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Help me pic a transmission

mrgoodwrench

mrgoodwrench

1/2 ton status
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I have a 1990 suburban 350 with a 700r4 , np241, dana 60 front 14 bolt rear on 37in tires. I want to dump the 700r4 my truck is built for off road and camping but i regularly drive it 1000 plus highway miles wheel 500plus miles then drive 1000 plus miles home. It is not my daily vehicle. The truck weighs 7500ish lbs when loaded for trips and i cant see the 700r4 lasting forever this way. On every trip its the weak link i worry about. So i want to swap a 5 speed manual. I am a manual fan and have always driven them this is my only non manual ive owned. So i can go nv4500 which would fall into place rather well from what i read this would be nice since i would like to keep my chevy np241 since i have fully rebuilt it bearings seals chain ect... and already sye it. Also hear i could keep my drive shafts which would be good since i have custom tom woods front and rear. Or should i go tremec tr4050 i would need another t case to mate to its 23 spline output. I would beed to have drive shafts re sized i may need to make a new cross member ect... also it runs an internal slave and i can get the aa bellhousing and have external slave for the nv4500. Please give me some advice which is stronger more durable nicer shifting easier swap ect.... thanks mike
 
I'm not very educated on "modern" transmissions, what does the Tremec come in originally? Is it a 5 or 6 spd?

If it were mine, I'd probably go with an NV4500 since they are fairly common making parts easy to source in the event of a problem. Also, typically more equals better on spline counts so I'd take 32 over 23 especially considering the vehicle weight.
 
Tremec tr4050 came in ford chevy and dodge 1ton 2wd in south America. And its a 5 speed.

I was thinking the same thing as far as spline count but coming in 1 tons i figured they would be strong enough.

The NV 4500 seems like a no brainer with the ease of install and compatibility my only concern is I can only get rebuilt not new nv4500 and I was told they don't really make nv4500s or parts anymore other than Chinese I was concerned about quality my only other concern Is I read about so many issues with nv4500s specifically with 5th gear ect... but of corse thats online complaints and we all know that can be overblown.
 
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What about your 241, is it 27 or 32 spline?
 
mrgoodwrench said:
27 spline but i believe i can just change the input shaft to 32.
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You can change to 32 spline very easy. I just did this myself to dump the 700r4 and did a sm465. Make sure when you order the 32 spline input you get the pocket bearing as well. Otherwise it will show up with a big hole in the center of the gear. I found my pocket bearing at Cobra transmissions online. Regular autoparts stores can't even find it.
 
formercruiserhead said:
You can change to 32 spline very easy. I just did this myself to dump the 700r4 and did a sm465. Make sure when you order the 32 spline input you get the pocket bearing as well. Otherwise it will show up with a big hole in the center of the gear. I found my pocket bearing at Cobra transmissions online. Regular autoparts stores can't even find it.
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Will do thanks
 
I am a pretty big fan of 4500s. Also I have 32 spline inputs for sale. $50.00 plus shipping.
 
Do the nv4500. Lot simpler.
 
So between your input my research and my desire to use the easier swap that lets me keep my current t case and drive shafts nv4500 it is. Any reccamendations on where to get one. I would like the later model With sincronized forward and reverse ect... im a mechanic by trade and have a shop press so i think i could rebuild one but they are really hard to come by near me and most used are gobbled up by rebuilders that then sell them spendy and want a 1k core fee. Any recs on where to buy a quality rebuilt or get a good healthy unit to rebuild myself?
Ive found a few rebuilders online but all either have poor reviews or none at all.
 
Pretty much a bolt in deal for a '90. You have the right cross member already. The 4500 is within 1/2" in length to the 700r4.

Look for a '96 and later version. Mainly so you can use the factory bell housing for the integrated slave cylinder. That alone is going to save you a ton of money from buying the advance adapter 4500 bell housing and bracket for the external slave. Using the integrated slave you can run a stock squarebody clutch master cylinder, two adapter fittings from Earl's and a 36" braided brake use from Earl's to hook it up.

That's the exact setup I used to swap the 4500 into my '91.

Hardest part of the whole swap is locating the clutch/brake pedal assembly and installing it.
 
Part numbers for the hydraulic hose and adapters.

On the factory internal slave cylinder: Earl's LS641001ERL

12mm x 1.0 to -4 AN at the stock clutch master cylinder:
Earl's 592054ERL

36" braided steel -4 brake hydraulic hose:
Earl's 64191936ERL

Get a stock replacement integrated slave/throw out bearing, I think mine was a Dorman part from summit and a clutch for the '96 and later setup. The pressure plate finger height is different from the early setup so you can't use a normal clutch for a squarebody 465 setup.

The setup installs and works like factory. Clutch pedal movement and feel is nice and smooth.
 
T
ZooMad75 said:
Part numbers for the hydraulic hose and adapters.

On the factory internal slave cylinder: Earl's LS641001ERL

12mm x 1.0 to -4 AN at the stock clutch master cylinder:
Earl's 592054ERL

36" braided steel -4 brake hydraulic hose:
Earl's 64191936ERL

Get a stock replacement integrated slave/throw out bearing, I think mine was a Dorman part from summit and a clutch for the '96 and later setup. The pressure plate finger height is different from the early setup so you can't use a normal clutch for a squarebody 465 setup.

The setup installs and works like factory. Clutch pedal movement and feel is nice and smooth.
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Thanks for the good info. Hopefully i can find a good used one and rebuild it myself if not i will ptobably end up going the advanced adapters route for buying a rebuilt and bellhousing. It would be nice to have an external slave for ease of replacement. That being said my daily econo car an 06 cobalt has 256,000 miles on origional clutch and internal slave so maybe i should not worry and just save the money with the internal slave set up.
 
mrgoodwrench said:
T

Thanks for the good info. Hopefully i can find a good used one and rebuild it myself if not i will ptobably end up going the advanced adapters route for buying a rebuilt and bellhousing. It would be nice to have an external slave for ease of replacement. That being said my daily econo car an 06 cobalt has 256,000 miles on origional clutch and internal slave so maybe i should not worry and just save the money with the internal slave set up.
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Do some research on the aa part. There have been people recently dealing with issues.

If you buy a quality slave/throw out bearing the worry of having to replace it sooner than later goes away. My s10 has the same setup from the factory and I'm 200k on this clutch without any problem.
 
ZooMad75 said:
Do some research on the aa part. There have been people recently dealing with issues.

If you buy a quality slave/throw out bearing the worry of having to replace it sooner than later goes away. My s10 has the same setup from the factory and I'm 200k on this clutch without any problem.
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Thanks for the advice. I will be on the look out for an np241 32 spline input (can buy from @Capt Ron) a late model nv4500 with bellhousing in decent shape that i will rebuild myself. And a clutch pedal assembly. Anyone who has any of this to sell or sees it for sale let me know thanks guys. Mike
 
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mrgoodwrench said:
Thanks for the advice. I will be on the look out for an np241 32 spline input (can buy from you) a late model nv4500 with bellhousing in decent shap that i will rebuild myself. And a clutch pedal assembly. Anyone who has any of this to sell or sees it for sale let me know thanks guys. Mike
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@Capt Ron usually has the 32 spine inputs on hand to sell. He's pretty good at finding 4500's too.

Watch the classifieds here on the forum too as people do sell the pedal sets from time to time.
 
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