me 6k plus. I saw them on a Hemmings build.
A nv4500/3500 swap is very simple.
What are you putting it in?
 
biggest thing you need to do is swap the input shaft on your transfer case to 32 spline for a nv4500. Don't know about the nv3500.
 
Visit Advance Adapters...... They did an excellent presentation on all the models...

Sadly, an nv4500 out of a Dodge made the best donor...

For a 3500 get one out of a Jeep...o
It's got a detachable bellhousings.

AA makes multiple bellhousings for conversations.

Might suggest the newer 6 Speed from a Wrangler.
 
Personal opinion here, Silversport can choke on the Tremec TR4050 at the price they quote them out for. Anybody that is handy enough to install their kit can install a nv4500. You just need to know what to do. Another opinion, AA is seriously overpriced on their bell housing kit. Which forces you to get there parts to run the stock squarebody hydraulic slave cylinder. $$$. Then you get the joy of fighting the fun of adjusting the rod to the aa clutch fork that on two of my buddies trucks was never quite right. They also had the fun tendency to back off and get loose when driving on even a semi-decent dirt road.

GM's interchangeability is your advantage here. Factory-engineered parts mean off-the-shelf parts that gasp, work like factory.

Shoot for a Nv4500 from a '96 and up truck with the integrated slave/release bearing. Make sure you get the bell housing with the transmission. Get a clutch for a '96-'99 GMT400 truck to have the correct pressure plate for the integral slave. You need a stock squarebody clutch/brake pedal set from '85 and later truck, make sure you match the type of brake booster you have (vac or hydroboost) and pick up a fresh stock squarebody clutch master cylinder. To connect the master to the release bearing you need two earls adapters and AN line to connect them. One adapts the output of the master to AN style, the other changes out the factory quick disconnect fitting for another AN fitting. Connect the dots with a 36" line and bleed.

The 4500 is within a 1/2" of the length of the 4500 when you factor the t-case adapter into the mix. This means the 4500 trans mount lands exactly in the same spot as your 700r4. My transmission cross-member is in the stock location that was for my 700r4 when I swapped. Like it was mentioned you'll need to swap the input of your t-case to 32 spline. If you have a round mounting pattern t-case like a 208 or 241 it's going to bolt right up to the trans with the correct input. Same for a round pattern 205, but I'm guessing the OP doesn't have a 205 if it's got a 700r4 right now.

This swap isn't what I would call cheap but it can be done for a LOT less than what the entire kit from Silversport costs. If you can't find a used trans, look up for a local manual trans rebuilder. I got my second nv4500 from a local shop in Denver to replace a used one that grenaded the input bearing. The cost was $2,000 and was fully gone through including fresh brass synchros to eliminate the stock fiber units that require the $45/qt synchromesh fluid from GM or Amsoil. Put an add up in the wanted section here for a Hydraulic clutch pedal set and stay on the lookout locally. Prices on those are going up, but if you can get one for $500 you are doing good. The rest of the parts can be picked up through the local part store as they are all stock units besides the hose and adapters. Shop right and you'll come in way under the Silversport BS.
 
Silversport doesn’t sell kits to go with anything but their own TR4050 and they will rudely tell you so if you ask, agree that they are wayyyyyy overpriced…..
 
this trans is out of a 2002 chevy silverado 1500. i assume a 5.3 motor. i will look to make sure which one it is, but is this a NV3500? did the 4500 only come on the 3/4 and 1 ton pick ups? also considering using a 6.0 LQ4 with it. how does this complicate or adjust the swap? i have head that you need the 1 ton transfer case from a square body to fit to the NV4500. if this is a NV3500 does anyone know which transfer case i need?
 
it is a NV3500 from a 2002 silverado 1500. not sure this is a good choice. torque rated only to 310 ft lbs.
 
Does your transmission have a removable top cover? Nv3500 doesn't, just a shifter tower.

Any round 32 spline input tcase will do, you can swap the input in your current tcase to mate up.

If it's the trans that came with your engine, run it. I ran a late model nv3500 in my k5 on tons and 37's and loved it.
 
Wild card not discussed ....does your Blazer have a removable floor tunnel cover?

And, are the automatic floor shapes the same as a Manual transmission floor? Square Body Truck Floors are different.

If cost is a deciding factor your ,700R could be rebuilt with all hi performance parts for less than a manual conversion.

You mentioned overdrive units ..... Would a newer 6 Speed transmission give you the gear ratios you want?
 
A nv3500 isn’t bad, but not often done due to the low torque limit on it and lack of granny gear. Gm nv3500’s have integrated bell housings and due to that you have to go with the integrated slave/release bearing. Same tips to adapt the hydraulics would work with it.

A ‘02 1500 Silverado would be no 3500 paired up to a 4.8. Gm never made the option to put a manual behind a 5.3 in those trucks. A 6.0 would work but you will be on the edge for the torque limit to the trans.

As far as the trans bump goes, the later squares didn’t have a bolt on trans tunnel. But even the tunnel on the automatic trans trucks had the stamping for the hole for a 465 trans. Though that hole does not line up to the shifter on the 4500 or 3500 trans. You’ll be poking a hole regardless.

In my case the 4500 cleared the stock automatic floor without any issues. A 3500 being much smaller would be no problem to clear the floor.

Keep this in mind on a nv3500 as it was the main manual trans choice behind the 4.3 v6 in s10’s and full-size trucks with the 4.3. They did use them with 5.0 and 5.7 Vortec engines in gmt400 trucks besides the 4.8 on gmt800 trucks. I’ve got two s10’s with the 3500 trans and they are decent shifting units. Like anything else there are variations on the design as ‘97 and earlier units have the shift tower further forward and ‘98 and later have the shift tower more to the rear on s10’s. I’m not sure of changes on the full size version but I’d bet they are different too. The shifter location forced differences on the actual shifter too. The front mount units have a tighter bend on the base where the handle screws on and uses a longer shifter to reach back to the driver. The rear mount has less of a bend and shorter handles. One could use that to mix and match shifter fit to perfect it.
 
FYI some of the newer Blazers do have a removable floor tunnel hump....

Bought a1986 Square Body 1/2 ton cab AT... Floor was very flat, no removable tunnel hump....

floor+ tunnel needed considerable work modifying it to match earlier tunnel shape ..... Should have cut up old floor + welded sections in it.

Skip the NV3500. and Substitute an NV3550 transmission which has a Detachable Bellhousing......
 
If it's a driver not a wheeler you will like the 3500, the shift tower sits a couple inches rearward from the factory manual hole.
The stock 85 up hydraulic clutch pedal adapts easily with a an adapter to a gto slave cylinder.
The biggest issue is trimming the corner of off the tcase shifter bezel.
Trans crossmember bolts right up to the trans, and in the factory holes on the frame.

There aren't alot of nv3500's swaps, but it held up really nice on my truck, i wasnt nice and drove that truck like a retarded teenager.
 
Looking at your build thread, in my opinion, leave that engine and trans mated together, put in a set of hydraulic clutch pedals, and a 32 spline input into your tcase and enjoy a nice shifting ride.

The 4500 has an advantage if you need a really low first or are running a big engine, other than that it isn't as smooth and the ratios are far apart, plus the cost of them is rediculous.
If you want more preformance out of a nv3500 they have a short throw option that would make it a bit more fun.
 
I swapped in a 465 into my 89 k5 when the 700r4 went out. I would like a 4500 but I got everything do do the swap for really cheap. You can buy the 32 spline input gear for the 241c and everything bolts right up. I would get the pedal assembly and hydraulics from a donor and not bother with reinventing the wheel with aftermarket pedals, or anything else really. The entire swap can be done with factory parts.
 
thanks all!

i now have a full setup out of a 1986 chevy pickup. i got everything. and i have the NV3500. i saw a video on youtube that had the NV3500 install on a 1986 blazer and it was a drop in fit. he had the linkage ( hydraulic clutch set up) from a 1998 chevy pickup. i was going to use the pedal box and transfer case--getting it rebuild before it goes in--( i think i have to change input shafts for the larger NV 3500 one) and then use the clutch hardware ( linkage) from the NV3500 ( again getting this trans gone over) and then install the stuff. it seems that i can use the same mounting hardware as the old auto unit. i have to get a new clutch and pressure plate.

pretty sure the trans is a 117MM 4 speed RPO M20 out of the 1986 chevy pick ups. is this an over drive trans? or is the fourth gear 1:1. i think i have the removable tunnel. we are looking for a fun truck to drive. with going to the maunal, maybe we keep the 350 but it will need some care. looks tired. would it be easier to just put the four speed from the 1986 into the blazer? i can send pcis of what i have.

what do you think of all this?
 
i was going to use the parts from the four speed to then use what i can with the NV 3500. the NV 3500 is from a 2002 silverado. i only have the trans. no other clutch parts. i have a complete 1986 four speed set up. pedals to transfer case. including the hydraulic clutch set up. was wondering what to do.

and is the four speed a 1.00 final gear ratio? can anyone add a numerically lower gear in that trany to make it an over drive. like set up the gears so it would have a 0.7 final trans gear?

john
 

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