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84 K20 "Ethel" Not an Sbc/NV4500/241C

Semi restoration of a 1984 K20 pickup. 5.3 LS, nv4500, np241c.
I’ll also mention I still have that full floating rear axle. I think the wise thing is to regear down to something like 4.56 or 4.88 so the gear gaps are smaller and I can pull grades easier at less than 70 in OD
 
I’m surprised the 5.3 doesn’t want to pull grades that well, sounds about like my 350. Stock TBI 350, NV4500, and 3.73’s. It’s basically a 4 speed with overdrive you can use on flat ground :rolleyes:
 
I’m surprised the 5.3 doesn’t want to pull grades that well, sounds about like my 350. Stock TBI 350, NV4500, and 3.73’s. It’s basically a 4 speed with overdrive you can use on flat ground :rolleyes:
It does but the rpm is 1900 below 70 mph so I have to be going faster than that to pull it. But once I’m at 80 it stays up there no prob.
If I could raise that rpm so the truck was spinning 2200-2300 at 70 and close to 2500 at 80 it would pull better.
 
I think it was a multitude of issues, I didn’t face the case for the bolt heads to seat properly, the holes were not deep enough and not perfectly straight. All contributors to it loosening and kicking the bolts out the bellhousing.

Those are all plausible reasons for sure. I think I'm still going to try it that way, hopefully it won't be a mistake.

Digging your truck. I'm also glad to see it stay a manual transmission.
 
It does but the rpm is 1900 below 70 mph so I have to be going faster than that to pull it. But once I’m at 80 it stays up there no prob.
If I could raise that rpm so the truck was spinning 2200-2300 at 70 and close to 2500 at 80 it would pull better.

As soon as you regear to fix that you'll loose that killer mpg you are currently enjoying. The burnouts will be better however.
 
I've been wheeling my advance bell for several year now. I'd did test fit my clutch assembly and I had to clearance it inside the bell. It is the biggest luk brand I could fit in there.
 
I think you should take the nickname squirrel...




But really you should just make it fast and simple then make down time when it's not in season.
 
I usually think before I act, but the stuff didn’t line up like it should have to make this happen, I had serious obstacles in my way so the path of least resistance is what I choose if those things are insurmountable at the time.

@LNielson i would suggest a mag drill and drill it beyond 1/2 inch into the case and maybe past the case wall into the wet side. I would use a helicoil as well to double up on thread strength. And possibly use a fine thread bolt and lastly make sure the bolt has a flat surface to seat on.
 
i would suggest a mag drill and drill it beyond 1/2 inch into the case and maybe past the case wall into the wet side. I would use a helicoil as well to double up on thread strength. And possibly use a fine thread bolt and lastly make sure the bolt has a flat surface to seat on.

Thanks for the share. I had contemplated trying to do this at home, but after seeing this cautionary tale, I will probably throw the case up on the mill at work to punch those holes. I'm going to have a local trans shop pull mine apart and inspect the internals before I put it in. It will be a good time to drill/tap the holes with the case stripped bare.
 
Ethel is back and running, not without the typical Bs and another 2am thrash.. fml
The new bellhousing hits the clutch fork if you use a factory fork. I had to clearance the back side of the clutch fork window. But it works..
Standard goat screw for conversions
 

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